Public Relations Manager

Salary: $27.76 - $45.80 Hourly

Location : 33982, FL

Job Type: Full-time

Job Number: 4

Department: Public Safety

Division: Fire/EMS

Opening Date: 11/15/2024

Closing Date: 11/28/:59 PM Eastern

FLSA: Exempt

Bargaining Unit: NB

General Summary & Essential Responsibilities

The Public Relations Manager for Public Safety is responsible for developing and executing communication strategies that promote public safety initiatives and enhance the public image of public safety organizations. This role involves creating clear, accurate, and timely messaging for both internal and external stakeholders, including the media, community organizations, government agencies, and the general public. The PR Manager will work closely with fire and emergency services, and local government to manage crisis communication, public outreach, and media relations, ensuring that public safety messages are effectively conveyed, especially during emergencies or critical incidents.

Key responsibilities include crafting press releases, handling media inquiries, managing social media accounts, coordinating public awareness campaigns, and organizing community engagement events. The PR Manager will also serve as a spokesperson for the organization, representing its interests while maintaining transparency and fostering trust with the public. Strong communication, crisis management skills, and a thorough understanding of public safety issues are essential to this role.

This position requires a proactive, solutions-oriented individual who can work under pressure and maintain a calm, authoritative presence in high-stakes situations, all while upholding the core values of safety, integrity, and community service.Work is performed under general supervision of the Department Director or designee and performance is reviewed through discussions, observation, analysis of work product, and evaluation of results achieved.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
•  Serves as spokesperson for assigned department; responds to routine media inquiries and questions; provides print and broadcast interviews as needed; tracks resulting stories; and assists in managing essential and time-critical communications activities.
•  Manages relationships with media contacts; develops and implements public relations opportunities; and coordinates public relations activities with Public Information Officer and department managers.
•  Provides relevant and timely information regarding department activities and projects; prepares and distributes press releases; and maintains and monitors web page and social media accounts.
•  Pursues and maintains professional relationships; acts as liaison to outside agencies; and develops industry promotions and partnerships.
•  Manages promotions and collateral distribution efforts; creates and distributes brochures, informational handouts, flyers, informational packets, and other collateral materials.
•  Coordinates public outreach programs, attends meetings, and makes presentations to community groups, organizations, businesses and schools.
•  Travels to county departments, meetings, and events pertaining to community outreach initiatives.
•  Assists with other department activities as requested; prepares annual budget documents; compiles and analyzes economic impact data; manages research and inquiry services programs and related sub-contractors; and other activities as assigned.
•  May design, execute, and evaluate a comprehensive marketing, brand alignment, and community relations plan for the department. Collaborates with division managers in the creation and execution of this plan.
•  May establish processes and measures to track the progress and effectiveness of marketing and communications.
•  May provide reports regarding this effectiveness to the management team, board, and other community groups, as necessary.
•  May investigate partnerships and alternative sources of funding to support programs and activities.
•  May regularly conduct market research to assess audiences and discover new and improved marketing opportunities.
•  May monitor marketing trends to ensure marketing is current and follows best practices.
•  Performs basic administrative duties including written reports, memorandums, letters, and electronic correspondence, interaction with vendors, and communication through telephone and meetings.
•  Provides exceptional customer assistance, problem-solving, and/or complaint resolution by all forms of communication. Min. Education, Licenses and Certifications

Education and Experience:
An equivalent combination of relevant training, education and experience:
•  Bachelor's Degree:
•  Preferred:
•  Public Relations
•  Marketing
•  Communications
•  Three (3) years of experience in public relations, marketing, or communications Licenses and/or Certificates:
•   Must maintain a valid driver's license. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
•  Knowledge of departmental policies, plans, and procedures.
•  Knowledge of modern office practices, plans, and procedures.
•  Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other job-related computer programs and software applications.
•  Knowledge of principles, practices & techniques of promotion, marketing & public relations.
•  Knowledge of principles and practices of County's budgetary processes.
•  Knowledge of respective industry; knowledge of all media resources used in respective industry.
•  Strong analytical and research skills.
•  Strong written and oral communication skills including public speaking and the ability to develop effective proposals and reports.
•  Skill in effective communication, both orally and in writing.
•  Skill in prioritizing and organizing work.
•  Skill in the use of office equipment such as a computer, multi-line telephone system, scanner, fax machine, and copier.
•  Ability to compose correspondence, editorial copy, and press materials, including use of software such as Adobe in Design, Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint.
•  Ability to analyze and interpret departmental rules, regulations, procedures and policies and exercise judgment and discretion in application.
•  Ability to ascertain priorities and meet deadlines and objectives.
•  Ability to understand the implications and influences of the political arena.
•  Ability to make recommendations and to use resourcefulness and tact in solving new problems.
•  Ability to plan, organize, direct, and appraise the work of assigned personnel.
•  Ability to maintain accurate records and reports.
•  Ability to work independently with little supervision.
•  Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
•  Ability to provide internal/external guidance and customer assistance via all forms of communication.
•  Ability to foster positive and productive community relationships and maintain a positive public profile.
•  Ability to use computers for data entry, word processing, and/or accounting purposes.
•  Ability to author reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
•  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, service providers, other employees, and the general public. Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Stooping, walking, talking, sitting, pulling, grasping, hearing, seeing up close, seeing far away, kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, finger movement, repetitive motions, depth perception. Frequent lifting up to 25 pounds and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment. Work is primarily performed indoors but requires some exposure to environmental changes (e.g., outdoor weather and/or field conditions, warehouses, covered loading docks, garages, etc.) or irate customers, extreme noise, odors, heights and/or dust.

RISK/SAFETY CONDITIONS
The position requires no exposure or risk related to physical and/or mental health and safety.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Charlotte County is an Affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans' Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.

Charlotte County is an Affirmative Action/ADA/Veterans' Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive benefits package to regular full-time employees. Please click on the link below to view information about our benefits.

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Please select the highest level of completed education which you possess?
•  High School Diploma or GED
•  Associate's Degree
•  Bachelor's Degree . click apply for full job details