Communications Manager (Senior Management Analyst)

Nature of Position

City Manager's Office

The City Manager’s Office is responsible for leading and directing the operation and management of all City Departments (except the Offices of the City Attorney and City Clerk). The City Manager provides policy support and recommendations to City Council, working closely with the Mayor and City Councilmembers.

The Position

The Communications Manager will work collaboratively with the City Manager, Department Heads and other management staff to develop and implement communication strategies, community engagement plans, and facilitate outreach opportunities. This position is also responsible for producing and publishing various forms of City communications work (i.e., website, newsletters, press releases, social media content) and works closely with traditional media partners. This position has a 4-day, 36 hour regular workweek schedule.

Under general direction, provides highly responsible, specialized management assistance by planning and directing operations, developing comprehensive programs, studies, content (written, audio, video), and projects, and performs other related work as required.

Benefits Of Employment

For a comprehensive listing of benefits, please open this PDF file and look under the MCEA bargaining unit.

• Four day, 36 hour work week (Monday - Thursday)
• CalPERS Retirement: Classic Members: 2% at 55 formula, 8\.868% contribution; New Members 2% @ 62 formula, 8\.75% contribution.
• Medical: The City contracts with CalPERS to provide comprehensive health coverage to employees. Multiple HMO and PPO plans available
• Dental: Comprehensive dental coverage provided to employees and their eligible dependents.
• Vacation: Starting with 75 hours annually and increasing with years of service.
• Management Incentive Leave: 27 hours of management leave per fiscal year.
• Holidays: 11 City Holidays
• Floating Holidays: 4 floating days
• Sick Leave: 90 hours annually; unused sick leave is converted to service credit at retirement
• Deferred Compensation: Up to 1% 457(b) matching City contribution after 1 year of continuous service.

Distinguishing Features

This is the advanced level class in the Management Analyst series. Positions allocated to this class work independently and exercise a high degree of responsibility for specialized research, analysis, and program administration. Incumbents provide administrative recommendations to executives and management that may be highly specialized in nature. The emphasis of the work and the specialization required will vary according to duty assignment. Work in the class is distinguished from that of lower classes by the highest level of assignment complexity, full independence with which an incumbent is expected to operate, by the full level of supervisory responsibilities the incumbent may assume, and by the degree of specialization required.

Examples of Duties

The following list of duties is intended only to describe the various types of work that may be performed and the level of technical complexity of the assignment(s) and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The omission of a specific duty statement does not exclude it from the position if the work is consistent with the concept of the classification or is similar or closely related to another duty statement.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Essential Duties

• Manages communications and public relations across the City of Alameda organization, including developing original content for press releases, the City’s websites, newsletters, and social media and other written, audio, and visual collateral.
• Monitors and evaluates impact of specialized federal and state legislation and court rulings; develops or adjusts programs and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Develops and implements communications programs, systems, procedures, and operating methods; develops and revises policies and procedures.
• Plans and directs communications programs and services; recommends and implements improved methods and procedures.
• Plans and directs major communications and public relations functions, programs and activities including writing and distributing press releases.
• Conducts research and analytical studies on a variety of public policy and legislative issues; coordinates and expedites reports and program information from City departments; develops procedures, formulates recommendations and prepares reports and correspondence.
• Coordinates contract arrangements with other agencies and private parties.
• Assists Department Head in determining priorities, methods, standards, and work sequences necessary to achieve objectives.
• Confers with other departments, public officials, consultants and citizens and explains City policies and procedures; makes presentations on assigned projects and programs.
• Provides staff support to committees or commissions or individuals as assigned.
• Assists in budget preparation and administration.
• Administers processes and protocols of assigned department.
• May supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Office or police/fire station environment.
• Noise level is usually moderate, ambient office sounds such as speaking, working office equipment, and software.
• Frequent interaction with City departments, vendors/contractors, the general public, and/or citizens which may include responding to various inquiries, providing City or department information, and interacting with upset customers, staff, and the public in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

Physical Demands

• Operate a computer keyboard and office equipment.
• Seeing to interpret, read, and maintain various documents, such as files, contracts, and reports, in electronic and non-electronic formats.
• Hearing and speaking to present and exchange information and to communicate in person and by telephone.
• Frequent sitting for extended periods of time
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Occasionally lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 25 pounds.
• Occasional walking through service areas may be required depending on assignment.

Employment Standards

Education/Experience

:

Any combination equivalent to education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with major course work in public or business administration or related field.

Experience

Five years of experience conducting administrative analysis, developing policies and procedures, and managing administrative programs and services, two years of which shall have been in the area of assigned specialization.

Knowledge

Knowledge of principles of public and business administration including organization, personnel and fiscal management; statistical concepts and methods, and general analytical procedures; principles, practices, functions and trends of assigned area of specialization.

Ability

Ability to effectively manage comprehensive specialized functions, projects and studies; administer major programs; perform both complex and routine administrative work with speed and accuracy; interpret and apply established City policies, procedures and codes; interpret and apply specialized federal and state legislation and court rulings; establish and maintain accurate records; plan, administer and evaluate work programs; interpret and analyze information; draw valid conclusions and project consequences of decisions and recommendations; prepare studies and reports concerning complex matters; set priorities, meet deadlines and make sound decisions; establish and maintain accurate records; maintain level of knowledge required for satisfactory job performance; communicate effectively; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the general public and supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.

Other Requirements

Possession of a valid California Driver's License and satisfactory driving record at the time of appointment is required as a condition of initial and continued employment only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than the employee’s ability to get to/from various work locations in a timely manner, is necessary to perform the essential functions of the position.

Selection Process

The examination process may include an application and supplemental questionnaire evaluation, a written exam, a performance exam, and/or an oral interview. The examination process may test for, but is not limited to, the essential knowledge and abilities listed in the job specification and announcement and will be designed to provide a comprehensive review of each candidate's technical knowledge and overall suitability for the position. Qualified applicants will be notified of the exact date, time, and location of examinations approximately two weeks in advance. Candidates passing all components of the examination process will be placed on an Eligible List. A list of names is certified to the department(s) having vacancies based on the type of examination conducted pursuant to the provision of the City's Civil Service Rules. Final selection will be made from the Eligible List by the Department Head subject to approval by the City Manager. The Department Head may utilize additional selection procedures to make a final hiring decision. Placement on an Eligible List does not guarantee employment. Prior to appointment, a thorough reference check will be conducted which may include a credit check and background. The selection process may be evaluated and revised based on the number of qualified applicants. Federal law requires that prior to employment, you must furnish proof of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

E-Verify

The City of Alameda utilizes the Federal government's E-Verify program and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization, which includes showing a valid United States Social Security card at the time of hire (photocopies not accepted).

Veteran's Preference Credit

A job applicant qualifies as a veteran if honorably discharged from active military, reservist, or National Guard duty of at least 18 consecutive months within the past five (5) years of the date of application. In case of discharge attributable to service-connected injuries or illnesses, the 18 months active-duty requirement need not be fulfilled. An applicant claiming veteran's preference credit must attach to their application, a legible copy of their DD-214 verifying the type of discharge and date(s) of active service. NO OTHER DOCUMENTATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Alameda encourages minorities, women and the disabled to apply. It is the City's policy that all aspects of employment and promotion shall be without regard to sex, marital status or disability (except where dictated by requirements of the position), race, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religious creed, color, national origin or age. Qualified disabled persons must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. No individual may pose a direct threat to the health or safety of himself/herself or other individuals in the workplace. Barring undue hardship, reasonable accommodations can be made in the application and examination process for disabled individuals or for religious reasons. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be made in advance to the Human Resources Department. Hearing Impaired TDD (510) 522-7538\.

For Benefits information, please visit our website at www.alamedaca.gov. A detailed summary for this position can be found under MCEA.