Job Title: Communications Officer
Department: County Manager’s Office
Immediate Supervisor: County Manager
Supervises: None
Status: Full-Time
Classification: Exempt
Primary Place of Work: 203 Eureka St. Central City, CO 80427
Primary Responsibility: Reporting directly to the County Manager, the Communications Officer is the County’s main communications professional, responsible for the planning, execution, and oversight of all internal and external communications. This role serves as the County’s spokesperson and media liaison, leads countywide communications planning, and has responsibility for the County’s digital accessibility program. The position also provides high-level administrative and policy support to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners through drafting policies, resolutions, agenda materials, and formal correspondence.
Duties:
The duties listed below are representative of, but do not necessarily include, all the duties and responsibilities that an individual in this position may be called upon to perform.
Strategic Communications & Public Affairs
- Serve as the County’s spokesperson and primary media contact.
- Develop, implement, and steward the County’s comprehensive communications and marketing strategy, aligned with County priorities and strategic planning.
- Lead public and community outreach efforts to promote transparency, trust, and engagement.
- Plan and execute proactive communications campaigns highlighting County services, initiatives, and community successes.
- Represent the County at press conferences, public events, and community engagement activities.
Digital Communications & Content Oversight
- Direct and manage the County’s digital presence, including the County website and all official County social media platforms.
- Serve as the County’s website administrator, overseeing content, design, governance, and major updates.
- Establish content standards, train departmental contributors, and ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of information.
- Produce and oversee newsletters, publications, videos, and other multimedia content for public and internal audiences.
- Facilitate community engagement efforts such as community meetings, surveys, contests, etc.
Digital Accessibility Leadership
- Serve as the County’s Digital Accessibility Manager with responsibility for program development, implementation, and compliance.
- Lead the Digital Content Committee (including website); set accessibility standards, priorities, and related budget requests and implementation efforts.
- Conduct digital content accessibility assessments and audits; remediate inaccessible content and oversee corrective actions.
- Train staff on accessibility tools and best practices and respond to accessibility inquiries or grievances.
- Ensure County compliance with applicable digital accessibility laws, policies, and regulations.
Internal Communications & Organizational Coordination
- Develop and implement internal communications strategies to improve coordination, alignment, and information-sharing across departments.
- Coordinate messaging among departments and offices; attend meetings and distill key information for broader staff awareness.
- Produce regular internal communications, including staff newsletters and departmental spotlights.
Governance, Policy & Administrative Support
- Provide direct communications and administrative support to the County Manager and Board of County Commissioners.
- Draft policies, resolutions, letters of support, proclamations, agenda items, and staff reports.
- Support updates to the County’s Master Policy & Procedure Manual.
- Attend meetings of the Board of County Commissioners and other boards, commissions, and committees as assigned.
Intergovernmental & Legislative Coordination
- Track legislation relevant to County operations and priorities.
- Coordinate communication among elected officials, department leadership, and lobbyists.
- Attend legislative briefings and maintain awareness of Commissioner positions and impacts to County operations.
Crisis & Emergency Communications
- Support and serve as backup to the Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer.
- Participate in on-call crisis communications during emergency events.
- Be available with little notice during emergency situations.
Boards, Committees & External Relations
- Serve as ex-officio member and administrative support to the Gilpin Advertising Panel (GAP), if appointed.
- Represent County communications interests on committees, interagency groups, and external organizations.
- Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, community partners, and stakeholder organizations.
Minimum job requirements:
- Must pass background check, including traffic and criminal and a pre-employment drug screening
- Must possess FEMA IS100 and IS700a within six months of employment.
- Must possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license without any restriction due to driving record. Must also be able to drive a county vehicle.
Ability to:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to direct communication development and delivery; ability to edit work and proofread the work of others; ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively for various audiences; strong computer software skills; and knowledge of correct usage of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Ability to work independently, be flexible, and exercise excellent judgement in critical and/or high stress situations; and the ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure.
- Complete projects with significant independence and provide effective leadership for project teams.
- Proven experience with local and regional public affairs and has the ability to stay abreast of the county’s legislative and intergovernmental activities as well as the major programs, services and initiatives administered by other offices and departments.
- Garners and maintains trust and support of the Gilpin County organization and has the ability to assess the political climate and adapt to changing priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate information to support organizational objectives and interact with all levels of personnel with the city, and the general public in a positive and cooperative manner.
- Ability to work through stressful situations, manage conflict and deescalate concerns.
Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
Experience and Work Ethics
- At least three years of progressively professional experience in communications and/or public relations; or any combination of education, training and experience which produces the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the principal job duties.
- Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations or related fields
- Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required abilities, knowledge and skills as determined by Gilpin County may be substituted for the requirements above.
- Bilingual Spanish skills preferred but not required.
Civic Minded
- Must possess strong community interest, while understanding the County government organization, function, policy rules and regulations.
- Ability to be innovative and creative in management of financial resources in an often changing and challenging environment.
- Attends and actively participates in meetings, while using good judgment.
- Ability to present professionally to large and small groups publicly, while representing the interests of the County.
- Ability to review and evaluate operating procedures and recommend improvements.
- Use of professional and personal discretion to protect the County from any actual and/or perceived appearances of impropriety.
- Applicate Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
Personal Responsiveness
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, elected and appointed officials, businesses, the general public and with the ability to communicate effectively.
- Self-directed and self-motivated in job-related tasks.
- Commitment that employment with the County is primary to all other forms of employment.
- Be punctual and prompt for work and meetings.
- Locate, organize, and retrieve department records and files in a timely fashion.
Knowledge of
- Understands the general theories and principles of public relations; community and organizational communications;
- Understands website development and content administration; social media platforms and management of social media strategies; project management techniques; graphic design; and journalistic protocol; and possesses a high level of comfort with technology.
- Possesses knowledge of media tactics, including interview techniques and preparation.
- Strong knowledge and understanding of communication strategies, practices and principles
Mental/Physical Demands:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
- The employee frequently is required to sit for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; and reach with hands or arms. The employee is required to: stand, walk, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- Must be able to respond to the customers’ needs and perform tasks requiring extensive hand and eye coordination.
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- Physical ability and mobility to drive a motor vehicle to and from other work sites and meetings as required.
- Ability to attend training and meetings outside of regularly scheduled hours and the ability to work in stressful situations.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed in an office environment and outside settings. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax/scan machines. Ability to tolerate and be productive in a quiet to moderate noise level in the work place. Employee will have periodic exposure to hazards in the field such as driving and inclement weather.
Hours:
- Office hours are from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday.
- Evenings and weekends may be required as needed.
