Communications and Media Relations Officer

The City of Modesto, located in the heart of California's Central Valley, is a vibrant and diverse community known for its rich cultural heritage and commitment to civic engagement. As a dynamic local government entity, the City of Modesto is dedicated to providing exceptional services that enhance the quality of life for its residents and foster economic growth and sustainability. The City operates a broad range of departments and programs designed to serve the public with transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness, emphasizing strong community relations and proactive communication. The City Manager's Office is at the forefront of these efforts, playing a pivotal role in shaping and delivering strategic communication initiatives that inform, engage, and inspire the community. The City of Modesto is currently seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join the Strategic Communication Team as a Community and Media Relations Officer. This key position is essential in managing the City's community outreach, public information, and media relations endeavors. The successful candidate will serve as a vital communication resource within the City Manager's Office, tasked with developing, coordinating, and implementing effective public affairs strategies that elevate awareness of City operations and objectives. This role combines creativity, strategic thinking, and tactical execution to advance the City's branding and messaging across multiple platforms including social media, traditional media, newsletters, and public events. As the Communications and Media Relations Officer, you will be responsible for crafting compelling narratives and producing a wide variety of communication materials such as press releases, newsletters, brochures, fact sheets, speeches, and multimedia presentations including podcasts and videos. You will also manage the City’s social media channels by creating, scheduling, and publishing content that aligns with established City branding guidelines and communication goals while monitoring performance metrics and adapting strategies to keep pace with emerging trends in digital media. In addition, you will assist with major press events and public outreach activities, often serving as a public information officer during emergencies by disseminating timely and accurate information to the media, City employees, and the public. Collaborating closely with various departments, you will provide guidance on communication strategies, help manage the City’s website content to ensure ADA compliance and up-to-date information, and oversee the production and distribution of internal and external newsletters and reports. This position also involves vendor coordination for communications-related services and recommending marketing opportunities that are consistent with the City's budget and branding. The ideal candidate will bring strong project management skills, a professional demeanor, and the ability to handle sensitive or controversial matters discreetly and diplomatically. Emphasizing excellent interpersonal skills, this role contributes significantly to building and maintaining positive relationships with coworkers, stakeholders, and the community at large. The City of Modesto offers a competitive salary package that includes upcoming salary increases and education incentives: a 3% salary increase effective July 1, 2026, with additional incentives of 2.5% for a bachelor’s degree and 5% for a master’s degree. This role promises an exciting opportunity for those passionate about public service communication and community engagement within a supportive and inclusive work environment. If you are seeking a career with meaningful impact where your creativity and strategic communication expertise will be valued and challenged, the Community and Media Relations Officer position at the City of Modesto is an excellent choice.

• possession of or ability to obtain a valid California driver's license
• any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities
• knowledge of principles and practices of public relations, media, marketing, and advertising
• knowledge of public information and community relations program development and implementation
• knowledge of effective methods for preparing and presenting facts and information to the public and media
• knowledge of writing and editing techniques for various audiences
• knowledge of research and problem-solving techniques
• knowledge of pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations
• ability to perform professional public information duties to promote and market city services and programs
• ability to interpret and explain complex information clearly
• ability to operate office equipment including computers and publishing software
• ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• willingness to perform duties with discretion and professionalism