Director of Communications

Department:

Communications

Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.

Sarasota County is home to over 479,000 residents, 85,000 seasonal residents and visitors from around the world! As the Director of Communications, you will lead, develop, and implement a County-wide communications strategy for dissemination of information about County initiatives and activities to internal and external audiences. Collaboratively develop, maintain and promote the County’s brand. Responsibilities include overseeing internal and external messaging, managing public and media relations, leading crisis communication efforts, coordinating public records responses, guiding the creation of high-quality multimedia content across television, digital, and social media platforms, managing ACCESS TV, and the county 311 Contact Center and Welcome Center. This position will collaboratively work with senior leadership to develop and effectively disseminate external and internal communications. Works collaboratively and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with news media professionals as well as other agencies, boards, authorities, commissions and community groups. Reports to Assistant County Administrator.

As the Director, you will:

• Oversee the overall operations of communications; develop short and long term goals and objectives; establish, implement and manage the department’s budget and staffing plans in accordance with the county’s strategies. Review and approve all procurement projects and solicitations.

• Manage three unique functional areas; the County 311 Contact Center, Public Information and Community Outreach, and Creative Services*. Provide oversight and strategic direction to communication professionals embedded within County departments.

*Graphics design, web development, website, photography, ACCESS TV and

project coordination.

• Work with County Administration and departmental senior management to develop customer centric messaging through internal and external communications, community relations, media relations and other methods including social media strategies.

• Coordinate initiatives across the organization in collaboration with other department directors. Lead customer service initiatives and report performance measures on a regular basis.

• Serve as lead PIO during times of emergencies.

• Oversee responsive public records coordination in accordance with Florida Public Records laws.

• Manage proactive assessments of fraud awareness, prevention, detection and risk mitigation activities in area of responsibility; oversees financial, compliance, operational and performance audits; reviews audit findings and ensures appropriate controls are established and implemented.

This position will work the hours needed to best handle the communications needs of the county. Typically, those hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

About You

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and ten years of professional experience in customer service, media relations, public administration, internal and external strategic communications and social media, including multiple years of supervisory experience.
• OR Master’s degree and eight (8) years of experience, as described above.

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive experience in government-based communications strategies.

Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of five years.

About Everything Else

Starting Pay Range: $150,000.00 - $160,000.00, based on your experience.

Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).

If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:

1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

• If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)  

2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)  

Benefits:

• Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
• For more information about employee benefits, please click this link or visit SCGov.net for additional information.
• Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. 
• Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)​​

A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.

We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.

Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally. 

A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.

Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).

Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.