Community Relations Administrator

Application Dates: March 27, 2024 - April 10, 2024

At the City of Danville, we care deeply about our citizens’ quality of life. We are seeking a Community Relations Administrator to help us fulfill five primary functions:

1. Strengthen communication between the City and our residents.

2. Build, maintain, and nurture relationships amongst people, neighborhoods, and organizations.

3. Plan, implement, manage, and evaluate public events.

4. Improve our image both within and outside of our community.

5. Oversee the Community Relations Division staff, interns, and volunteers.

As the Community Relations Administrator, you will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies to enhance our organization's reputation and build strong relationships with the community. This is a leadership role that requires excellent communication skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders.

Our ideal team member will have excellent organizational, communication, and writing skills, but also the ability to foster positive relationships with both individuals and organizations. You will be the principal ambassador for the City, often speaking internally and publicly – delivering the City’s vision within the local community and to the world.

Join our team and make a positive impact on the community! Apply today to be considered for the role of Community Relations Administrator.

Normal Work Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday, subject to change

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent coursework and training in the field of public relations/administration, marketing, communication, community development, or closely related field. Master’s degree in the aforementioned areas preferred.
• At least four (4) years of work experience in public relations, community development, or a related field.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The following examples are illustrative of the work duties and responsibilities of this position. Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function in the performance of this job.

• Demonstrate honesty and integrity in professional and personal attitudes/behavior in order to appropriately represent yourself, the City, and the Mayor.
• Build and maintain relationships with members of the community, key individuals, neighboring businesses, the media, and other organizations as an ambassador for the City, sharing its mission, vision and values with the community.
• Provide leadership and management to staff, interns, and volunteers in the Community Relations Division.
• Provide direction and oversight to Community Relations Coordinator’s planning and implementation of all programs, events, and activities (such as First Fridays, Holiday events, and The Vermilion River Fall Festival), that will have a positive impact on the community and our people, also soliciting corporate and individual sponsorships to ensure the longevity and continuation of community programming.
• Oversee branding and communication for the City of Danville. Create and strategically share content for all social, digital, and web marketing and communications on behalf of the city, as a pivotal part of changing the perception of Danville and telling a new story, strategically utilizing the City’s tag line, logo, pillars, style guide, etc.
• Serve as primary manager for the City of Danville website and mobile app, screening all content before publication, adding information and updates as needed, and maintaining the aesthetic and design of the platforms to be in line with our city brand.
• Engage the community and provide positive communication and pertinent updates through TextMyGov, informative mailers, online and print articles, and all web avenues.
• Oversee all contracted videographers, photographers, marketing specialists, and website management companies that assist with branding efforts for the City of Danville.
• Serve as the Neighborhood Association (NHA) liaison, supporting all NHA efforts and creating City programming to support the growth and efforts of all NHAs.
• Maintain positive working relations with all division heads and share their department updates and announcements in creative and engaging ways through all media platforms.
• Assist department heads with marketing strategy and content for their communication and hiring needs.
• Review correspondence, including proofreading City and departmental/divisional press releases and other materials for content, accuracy, grammar, punctuation, spelling and format prior to distribution to the public.
• Collaborate with other department heads to identify city projects, compile data, and assist with writing grants at the federal, state and local levels.
• Refer certain issues to appropriate City departments, staff members, and/or appropriate external entities for resolution.
• Serve as a City representative on nonprofit Boards as appointed.
• Maintain a comprehensive and accurate master list and email contact of media contacts for press releases.
• Conduct research and respond to requests for information.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of everything implemented, adjusting as needed to ensure excellence.
• Attend all City Council and Public Services Meetings, providing a written report monthly to the Public Services Committee.
• All other duties assigned by the Mayor.

Required Skills: The following skills are basic to the functions of this position.

• Excellent communication skills, including professional level knowledge of business English, grammar, and spelling, as well as the ability to compose professional correspondence.
• Great interpersonal skills and ability to work well as part of a team, including establishing and maintaining highly effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, other elected and appointed officials, committee members, City Department and Division Heads, City team members, citizens, businesses, representatives of civic and community groups, the media, and others encountered in the course of work.
• Excellent project and time management skills with the ability to juggle a variety of ongoing projects, meeting deadlines and being nimble in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage sensitive or controversial subjects with tact, kindness, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and related writing, presentation, and publication software.

Benefits: Eleven (11) paid holidays each year; Ninety-six (96) hours of Earned-Time Leave each year; Eighty (80) hours of vacation leave after first year; Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund participation; Affordable health, dental and vision insurance; $10,000 paid life insurance; Optional deferred compensation.

Residency Requirements: Any employee of the City serving as a department or division head must establish their principal residence in Illinois, within five (5) miles of the City of Danville corporate limits within six months following successful completion of their probationary period.

Other Information: Employees of the City of Danville are expected to be honest, courteous, and helpful to the public and handle matters in confidence. The City Council has adopted a “Code of Ethics” that is applicable to all employees and officers of the City.

Applications are available on the City website, www.cityofdanville.org.

AA/EOE

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,925.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Wellness program

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person