Communications Manager

OC Animal Care has an exciting leadership opportunity for a highly motivated experienced professional to join our team as a Communications Manager (Public Information and Affairs Manager). The Communication Manager as part of the leadership team will report to the Director of OC Animal Care and work closely with the Operations Manager and Business Services Manager. This position will provide strategic leadership supervision and development of the agencys marketing communication and public relation activities that promote and enhance the organizations programs services fundraising initiatives events and brand with an overall emphasis on marketing and community engagement.

The Communications Manager will maintain overall responsibility for OC Animal Cares communication outlets including print publications; online communications including website social media and enewsletters; internal and external stakeholder communications; media and public relations; and marketing.

The incumbent will provide recommendations and strategy in an everevolving industry on best practices in public education program promotions website management and social media planning. This position will directly oversee one (1) Public Information and Affairs Administrator classification with a working title of Community Outreach and Liaison Manager and one (1) Staff Specialist classification with a working title of Public Records Act (PRA) Specialist as well as indirect oversight of one (1) Public Information and Affairs Analyst with a working title of Public Information Officer one (1) Staff Specialist with a working title of Social Media/Website Coordinator two (2) ACO Public Education Officers with working titles of Events Coordinator and Volunteer Coordinator.

Areas of responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive strategic marketing and communications plan to promote all facets of OC Animal Care advance the agencys brand identity increase community engagement and retention broaden awareness for the agencys programs and priorities and increase visibility of the agency across key stakeholder audiences
• Lead/oversee and coordinate media relations public relations website and social media strategy and execution legislation analysis and coordinate special event planning
• Effectively communicate the mission role goals and initiatives of the agency within the animal welfare community with an emphasis on collaboration and information sharing to achieve common goals
• Develop execute and evaluate the success of OC Animal Cares communication and marketing strategies with an emphasis on defining key performance metrics and demonstrating measurable impact
• Manage all efforts to research analyze develop review edit and disseminate original reports media alerts scripts collateral communication plans newsletters digital content agendas articles presentations and other communication documents as needed
• Act as communications advisor for subject matter experts at the agency
• Assist with or act as lead contact for high level stakeholder engagement and communication
• Serve as the liaison for the agency with other communication professionals in animal welfare organizations
• Manage/oversee and coordinate any agency communication/marketing contracts including budgeting scope of work and initial procurement process as well as oversight of the executed contract for deliverables
• Manage/oversee and coordinate development efforts for the agency act as development coordinator or communications lead for agency development initiatives as assigned
• Serve as the subject matter expert for crisis and emergency communications providing strategic leadership and guidance
• Serve as spokesperson for the agency and/or oversees assigned spokesperson as appropriate
• Directly supervise management and nonmanagement positions along with oversight of over three hundred (300) volunteers
• Supervise education and outreach initiatives as well as onsite and offsite events
• Oversee PRA process for the agency

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES:

Experience in the following is highly desirable:

• Working in an animal shelter environment

Candidates must be comfortable interacting with animals.

In addition the successful candidate will also have experience and be knowledgeable in the following core competencies:

• Knowledge of principles and practices of strategic messaging and communication media relations marketing public relations website and social media strategy and execution legislation analysis and special event planning
• Articulately write and edit a variety of materials that are distributed to various audiences
• Research technical data community issues and other key information using online and other resources
• Effectively analyze evaluate and interpret metrics and data
• Develop and implement effective social media messaging and visuals across multiple platforms (Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube etc.)
• Experience and skill developing and executing communications efforts that target both internal and external audiences

• Experience utilizing Microsoft Suite and/or comparable programs

• Develop strategic messaging and communication plans and materials
• Coordinate the preparation and publication of media marketing promotional and/or communication materials
• Plan and respond appropriately to public information/affairs events requests and queries
• Effectively analyzing problems and situations before taking corrective actions
• Work independently to manage time wisely and to effectively prioritize multiple competing tasks

• Integrate new ideas and contemporary approaches into problemsolving
• Gather analyze and apply information skillfully
• Identify evaluate and resolve issues as they arise using decisionmaking abilities and technical expertise
• Develop recommendations propose solutions achieve measurable results and implement best business practices
• Exercise judgement in prioritizing competing interests

• Facilitate groups and building consensus using persuasive reasoning
• Supervise and evaluate staff performance including training and coaching staff coordinating deadlines prioritizing work demands and assigning/monitoring work.
• Provide guidance and direction to others to meet organizational strategic objectives while encouraging openness creativity and innovation
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality and excellence
• Actively promote teamwork by creating a culture and environment that supports individual and team empowerment

• Apply principles and techniques to effective oral presentations public speaking and written reports
• Support executive management in identifying goals priorities and tactic
• Work cooperatively within the department to identify needed project information and ensure the clarity and consistency of messages issued through all communication channels
• Align team and individual goals to meet and execute organizational goals
• Utilize effective communication skills to define and communicate strategic goals to internal and external audiences clearly succinctly and persuasively

• Exercise political acumen tact diplomacy and apply confidentiality in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations
• Work effectively as part of a team to tackle and resolve issues providing creative solutions to problems that achieve program and project objectives
• Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders County elected officials (ex. Board of Supervisors) City officials and staff to ensure departmental goals are accomplished

Possession of a valid California Class C Drivers License or higher is required before the date of appointment.