Chief Communications Officer

The City of Chula Vista, located in the south bay region of San Diego County, is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and forward-thinking Chief Communications Officer to lead the City's comprehensive communications, branding, and public engagement efforts.

The Chief Communications Officer will plan, organize, direct, and manage the staff, operations and activities of the Office of Communications within the City Manager’s Office; oversee media relations, marketing, community engagement, internal and external communications; develop and execute a strategic program that shapes the image and recognition of the City through short and long-term communications/marketing strategies; administer and manage ongoing development of integrated marketing programs to leverage the City’s unique assets; work collaboratively with departments to market and enhance the City’s image; and to provide highly responsible support to the City Manager and Executive Team.

The major areas of responsibility are:

• Plan, organize, direct and manage the operations and activities of the Office of Communications; plan, develop and oversee the work of staff involved in marketing, community engagement, social media program, internal and external communications, and media relations; recommend and implement the goals and objectives; establish performance standards and methods; develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Establish and execute short and long-term community engagement and marketing goals and strategies; develop and implement comprehensive plans, strategies and approaches for use in marketing and promoting the City’s image to citizens, businesses, industry and media; communicate and collaborate with outside marketing and advertising agencies on programs and campaigns; serve as a consultant to the City Manager and City departments to deliver effective communications solutions.
• Develop and implement strategies to effectively generate positive publicity and awareness for the City of Chula Vista.
• Advise the City Manager and department directors on communications strategies and messaging during crises, emergencies, or high-profile issues; draft key messages, talking points, and public statements for use by City officials during emergencies and on issues of public concern.

Qualified candidates, at minimum, will have the equivalent of five (5) years of increasingly responsible and progressive management experience in directing a comprehensive communications program, including two years of supervisory responsibility and training equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in work public relations, marketing, communications, business administration, or related field.