Public Relations Specialist

The Sandy Springs Communications Department operates as an on-site, full-service marketing agency and newsroom. The department works in a variety of mediums including print, video, web and other digital platforms. The Communication Department supports all City departments, as well as the Mayor and City Council. With such a varied range of “clients,” the work overseen by the Communications Department is wide-ranging and constantly changing. It is a fast-paced environment, requiring attention to detail and flexibility in prioritization.

Job Summary

The Public Relations and Multimedia Specialist (“Specialist”) will work in conjunction with the Communications Director to provide public and media relations support for internal and external communications programs. Efforts include working on targeted projects, identifying challenges and emerging issues, creating messaging for use internally as well as externally, and assisting in the development of external communications including video content, press releases, advertisements, fact sheets, website content, etc. This position will also work with the City’s Performing Arts Center, helping to market the Center’s offerings and events.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Video production, photography and editing for internal and external uses.
• Social Media Strategy Development.
• Create and manage content for social media.
• Video production and photography at City events, Performing Arts Center events, and Recreation and Parks programs.
• Content creation and production of a “Week in Review” video series.
• Draft press releases and other materials for distribution to media outlets.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets.
• Support and promote brand awareness through social, print, and email campaigns.
• Support development and execution of marketing plans.
• Support external and internal communication for the City.

Required Professional Skills:

• Excellent organizational skills including adhering to best practices in project management.
• Excellent research, time and program management skills.
• Demonstrated competency to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines, set priorities and determine objectives and strategies to achieve them.
• Ability to deal with conflict and difficult situations with short deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to be flexible and effectively work with others as a team.
• Exceptional communication skills, including strategy, writing and verbal abilities.
• Demonstrated competency to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines, to organize work, set priorities and determine objectives and strategies to achieve them.
• Ability to proactively engage with the media.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations or related field.
• Minimum of three years of experience communications, journalism or public relations.
• Demonstrated experience with social media strategy and content production, including video production.
• Valid Georgia motor vehicle operator’s license required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Technical proficiency in quickly learning new web-based programs (with training), including content management systems.
• Ability to work outside, subject to all kinds of weather and temperature conditions.
• Experience working with the public and municipal officials advantageous, but not required.

Schedule and Compensation:

The candidate is expected to meet attendance standards as determined by management. A typical work week is 40 hours, Monday through Friday. The Specialist will be called upon to work nights and weekends, particularly for City events. Hiring range commiserate with experience, starting at $59,714 per year.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. Must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws, policies, and rules and to report and/or act on safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel. Must be available and willing to work on a full-time basis according to the assigned schedule and overtime (including daily, weekend, and holidays) as determined by management as necessary to meet division and department needs.

The employee will perform most duties in a typical office environment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to approximately ten (10) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. No out of town travel required.