Communications Specialist

San Mateo County Libraries is seeking an experienced, creative, and motivated Communication Specialist to join our Library Communications Team.

The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic team player who is able to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Reporting to the Director of Communications and Marketing, the Communication Specialist will plan, organize, and coordinate public and internal communications activities for San Mateo County Libraries.

The Communication Specialist is expected to be a strategic thinker who develops and executes integrated communications, media and marketing plans for the library system- leveraging multi-communication channels (traditional and online), promotional materials such as, but not limited to, library signage/collateral, web content, press releases and fact sheets- with the goal of advancing outreach and library engagement to community stakeholders and library users.

The individual selected for this position should possess excellent organizational skills, work well under pressure, and be capable of performing under tight deadlines to support key messaging, design, and branding needs.

San Mateo County Libraries is a Joint Powers Authority composed of the cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, San Carlos, Woodside, and the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. We serve approximately 280,000 residents and cover a service area of 351 square miles. Our 13 community libraries are open 7 days per week and are vibrant hubs for learning, creativity, connection, and exploration.

Our mission is simple and powerful: Together, we build meaningful connections and inspire lifelong curiosity. 

To learn more about who we are and what we do, visit www.smcl.org.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Create, develop, distribute, and maintain library print and digital assets (e.g., brochures, reports, website, social media) via multiple channels.
• Support the management of all digital and print marketing channels (e.g., digital asset management system, website, blogs, newsletters, social media, flyer creation) to ensure brand consistency.
• Provide copywriting and editing support to the libraries’ print and digital platforms.  
• Develop and implement communication/marketing strategies that include design work, patron messaging, and social media content creation.
• Support and champion the Library’s brand, ensuring that libraries and staff produce high-quality designed collateral and error-free copy. 
• Under the direction of the Director of Communications, research, design, and draft press releases, media pitches and responses, content for system initiatives, infographics, blogs, library signage, newsletters, and internal messaging. 
• Support media relations by serving as a media contact, as needed. Research and draft talking points, answer reporter inquiries, and create content for executive speeches, op-eds, etc.
• Arrange, coordinate, and support library events and programs in a virtual and in-person setting. 
• Support and evaluate the results of communication campaigns with the team.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in mass media communication, public relations, journalism, business, or public administration, or a closely related field.
  
• Experience: Four (4) years of professional experience with responsibility for public relations or a closely related field and directly involved in the preparation and dissemination of information to the general public.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule: 
Final Filing Date: Thursday, September 3, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: September 14 - 18, 2026
Panel Interviews: September 24 and/or 25, 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 is committed to advancing equity in order 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.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (08202026) (Communication Specialist - E055)