Why Tumwater?
Tumwater is more than just a city, it’s a vibrant community rooted in history and filled with opportunity. Located at the southern gateway to the Seattle-Tacoma metro area, Tumwater offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and big-picture vision.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Puget Sound, prairie landscapes, rivers, and evergreen forests, we’re just over an hour from ocean beaches, the Olympic Peninsula, and Mount Rainier. Whether you’re into hiking, kayaking, brewery-hopping, or live music, you’ll find easy access to it all.
Here in Tumwater, we’re building a future that’s highly livable, connected, and inclusive. With safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and a deep sense of civic pride, it’s not just a great place to live, it’s a great place to grow your career.
The Opportunity:
Performs professional communications, marketing, and public engagement work in support of Parks & Recreation programs, events, facilities, and initiatives. Responsibilities include developing and implementing communication strategies, preparing marketing and outreach materials, managing digital and print communications, coordinating media relations, and supporting community engagement efforts.
The position serves as the department’s primary communications and marketing resource and works collaboratively with staff, community organizations, vendors, and partner agencies to promote programs, strengthen community awareness, and maintain consistent branding and messaging standards.
Work requires creativity, strong written and verbal communication skills, independent judgment, and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced public service environment. As part of the larger administrative team, provides office coverage and back-up administrative support.
Distinguishing Characteristics:-
This is a professional-level communications and marketing classification responsible for department-wide outreach and public information efforts.
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The position independently manages marketing and communication projects from concept through publication and distribution.
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Work involves strategic messaging, graphic design, digital communications, public engagement, and media coordination.
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The position serves as a key communications resource for Parks & Recreation programs, events, and initiatives.
Essential Functions
Communications & Marketing
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Develops and implements communication and marketing strategies for Parks & Recreation programs, services, facilities, events, and initiatives.
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Creates written, graphic, digital, and multimedia communication materials including newsletters, brochures, flyers, posters, news releases, social media content, electronic communications, and website updates.
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Develops messaging and outreach strategies to improve public awareness and community engagement.
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Ensures consistent branding, style, accessibility, and communication standards across department materials and platforms.
Content Development & Media Relations
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Writes, edits, proofreads, and reviews communication materials for clarity, accuracy, grammar, style, and consistency.
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May serve as a department contact for media inquiries, interviews, and public information requests with guidance from supervisor.
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Assists with communicating complex, sensitive, or high-profile information in a professional and tactful manner.
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Coordinates photography, graphic design, and visual content supporting department communications and promotional efforts.
Digital Communications & Technology
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Designs, updates, and maintains department websites, electronic communications, social media platforms, and other communication systems.
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Utilizes graphic design, website management, photo editing, and related communication software and tools.
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Evaluates emerging communication trends, technologies, and best practices to improve outreach effectiveness and public engagement.
Project Coordination & Community Engagement
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Coordinates communication projects from development through publication and distribution, including vendor coordination and production oversight.
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Collaborates with department staff, partner organizations, community groups, businesses, and stakeholders to support events, outreach activities, and community engagement initiatives.
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Assists with promotion and communication efforts for City-sponsored programs, special events, and recreation activities.
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Responds to inquiries from the public regarding department programs, services, events, and facilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Decision Rights & Problem Solving-
Exercises independent judgment in developing communication strategies, prioritizing projects, and recommending outreach approaches.
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Determines appropriate communication formats, messaging, and distribution methods based on audience and operational needs.
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Identifies and resolves communication challenges while maintaining professionalism, accuracy, and brand consistency.
Supervision Received / Exercised-
Received: Works under general supervision of the Parks & Recreation Management Analyst with considerable independence in planning and executing assigned communications and marketing activities.
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Exercised: May coordinate the work of vendors, contractors, interns, volunteers, or staff assisting with communications projects or special events. Formal supervisory authority is not typically exercised.
Key Relationships-
Internal: Parks & Recreation staff, City leadership, Communications staff, Information Technology staff, and other City departments involved in programs, events, outreach, and public engagement.
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External: Residents, media representatives, vendors, community organizations, schools, recreation partners, businesses, contractors, and other agencies regarding communication, marketing, and outreach activities.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
Work is performed primarily in an office or administrative environment. Duties may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, and repetitive hand or wrist movements associated with computer use. The position may require occasional bending, reaching, or light to moderate lifting of office materials or equipment.
Work may include attendance at meetings, site visits, or public events, which may require travel to various locations. Some assignments may involve interacting with the public in stressful or contentious situations or working under deadlines and competing priorities.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws.
Commitment to Equity, Safety, and Ethics
Employees are expected to perform their duties in a manner that supports equity, safety, integrity, and professionalism. This includes following all safety policies and procedures, treating coworkers and the public with respect, and conducting work ethically and responsibly. Employees are expected to uphold public trust through fair, transparent, and lawful conduct and to contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment
