Chief Information and Public Affairs Officer - Savannah GA
Chief Information and Public Affairs Officer - Savannah GA
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USD 100 - 100
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Job Description
About Us
Seeking Chief of Information and Public Affairs
Are you a highly successful communications legislative affairs and marketing professional Have you managed the communication function for a large company or a local government Are you interested in work that has meaning and having a societal impact The City of Savannah offers such an opportunity as the Chief of Information and Public Affairs (CIOPA).
Savannah is a highperforming diverse community with a welcoming spirit and a can do attitude. The Citys elected and appointed leaders are committed to taking Savannah to the next level as leaders in providing economic opportunity for all and a high quality of life. This will be accomplished through partnerships with intergovernmental stakeholders the business sector the faith community philanthropic and educational institutions and directly with the residents who call Savannah home and the millions of visitors who see Savannah as a destination.
Effective communication is critical for Savannah to fulfill its potential and realize its aspirations. We are not looking for a traditional PIO.
- We need someone to serve as Savannahs Chief of Legislative Affairs in Atlanta and Washington DC.
- We need someone who can brand and sell our City and Team Savannah internally and externally telling the story of Savannah through data and pictures.
- We need someone who can showcase how the City makes decisions using data and key aspects of our service delivery systems to enhance the lives of our residents and visitors.
- We need someone experienced in niche marketing who recognizes our need to reach every niche inclusively and is committed to transparency.
- We need someone experienced in all of the available tools: media placement direct mail video social media and direct facetoface interaction.
- We need someone with a track record of building trusting relationships with a large highly engaged professional independent news media.
- We need someone who can demonstrate the ability to develop an integrated corporate strategy while meeting the specialized marketing and communication needs of the Citys diverse individual business lines. The individual parts matter and the whole must be more than just the sum.
- We need someone who has promoted fun and happy events and has pivoted to crisis communications that involve life and death realities.
- We need a marketing and communication expert who will be a key leader on Savannahs executive team.
- We need someone with a track record of building highperforming crossagency teams that are entrepreneurial creative and highenergy.
Organization Overview:
Under the City Charter the City Manager is the Citys chief executive officer and is responsible for implementing the policies of the City Council directing business and administrative procedures and appointing departmental officers. The City Council comprises the Mayor and eight aldermen who all serve concurrent fouryear terms. This fullservice municipality employs 2600 employees across 26 departments and has a FY 2025 budget of $601M and AA bond ratings.
The City is guided by a robuststrategic plantied to a factbased approach and the FY 2025 Budget. Additionally there is a strong commitment to data and transparency as evidenced by bestpractice good government initiatives. View theMayor kicking offthe 2025 updates to the plan and the importance of using data to yield results. More information about the City can be foundhere(or by copying and pasting into your browser).
About the Community:
As Americas first planned City Savannah boasts historic architecture luxurious parks and a government culture that aims to build upon its early success in providing superior planning infrastructure and services for its citizens and visitors. In addition to its assets as a city Savannah offers great weather nearby beaches and a tradition of hospitality and cultural offerings. Savannah is home to a vibrant arts and cultural scene that hosts over 200 festivals each year focused on various themes including music food and film. A growing Savannah Music Festival has garnered international acclaim as performers from Savannah and worldwide showcase talent in different musical genres. The City is committed to promoting numerous festivals and special events throughout the year and is particularly known for its St. Patricks Day celebration.
Savannahs warm weather allows participation in outdoor activities yearround. The City has more than 100 public recreational neighborhood parks 13 swimming pools more than 70 athletic fields more than 75 basketball courts 50 tennis courts two public golf courses and a marina. Savannah offers marinas throughout the 420 miles of navigable waters and 87000 acres of tidal marshland and the Intracoastal Waterway for boating fishing and swimming enthusiasts. Tybee Island is Savannahs public beach approximately 20 minutes east of downtown.
Savannah has a diverse economy consisting of manufacturing one of the fastestgrowing seaports in the nation tourism regional medical services and the military. Retail and service businesses are also essential factors. Savannah is a splendid spot for sightseeing with its wellpreserved history fascinating architecture natural beauty unique squares and mild climate. The City boasts the nations largest National Historic Landmark District.
The City of Savannah is a wonderful community for your next career move. Its earned reputation and accolades include the following:
- Voted one of The Worlds 30 Friendliest Cities and the fifth Best Small City in the United States according to Cond Nast Travelers Readers Choice Awards.
- One of the best employers and top local government in the State of Georgia Forbes 2019.
- Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in America USA Weekend Magazine.
- Worlds Top Ten Trendy Travel Hot Spots New York Times
- Top 10 U.S City to Visit Conde Nast Traveler.
- Southern Living placed Savannah second on its Best Southern City list.
- Called the City one of the Top 25 Places to Live and Work Outlook Magazine.
With over 147000 yearround residents the population of Savannah also includes the students of four colleges and universities offering bachelors masters and professional or doctoral degree programs: Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Savannah State University and South University. With six distinct historic districts coastal beaches and a globally recognized food and art scene tourism is a significant economic driver with nearly 10 million visitors in 2022. Home to the Port of Savannah nearby Fort StewartHunter Air Base International Paper Gulfstream Aerospace Titlemax and others Savannahs economy is diverse and robust.
Duties/Responsibilities
The Chief Information and Public Affairs Officer directly supervises a centralized team of 102 employees across four units: Municipal Archives Marketing and Communications Innovation and Technology and Recorders Court. The successful candidate will have diverse skills and oversee a $7M budget. However the Chiefs leadership is critical across a cadre of decentralized communicators and web content specialists embedded in City departments. The centralized and decentralized staff must be forged into an integrated coordinated force that effectively tells our many stories connects the public with their City and informs and engages. This is the critical work of the Chief Information and Public Affairs Officer.
Key Priorities:
- Proactively engage in marketing and salesmanship understanding our strengths and weaknesses and how to communicate and advance our mission with state federal local partners and media as well as leveraging internal culture.
- Working with stakeholders on fleshing out the Strategic Plan to clarify the activities needed to accomplish the plans goals and objectives while developing measurable outcomes to track and report to others internally and externally.
- Developing and implementing an organizationwide data management system and performance dashboard including supporting the development of a data management policy to track strategic plan outcomes on a scheduled basis
- Advance the Citys goals with state and federal officials. Raising the bar of our communications products and strategies internally and externally.
Qualifications
- Minimum of a bachelors degree in marketing public relations or a related field; masters degree preferred.
- Prefer 10 years of progressive experience in corporate communication and marketing with demonstrated ability to develop and implement a strategic communication plan with measurable results and at least five years of leading a team.
- Experience in the private sector or highly progressive government with a strong orientation toward branding promotion social media engagement and media relations.
- Understanding of local government and the roles it plays.
Additional Information
Salary and Benefits:This positions hiring range (min to mid)is $153582$188138. Starting salary will depend on qualifications.Savannah offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance retirement options and relocation expenses which can be found here. Residency is encouraged but not required.
To applyplease visit click on the Chief Information Officer/ Public Affairs City of Savannah GA title.
- All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) NOT the citys employment application portal or any other external website.
- Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
- Applicants should apply byMarch 25 2025 to be considered during the first round of reviews.
- The hiring team will invite successful semifinalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on April. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
- Direct all inquiriesto
The City of Savannah GA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this position.To learn more about our selection process visithttps://developmentalassociates/clientopenings/and scroll down to Important Information for Applicants.
Required Experience:
Chief
Employment Type
Full-Time
