County Administration’s Office of Public Affairs and Communications is looking for a Communications Manager to join our team. Our office is responsible for countywide internal and external communications and constituent services programs that connect Loudoun County residents, businesses, and communities with information about their government and its services. This position will support the Department of Planning and Zoning. We are seeking an experienced professional communicator who has a strong background in communication planning and execution, strategic public engagement, media relations, research and writing, and content production.
Loudoun County is a growing organization that serves a large and diverse population located about 30 miles northwest of Washington, DC. Loudoun County offers a meaningful career, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package.
The Communications Manager will be an employee of the Office of Public Affairs and Communications but be deployed to support the Department of Planning and Zoning on a full-time basis, day-to-day. This is position develops and implements creative and effective communication strategies and initiatives to inform the public about the work of the department, Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, which typically garners broad public interest. This position is eligible for telework up to two days per week following initial onboarding.
This is an exciting opportunity for individuals with expertise in community engagement, public affairs, public information, digital communication (content production, website, social media, etc.), community outreach, event planning, video production, marketing, media relations, and/or other areas within the field of communication.
The Communications Manager’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Coordinating the department’s overall communication requirements with staff within the Department of Planning and Zoning and with the communications team within the Office of Public Affairs and Communications
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Coordinating media relations activities
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Developing and implementing public engagement campaigns
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Developing and implementing strategic communication plans, both internal and external
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Researching and writing news releases, correspondence with members of the public, communication plans, and technical communications
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Synthesizing complex information into messages for lay audiences
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Supporting outreach to target audiences
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Planning and managing events and community meetings
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Managing website content
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Producing content, e.g., flyers in Canva, social media posts, photography, video scripts, etc.
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Coordinating marketing/paid advertising activities
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Providing executive support
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Participating in crisis communications planning and responses
The successful candidate for the Communications Manager for Planning and Zoning will be self-motivated, organized, flexible, and creative, and will adhere to the highest standards of excellence while demonstrating an ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously. The successful candidate will demonstrate a genuine interest in the subject matter and technical aspects of the work done by the Department of Planning and Zoning, and a willingness to learn on the job. This position requires outstanding writing and content creation skills, the ability to organize information from multiple sources, and a commitment to accuracy and quality.
The Communications Manager also collaborates with the other members of the Public Affairs and Communications team to support countywide priorities, including support for the Board of Supervisors and senior leadership, countywide media relations activities and public information campaigns, strategic communication planning, employee communications, and emergency communication within the National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework.
Hiring salary is commensurate with experience.
Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Marketing, Advertising, Communications, or related field; four (4) years of related work experience including one (1) year of supervisory experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in journalism, public relations, communication, marketing or other related discipline, and five (5) years of related experience. Experience managing communications for a local government department and/or with the topic of land use, as well as working with senior elected and appointed officials in a communications capacity, will be helpful. Candidates with experience translating scientific or technical material into digestible content for the general public are preferred. Experience working independently to serve the communications needs of an entire department or organization will be useful.
