Digital Director for the City of San Jose (Council ComnRel Director) - Mayor's Office

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top ten cities in which to live, work and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Celebration.
 
The San José City Council consists of ten Councilmembers elected by district and a Mayor elected at-large, each for four-year terms. The Mayor and Council are responsible for representing the residents of San José, providing accountability, reviewing public policy and programs, and adopting those policies which best meet the needs of the residents, visitors, and businesses in San José.
 
The Mayor serves as the political leader of San José, and under the City Charter, is responsible for recommending policy, program, and budget priorities for the City.
The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan is seeking a Digital Director which is an at-will position that reports to the City’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer (CCMO) and regularly interfaces directly with the Mayor to plan and execute the City's communications to the public and the news media.  This position serves on the Mayor's senior leadership team, developing and executing digital media strategy that follows the larger strategic communications plan developed by the CCMO for policy, initiatives, programs, and annual budget messages. The Digital Director has responsibilities for marketing programs, writing social media posts, creating compelling videos and capturing content. The Digital Director assists the CCMO in overseeing a team that currently includes staff responsible for media relations, speechwriting, social media, and graphic design.
 
The total salary range for the Digital Director (classification is Council Community Relations Director) is $72,737.08 - $116,379.38. This amount includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
 

Responsibilities for this position may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Writing and editing press releases, media advisories, speeches, opinion pieces, mayoral correspondence, news and feature articles and a wide variety of other communications materials. 
• Assisting with scheduling and drafting content for a multi-faceted social media strategy to effectively engage the community and constituents with the Mayor's policies, positions, and goals. 
• Conduct a range of media outreach strategies, including placing stories in media outlets; coordinating operations, such as scheduling, for media requests and interview preparation; pitching media, and managing media lists. 
• Conduct research and prepare information for media interviews, media memos, strategy sessions, and to advise on policy decisions. 
• Proactively review media sources and outlets, scroll through news sites and social media to stay current on local, regional, and national topics that affect San José and the Mayor’s policies.  
• Analyzing earned and owned media metrics as well as larger external trends. 
• Day-to-day administration of the office’s communication tools and schedule.
• Other duties of a similar nature of level.

 
Employees in this classification are not members of the classified civil service and appointment would be on a contract “at-will” basis and is for a specified period of time to be determined by the appointing elected official and does not extend past the end of the elected official's or appointing authority's term.   Candidates must be willing to work frequent evenings and weekends, and as exempt management employees, are not eligible for overtime compensation. This unclassified position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income and business positions.
  Any combination of training, education, and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to advise and support the Mayor on matters of constituent services, public policy, community outreach and engagement, and communications.?

Required Licensing: Possession of a valid California Driver’s license is required.Desirable Qualifications
 

• Proven mastery of principles, practices, and techniques in digital strategy, including a deep understanding of emerging trends in the digital landscape.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive digital media strategies that align with overarching communications objectives across different platforms. 
• Exceptional creativity in crafting compelling and shareable content across various digital platforms, including social media, websites, and video channels.
• Experience leading marketing programs, ensuring content is not only engaging but strategically aligned with organizational goals.
• A forward-thinking mindset with the ability to introduce and implement innovative digital solutions that enhance the City's online presence and communication effectiveness.
• Success in crafting language on politically sensitive subjects, with the skill to distill complex policy issues into easily accessible and digestible digital communications.
• A strong commitment to public service.
• Willingness and ability to work nights and weekends as required, understanding the dynamic nature of digital media and the need for real-time engagement.

• Strong communication and exceptional customer service skills, including the ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences with empathy and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously, often under tight deadlines and in a changing, complex environment.
• Deep knowledge of local politics, including the South Bay, State, and Federal government. 
• Bilingual language fluency in Spanish or Vietnamese (written and oral skills)

Selection Process

• Cover Letter 
• Resume
• Three (3) samples of past work (these samples must be your work product; best performing social posts, compelling videos, or a digital portfolio)

1. Briefly describe your experience, and successes, in the following areas: 1) Social Media Management; 2) Content Creation & Capture; 3) Development of a Communications or Public Outreach Campaign; 4) Staffing an elected official/c-suite level/executive employee for a speech, interview, campaign, or press conference.
2. Please share a complex assignment or project you have been given. Describe the situation, the approach you took, and the ultimate outcome.
3. Please share a specific example of when you demonstrated a high level of creativity to complete a task, resolve a challenge, or improve an existing process.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact amanda.wong@sanjoseca.gov.

To learn more information about City Benefits, click here.

To learn more information about Mayor and City Council, click here.
 
Link to California Equal Pay Act.

This position will remain open until filled and applications will be reviewed continuously; therefore, we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. If you do not receive the confirmation, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application. Please contact Human Resources at (408) 535-1285 or via email at Human.Resources@sanjoseca.gov if you have any questions.