Communications Manager

The Position

Connect. Communicate. Engage.

Join the City of Encinitas as our next Communications Manager/Public Information Officer and play a pivotal role in how our community stays informed, engaged, and connected. In this unique role, you'll single-handedly manage communication functions that directly shape how the City shares information. Working within the City Manager's Office, you'll play a key role in ensuring that communication is transparent, timely, and meaningful – often collaborating with leadership and securing approvals on high-visibility initiatives. Your work will make a tangible impact on residents, businesses, and partners throughout the City of Encinitas.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for a versatile communications expert who thrives as the City's sole communications professional. The ideal candidate:

• Manages and interfaces with the media including inquiries, crisis management, and emergencies, providing factual, clear, and vetted information that supports the City’s interests and enhances positive relations.
• Demonstrates the ability to plan, develop, and produce multimedia content – such as videos, graphics, and digital assets – gained through progressive experience using tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Canva, and other design or editing platforms.
• Manages and routinely updates the City’s social media accounts, such as Nextdoor, Facebook, X, Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube.
• Manages the City’s graphics services function, including photography audiovisual presentations, and city publications, including logos, posters, and flyers; sets design and communications standards; conducts brand audits of work produced by City employees and contractors.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of the City’s website; creates and update web pages; writes scripts and narrate videos for posting to website and digital media; provides guidance and oversight to other city departments regarding website and online content.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Encinitas is a scenic coastal city known for its six-mile shoreline with a highly engaged and informed community. For a Communications Manager, it offers a uniquely rewarding environment-one where public service and community connection come together. The City fosters a collaborative and supportive workplace culture that values clear communication, and meaningful engagement with residents, partners, and stakeholders.

Impact

If you're a communications professional who enjoys independently solving projects through a diverse workload, leading variety of communications consultants, and making a real impact, we invite you to apply and help shape the future of how Encinitas tells its story.

Examples of Important \& Essential Duties (included but not limited to)

Job Description

Click HERE to read the full job description.

Effective July 1, 2026, the salary posted for this position will receive a 2% COLA increase.

Minimum Qualifications

Training and Experience

(position requirements at entry):

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, communications, business administration, or related field, and five (5) years of increasingly responsible and progressive experience in directing a comprehensive communications program, including two (2) years of supervisory responsibility or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above

Application Process and Deadline

To be considered, complete the online application in detail and attach:

• A cover letter explaining your qualifications for this position.
• A resume, highlighting your work experience.
• (Optional) A portfolio of past professional communications work within the last year emphasizing video and design integration, with an explanation of what each project was for. This work may be performed by yourself, or a consultant that you supervised.
• Incomplete application packets are not accepted ***

This job posting is open until the position is filled. First review of applications will be on the week of June 29, 2026, and qualified applicants will be invited for interviews.

If you're ready to contribute your talents and grow your career while serving an exceptional coastal community, we encourage you to apply today!

The City of Encinitas and the San Dieguito Water District provide equal opportunity employment for all persons without regard to race, color, religion/religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, marital status, age, physical disability, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, political affiliations, veteran status, Family Leave Act status, AB60 CA Driver's License status or status with pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding. The City and Water District encourage minorities, disabled persons and women to apply. Qualified applicants who move to the next level of the selection process must notify the Human Resources Office if accommodation is needed. A thorough background check will be conducted for the candidate(s) seriously considered for the position including fingerprinting and reference checking. A contingent job offer may be given pending the results of medical evaluation, which includes a physical, TB test and drug and alcohol screening. Applicants will be required to submit verification of the legal right to work in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

2026 Benefits Summary

Unrepresented General, Management and Professional Employees

Cafeteria Health Plan

The employer’s “Flexible Benefit Plan” contribution will make available for each employee a monthly amount equal to the high median of the monthly premiums of all CalPERS health plans available in San Diego County. Under the City’s Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan qualified benefits include: health, dental, vision, dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) and healthcare FSA. The remaining balance is available as additional taxable income capped at one-half of the monthly cafeteria contribution

Retirement

The City contracts with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS):

Retirement Tier

Retirement Formula

Classic2\.0% @ 60

New Member2\.0% @ 62

457 And 401a Deferred Compensation

The City offers a 457 and/or 401(a) deferred compensation. These accounts are voluntary and employee funded.

Basic Life and Accidental Death \& Dismemberment (AD\&D) Insurance

The City provides Basic Group Term Life Insurance equal to 1x your basic annual earnings up to a maximum of $150,000\. AD\&D is up to the amount of your Group Term Life Insurance.

Employees may choose to purchase additional life insurance through the City’s Voluntary Optional Life Insurance program.

Short-Term Disability Insurance (STD)

STD benefits are 70% of your weekly earnings up to a maximum of $3,500 per week.

Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD)

LTD benefits are 66% of monthly earnings up to a maximum of $8,000 per month. San Dieguito Water District employees pay for their LTD premium.

Sick Leave

Unrepresented full-time employees accrue nine (9) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of paid status (4\.153 hours per pay period). New employees are granted a beginning balance of (9) hours. Less than full time employees accrue sick leave in an amount prorated by FTE status. Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.

Parental Leave (Baby Bonding)

Employees who qualify for California Family Rights Act (CFRA) baby bonding will be eligible for twelve (12) weeks of employer paid leave. Available leave is prorated based on FTE status.

Vacation Leave

Employees earn vacation hours based on the following years of service:

Years of Service Annual Accrual

Hire - 5 Years 104 hours

6 - 10 Years 128 hours

11 - 15 Years 152 hours

16\+ Years 184 hours

Credit is given to new employees for related continuous prior public service employment at the rate of one year for every two years worked.

In addition to Vacation Leave, all Management employees shall be provided fifty-five (55) annual hours of Administrative Leave.

General Election Leave

Employees shall be provided a half day of paid leave to vote at the employee’s polling location or a full day of paid leave to volunteer for the County Registrar of Voters for a General Election.

Holiday Closure

Each year, City Hall is closed from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.

Holidays

Employees receive thirteen (13) fixed holidays and five (5) floating holidays (45 hours) per fiscal year.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Confidential services are available to employees and household members to assist with personal and professional issues. Five sessions per issue are available each calendar year.

Computer Purchase Program

The City will loan employees who successfully complete the probationary period of employment an interest free loan of up to $3,000\.

Tuition Assistance

Eligible employees may receive up to $1,200 in reimbursement per fiscal year for approved coursework tuition, required textbooks and registration.

Social Security and Medicare

The City does not participate in the Social Security program. The City and employees each pay 1\.45% to Medicare Insurance.