Are you passionate about using strategic communications to advance sustainability, climate action, and community resilience? Do you want to help tell the story of programs and partnerships that improve quality of life for San Mateo County communities?
The County of San Mateo Sustainability Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Communications and Engagement Officer. We are looking for a highly organized, creative, and service-oriented communications leader who is skilled in relationship building, strategic messaging, media relations, and staff and community engagement and empowerment. The ideal candidate will bring experience working with diverse communities and a strong commitment to equity, accessibility, and public service.
Under the general direction of the Department Director and Assistant Director, the Communications Officer will lead the Department’s internal and external communications strategy to promote sustainability education, programs, services, and initiatives throughout the County. This position oversees external communications, media relations, executive and internal communications, impact reports, digital content, branding, community engagement initiatives including managing the department’s youth climate programs, outreach and marketing resources, and communications support for Department initiatives. The Communications Officer also establishes Department-wide branding standards, communications templates, outreach tools, and processes that support consistent, effective, accessible, and audience-specific communications across all Sustainability Department programs.
As a member of the Department’s Management Leadership Team, the Communications Officer will provide strategic counsel to executive leadership, supervise communications staff, manage consultant and vendor relationships, and help ensure the Department communicates clearly, consistently, and effectively with department staff, residents, community partners, elected officials, County departments, media, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.
The Job/The Ideal Candidate
The Communications Officer will provide the vision, strategy, direction, and execution of communications that advance the Sustainability Department’s mission, priorities, programs, and strategic initiatives.
The ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional who can develop and implement high-impact communications strategies that support public awareness, community engagement, behavior change, and organizational effectiveness. They will have deep experience in branding, messaging, media relations, social media, digital communications, public information, public records request coordination, event communications, community engagement, executive communications, production of public-facing materials, and internal communications.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong political acumen and sound judgment in working with elected officials, executive leadership, County staff, partner agencies, community-based organizations, the public, and the media. They will be comfortable advising leadership on sensitive, high-profile, or emerging issues and will be able to translate complex sustainability topics into clear, compelling, and accessible messages for a broad range of audiences.
As the Department’s lead communications strategist, the ideal candidate will be a creative and innovative thinker with strong technical knowledge of communications tools, media practices, digital platforms, marketing strategies, branding standards, and public engagement methods. They will be an excellent writer and natural storyteller, able to develop a wide range of materials, including press releases, newsroom posts, talking points, key messages, presentations, newsletters, social media content, web content, reports, campaign materials, outreach materials, and executive communications.
The ideal candidate will be skilled at building and maintaining Department-wide communications infrastructure, including branding standards, templates, collaboration tools, digital marketing resources, outreach materials, review processes, and internal procedures. They will be able to support staff and program teams in planning and executing communications, engaging stakeholders, building clear program identities, reaching target audiences, and using communications tools effectively.
As the leader of the Communications team, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated supervisory experience and the ability to inspire, coach, and support staff. They will work collaboratively with managers and program teams to develop targeted communications plans, strengthen Department-wide communications and engagement practices, and ensure staff have the guidance, tools, and support needed to communicate effectively.
The ideal candidate will also bring strong program and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple projects, campaigns, and deadlines simultaneously. They will be proactive in identifying promising communications strategies, evaluating effectiveness, improving systems, and phasing out approaches that are no longer effective. They will use data and performance metrics from social media, digital platforms, campaigns, and outreach activities to evaluate effectiveness, refine strategies, and develop measurable, actionable, and results-oriented communications.
A demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice is essential. The Communications Officer must understand how equity, racial justice, economic justice, language access, accessibility, and inclusive engagement inform the County’s climate and sustainability goals. The ideal candidate will be able to develop communications that are culturally responsive, plain-language, accessible, and relevant to communities across San Mateo County. They will also have experience working with community-based organizations and trusted messengers to develop and conduct outreach that is responsive to community needs and increases participation among communities with lower past engagement.
The ideal candidate will understand the role of internal communications in strengthening collaboration, cross-program coordination, staff cohesion, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. They will be comfortable supporting internal messaging, collaboration practices, change management efforts, and staff wellness communications that contribute to a connected and effective Department culture.
Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Sustainability Department with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.
The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
Tentative Recruitment Schedule
Final Filing Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Application Screening Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: Week of August 17, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
HR Analyst: Sarah Huynh (072326)(D105)
