Communications Manager

The City of Gresham is seeking a dedicated and inventive Communications Manager to shape and lead our public outreach and engagement strategies. This is a critical role where you will manage the Citys communications projects and strategies ensuring transparency and connection between the municipal government and the public. If you thrive on challenging fast-paced and rewarding work we invite you to join a team that goes one step beyond in service to our residents.

As Oregons fourth-largest city Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve and go one step beyond to deliver services in collaborative inventive practical and nimble ways. Our work is challenging fast-paced and rewarding.

We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce foster an inclusive working environment and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints life experiences and cultural perspectives. Come build the future with us.

Why Join Gresham

When you build the future with us youll find a supportive inclusive and equitable working environment.

Our Comprehensive Benefits Package is Designed for Your Well-being:

• Competitive Compensation: An equitable base salary within the posted range.
• Robust Health Coverage: Multiple options for Medical/Vision (including Kaiser HMO and a City Core Plan) and Dental coverage.
• Secure Your Future: Participation in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off Life/AD&D and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• Mental & Physical Wellness: Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Canopy and Teladoc virtual healthcare.

What you will get to do:

Your primary purpose will be to manage the Citys communications to inform the media and the public about Gresham issues vision goals and activities. You will be the architect of our message managing a team of professionals to ensure effective internal and external outreach across multiple platforms and formats.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Strategic Leadership: Plan organize manage and administer comprehensive communications programs.
• Team Management: Oversee and coach the Communications staff fostering a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Media Relations: Act as a key liaison to the media managing inquiries and developing responses to ensure accurate public information.
• Content & Channel Strategy: Direct the creation and distribution of high-quality content across digital print and social media channels.
• Crisis Communications: Develop and execute strategies to effectively communicate during time-sensitive complex or critical events.

We are seeking a candidate who embodies the Citys values of being collaborative practical inventive nimble and equitable.

• Experience: Proven experience in communications management public relations or a related field preferably within a governmental or large public agency setting.
• Leadership: Demonstrated success in managing staff and complex communications projects.
• Strategic Vision: The ability to develop and implement communications plans that align with organizational goals.
• Commitment to Equity: A dedication to actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints and cultural perspectives ensuring our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes.

• Leads a team of 5 professionals
• Serves as the Citys lead spokesperson for general communications; serves as the media liaison and responds to press calls on breaking stories news features and public information campaigns; provides timely and accurate communications of information related to organizational business.
• Serves as the backup Public information officer for public safety related events and support to Mayor and City council and coordinates with the Public Information Officer to ensure message consistency and coordination.
• Reports to the Assistant City Manager

Knowledge of:

• Laws rules regulations ordinances and collective bargaining agreements affecting City policies and operations
• City government administration organization functions and services
• Practices principles procedures regulations standards and techniques as they relate to assigned operations
• Supervisory principles and practices
• Budget development and fiscal management principles and practices
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff
• Techniques for effectively representing the City with government agencies community groups and various business professional regulatory and legislative organizations
• Communication principles practices and techniques
• Modern office practices and methods computer equipment hardware and software applications

• Exercise discretion in confidential and sensitive matters
• Interpret apply and ensure compliance with applicable policies procedures laws and regulations
• Analyze problems identify alternative solutions assess consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations
• Influence and gain cooperation when there are competing or conflicting priorities; conduct effective negotiations and represent the City
• Develop and implement goals objectives policies procedures work standards and internal controls
• Oversee a multicultural workforce promote an equitable workplace environment and apply equitable program practices to diverse and complex City services
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external contacts
• Operate office equipment and technology tools including personal computers laptop computers and printers and presentation equipment
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing; present information proposals and recommendations clearly and persuasively

• Bachelors degree in Communications Public Relations Journalism Public Administration Political Science Business Administration or other related field
• Three (3) to six (6) years of professional experience in communications public information/relations programs or related work to include managing a team.

To apply for this position click Apply at the top of this job posting.

Required application materials:

• Complete online application (Do not type see resume in any fields or leave work experience fields blank in the application template.)
• Answers to supplemental questions

The City of Gresham offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience skills and education verified in your application. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Oregon Equal Pay.

If you desire a modification of this process to accommodate a disability please provide your request in writing to or by phone to upon submitting the required application documents.

A review of application materials including your response to supplemental questions submitted will determine which candidates will be invited to an interview.

Communication with candidates will be done primarily through e-mail. Sometimes these messages may land in a spam or junk mail folder. We encourage you to monitor your inbox as well as the inbox within the portal for important updates related to this process.

Veterans Preference

The City of Gresham provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with state law. Any candidate wishing to have their qualifying veterans preference applied to the process must submit a qualifying document (DD Form 214 or 215) at the time of application providing proof of eligibility that includes discharge status. Disabled veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the US Department of Veteran Affairs at the time of application unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

Our Commitment

The City of Gresham is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants without unlawful regard to race color religion sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related medical conditions) sexual orientation gender identity national origin age mental or physical disability genetic information veteran status marital status familial status or any other status protected by applicable federal Oregon or local law.

Please direct questions about this position to or

If you need assistance with the online application please contact NEOGOV directly at 1-.

Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.