Community Engagement Specialist - Water Services

Actively supports and upholds the city's stated mission and values. Under direct supervision of the Water Services Management Analyst, employees of this classification work to create content and conduct outreach about the projects, initiatives and programs of the city of Flagstaff, increasing awareness and engagement with constituents.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory: This job does not have supervisory responsibilities.
• Budgetary: This job does not have budgetary responsibilities but carries out day-to­ day activities within approved budget.
• Strategic Planning: This job has partial responsibility for strategic planning at the program level including providing input on overall outreach plans for the city and Water Services section.
• Policies/Procedures: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Compliance: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
• Council Communications: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Council's  and Water Commission’s adopted priorities and direction.
• Reporting: This job does not have duties related to reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies.

EXAMPLES OF THE WORK PERFORMED (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Provides excellent, proactive customer service to both internal and external customers, to include providing design, production, outreach and website support.
• Advises and assists the Water Services Director and staff in developing outreach strategies and communications materials to support the city's overall outreach and engagement efforts.
• Develops and implements long-range outreach planning, as well as the day-to-day creation of content for Water Services social media channels.
• Supports city efforts to establish and maintain positive and productive community relations between the city and citizens, the business community, media, outside agencies and public officials.
• Develops and edits copy for social media and communications.
• Designs and produces online creative, collateral and publications.
• Collaborates with other city programs to develop outreach materials and other items necessary to the work program of each section.
• Contributes to the procurement of all photo imagery and illustration necessary for city­ produced outreach materials.
• Understands and easily navigates digital media platforms and possesses the skillsets to provide effective user experiences to increase overall engagement.
• Proactively suggests and implements updates to content that supports strategic marketing programs and their targeted audiences, including content topic research that produces even higher rankings, and creating and curating content across media platforms.
• Assists with website content management, updating and web content proofing, executing web enhancements, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) research and consistently works toward stronger rankings.
• Assists with increasing engagement on various social media platforms.
• Coordinates and manages videography outreach efforts.
• Composes email marketing messages with consistent utility brand design and manages stakeholder contact lists. 
• Releases monthly e-blogs about strategic investments, water quality and reliability, water resource planning, and flood preparedness. 
• Supports the development of the Annual Consumer Confidence Report and Report to the Water Commission by researching, compiling data and organizing accompanying graphics and photos. 
• Composes press releases, news articles, and announcements to share with the Flagstaff public. 
• Creates fact sheets, brochures, rack cards, posters, door hangers, and Capital Improvement Project signs for customer outreach. 
• Maintains the Capital Improvement Map with associated story maps on the website and provides online updates for several projects. 
• Facilitates dialogue in public forums. 
• Develops and delivers presentations to the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Northern Arizona University, and local school partners on various water topics. 
• Assists in the creation of virtual materials for state and national water conservation campaigns by preparing educational videos, infographics, and social media posts. 
• Tracks Water Services presentations, outreach, and events.
• Prepares scripts for video production and creates informational videos for the division. 
• Serves as an internal communications resource for all sixteen sections of Water Services by collaborating with other staff to meet their outreach needs. 
• Develops and implements plans, projects and policies that support communication objectives identified in the Water Services Strategic Plan.
• Writes and designs content for newspaper publication.
• Prepares radio advertisements.
• Administers customer and internal surveys. 
• Develops and strengthens community partnerships. 
• Develops and shares communications for large-scale infrastructure projects.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design, Communications, or a related field.
• Two years of experience in public relations, communications, or marketing.
• Four years of computer experience in both Mac and PC platforms with software applications devoted to design and computer imaging (Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator), publishing and commercial printing processes, photography, and website design and/or development.  Experience could include college course work. 
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements. 

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• Social Media content development and account management
• Knowledge and experience with photography and photographic principles.
• Knowledge and experience with video and video editing.
• Experience with digital illustration.
• Strong knowledge of design principles and art composition, e.g. page layout, color theory, typography, imagery and integration of components into a harmonious whole.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Ability to operate in a work environment requiring irregular work hours as dictated by meetings, activities, events, shows, travel and familiarization tours, which will include weekends, evenings and holidays.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Ability to work in a high paced environment and meet deadlines.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Language Skills:  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the community. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Knowledge of English language composition, usage, vocabulary, and nuance.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Time Management Skills: Ability to manage a project from start to finish while meeting deadlines.
• Layout Skills: Ability to design visually engaging online and print creative. 
• Software Skills: Ability to utilize necessary software to create print, online, video and animation creative. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger/handle/feel, and the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 
• Working conditions include occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.