Responsibilities

• Manages the Davenport Police Department’s public relations, media relations, social media, digital content, recruitment marketing and critical-incident communications.
• This position works directly under the Chief of Police and in coordination with the City’s central communications department.
• This role serves as a communications bridge between the Department, media and community.
• It develops proactive communications that build trust, explain Department priorities and support recruitment, while providing timely, accurate and transparent information during incidents and emerging issues.
• The position ensures communications are consistent with City branding and balances transparency with investigative integrity, privacy, legal requirements and officer and public safety.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency call-ins , when required by critical incidents.
• Develops strategies that build public understanding, trust and awareness of Department priorities.
• Acts as the direct liaison to the City’s centralized communications team to ensure the Department’s messaging aligns with broader city goals while maintaining tactical independence.
• Builds and maintains professional relationships with local and regional media.
• Identifies and promotes newsworthy Department stories, including community policing, crime prevention, recruitment, employee recognition, partnerships, events and positive outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Graphic Design or related field plus at least three (3) years of professional experience in communications, marketing or related field; or an equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the required work in this position.
• Government, public safety, crisis communications, media relations or other highly regulated/public-facing experience preferred.
• Must be willing to connect an existing personal Facebook account to City of Davenport Facebook Pages, as required for administrative access, in compliance with Meta’s Terms of Service.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain throughout duration of employment.
• Must be able to pass a thorough background check and polygraph exam as prescribed by the City of Davenport.

Benefits

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, vision and prescription drug
• Pension
• 457 retirement plan contributions
• Retirement health savings plan contributions
• Flexible spending accounts
• Paid time off
• Employee assistance program
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability