Shape the Voice, Reputation, Performance and Story of One of America’s Most Distinctive Cities
The City of Savannah is seeking an exceptional communications executive to lead how our organization communicates with residents, employees, community partners, the media and audiences across the country.
The Senior Director of Communications is a member of the City Manager’s executive team and serves as one of the City’s principal advisors on communications, public engagement, media relations, reputation, brand and crisis communications.
This is an opportunity to do more than lead a communications department.
It is an opportunity to shape how people understand their city government, strengthen public trust, tell Savannah’s story and help position one of America’s most recognized cities for its next chapter.
We are looking for a strategic leader, exceptional communicator and trusted advisor who understands that great public-sector communication is not simply about sharing information—it is about connecting people to their government and helping an organization communicate with clarity, credibility and purpose.
JOIN US
If you are an accomplished communications leader ready to bring strategic thinking, creativity, exceptional judgment and a passion for public service to one of America’s most distinctive cities, we invite you to apply.
Help us tell Savannah’s story—and help shape what comes next.
The City of Savannah offers a competitive executive compensation and benefits package. Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; supplemental life insurance options; short-term disability; retirement and deferred compensation opportunities; flexible spending accounts; tuition reimbursement; wellness programs; home purchase assistance; employee referral programs; and paid holidays. The City is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive benefits package that supports their professional success, financial security and overall well-being.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Savannah is a city with an extraordinary identity, a rich history, a vibrant culture and a growing national and international profile.
Communicating effectively in such a dynamic city requires a leader who can see the big picture while responding confidently to the issues of the day.
The Senior Director of Communications will lead the development and implementation of the City’s comprehensive communications strategy and oversee the Communications & Marketing Department.
Working closely with the City Manager, Mayor and City Council, executive leadership and departments throughout the organization, the Senior Director will help ensure that the City communicates proactively, consistently and effectively.
The Senior Director will serve as a trusted strategic advisor, helping City leadership anticipate communications opportunities and challenges, navigate complex and sensitive issues and translate City priorities into messages that are clear, accessible and meaningful to the public.
The position will also serve as a leading voice for the organization—building productive relationships with the media, community leaders and other stakeholders and helping strengthen Savannah’s reputation locally, regionally and nationally.
KEY LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES
Executive Counsel & Communications Strategy
Develop and lead an enterprise-wide strategic communications program aligned with the City’s priorities and organizational goals.
Serve as a member of the City Manager’s executive team and provide strategic communications counsel to the City Manager, Mayor, City Council, Chief Officers and other senior leaders.
Anticipate emerging issues, identify communications opportunities and help leadership determine when, where and how the City should communicate.
Translate complex policies, programs and decisions into clear, understandable and compelling messages for residents and stakeholders.
Ensure communications efforts across the organization are coordinated, timely and aligned with the City’s strategic direction.
Reputation, Brand & Storytelling
Serve as one of Savannah’s chief storytellers and help shape how residents, employees, community partners and external audiences understand the City and its work.
Lead the development and stewardship of the City’s brand, voice and communications standards.
Identify and elevate stories that demonstrate the impact of City services, employees, investments, partnerships and initiatives.
Protect and strengthen the City’s reputation through thoughtful, credible and proactive communications.
Ensure consistency of messaging, tone and brand integrity across communications platforms and departments.
Media Relations & Public Engagement
Build and maintain productive professional relationships with local, regional and national media.
Serve as a principal spokesperson for the organization and prepare City leaders and subject-matter experts for media interviews and public appearances.
Lead proactive media strategies that help the City communicate important initiatives, accomplishments and community information.
Develop strong relationships with community leaders, organizations, influencers and stakeholders.
Create communications approaches that reach diverse audiences and strengthen meaningful engagement between residents and their government.
Crisis & Issues Communications
Lead the City’s communications planning and response during emergencies, significant incidents and rapidly evolving issues.
Provide calm, credible and strategic leadership when information is changing quickly and public confidence is especially important.
Coordinate messaging across departments and external partners to ensure information is timely, accurate and consistent.
Develop and maintain the City’s crisis communications plans and ensure the organization is prepared to communicate effectively during hurricanes, flooding, severe weather and other major events or threats.
Advise executive leadership on reputation risk, sensitive issues and communications strategies.
Digital, Content & Communications Innovation
Lead an integrated communications operation across digital, social, video, web, broadcast, print and traditional media platforms.
Oversee the development of news releases, executive communications, public information materials, speeches, newsletters, digital content, events and other communications products.
Provide strategic direction for the City’s Savannah Government Television channel (SGTV), City publications, video programming and web-based communications.
Continually evaluate emerging communications technologies, platforms and practices and identify opportunities to improve how Savannah reaches and engages its audiences.
Data-Driven Communications
Establish meaningful measures of communications performance and impact.
Use analytics, audience insights, media monitoring and other data to understand what is working, identify emerging trends and continuously improve communications strategies.
Move beyond simply measuring communications activity to evaluating reach, engagement, effectiveness and outcomes.
Use data to help City leadership understand public information needs and make better communications decisions.
Organizational & Team Leadership
Lead the City’s Communications & Marketing Department and create an environment in which talented professionals can do exceptional work.
Set clear expectations and priorities while encouraging creativity, collaboration, innovation and accountability.
Recruit, develop, coach and retain high-performing communications professionals.
Establish effective systems and workflows that allow the department to respond rapidly to immediate communications needs while maintaining focus on long-term strategic priorities.
Direct departmental planning, budgeting, staffing and professional development.
Build strong relationships across City departments and establish the communications team as a trusted strategic partner throughout the organization.
THE LEADER WE ARE SEEKING
The City of Savannah is looking for more than an experienced communications professional.
We are seeking an executive communications leader.
The strongest candidates will combine exceptional communications expertise with sound judgment, executive presence, strategic thinking and an authentic commitment to public service.
Our ideal candidate will bring:
Strategic Perspective
The ability to understand the broader environment, anticipate what is coming and connect communications strategy to organizational goals.
Exceptional Judgment
The maturity and discretion to advise senior leaders and navigate complex, sensitive and high-profile situations.
Executive Presence
A calm, confident and credible leadership style—particularly when circumstances are challenging or information is evolving rapidly.
Outstanding Communication Skills
Exceptional writing, speaking, storytelling and interpersonal abilities, with the capacity to make complicated issues understandable and relevant.
Media Sophistication
Strong instincts regarding news, reputation and public perception and experience developing productive relationships with journalists and media organizations.
Political & Organizational Acumen
The ability to work successfully within a complex organization and build trust with elected officials, executives, employees, community leaders and residents representing a wide range of perspectives.
Digital Fluency
An understanding of how modern audiences consume information and the ability to integrate social media, digital platforms, video, web and traditional communications into a unified strategy.
Data Orientation
A commitment to using analytics, audience insights and measurable outcomes to improve communications performance.
People Leadership
A demonstrated ability to build teams, develop talent, establish accountability and inspire excellent work. Strong leadership and people-management skills, particularly in guiding teams through growth and development, as well as experience driving operational consistency in a 24/7 environment.
Commitment to Service
A genuine belief in the importance of local government and the role effective communication plays in strengthening trust between government and the community it serves.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
The successful Senior Director will help build a communications operation that is increasingly:
Strategic - Communications is integrated into decision-making early rather than brought in only after decisions have been made.
Proactive - The City identifies opportunities, issues and information needs before they become communications challenges.
Coordinated - Departments communicate through an aligned enterprise-wide strategy with clear messages and standards.
Accessible - Residents can easily understand what their City government is doing, why it matters and how it affects them.
Responsive - The organization communicates rapidly and credibly during emerging issues and emergencies.
Engaging - Savannah tells compelling stories about its people, neighborhoods, services, investments and accomplishments.
Measurable - Communications decisions are increasingly informed by data, audience insights and clearly defined performance measures.
Trusted - City communications strengthen credibility and public confidence through accuracy, transparency, consistency and responsiveness.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This is a highly visible executive leadership position requiring the flexibility to respond to significant events, emergencies and communications needs outside normal business hours.
The position generally operates Monday through Friday during regular City business hours but requires availability appropriate to the responsibilities of a senior communications executive.
WHY SAVANNAH?
Few communications leadership positions offer the combination of visibility, complexity, creativity and community impact found in Savannah.
Savannah is internationally recognized for its history, architecture and culture while continuing to evolve as a modern city with significant opportunities ahead.
The person selected for this position will have the opportunity to help tell that story.
You will advise senior civic leaders.
You will lead communications during moments that matter.
You will help residents better understand their government.
You will develop and lead talented communications professionals.
And you will help shape the reputation and voice of a city known around the world.
For an accomplished communications leader who believes communications can build trust, strengthen organizations and make communities better, Savannah offers an extraordinary opportunity to make an impact.
