Public Safety Media and Engagement Manager

The City of Sunnyvales Department of Public Safety is seeking a dedicated Media and Engagement Manager to support the Office of the Chief in meeting the growing demand for transparent timely and strategic public safety communications. This management-level position will serve as the departments primary communications lead for non-critical incidents overseeing media relations crisis and emergency communications social media and website content internal communications including a regular staff newsletter and community engagement initiatives.

The Public Safety Media and Engagement Manager will coordinate closely with command staff the Office of the City Manager the Office of Emergency Services and partner agencies to ensure accurate and consistent messaging during high-profile events emergencies and officer-involved incidents while also supporting long-term communication planning aligned with City Council priorities. This role requires a skilled communications professional capable of providing 24/7 support strategic guidance and leadership to safeguard public trust enhance operational continuity and strengthen connections between the department its staff and the Sunnyvale community.

(May include but are not limited to the following):

• Develop and manage internal and external communication strategies that align with the departments mission values and City goals. Manages and maintains the Department of Public Safetys media relations engagement across various platforms to build relationships with the community.
• Collaborate with Office of the City Manager Communications staff and other departments to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals objectives policies and priorities for public safety communications and community engagement programs; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Coordinates marketing public information community engagement and internal and external communication activities for the Department of Public Safety.
• Coordinates edits and publishes various press releases flyers annual reports and other publications as needed.
• Serves as the Department of Public Safetys non-sworn public information officer; interacts regularly with the media; coordinates with sworn Public Safety staff at events; and be available for on-camera radio and print media interviews.
• Develops and implements outreach efforts for the Department of Public Safety connecting the public with City services and programs.
• Leads in planning and coordinating Department of Public Safety ceremonies events workshops and meetings as assigned.
• Serves as content manager for Department of Public Safety webpages.
• Manages the Department of Public Safetys social media channels to ensure strong communication flow between the department and its residents. Creates curates and publishes engaging content for social media platforms (e.g. Facebook Instagram X/Twitter Nextdoor LinkedIn YouTube). Develops proposed responses on social media for the department management.
• Interfaces with other departments in the preparation and dissemination of news items.
• Attends and reports on public safety events community meetings and training exercises to capture and share stories highlighting departmental activities and achievements.
• Maintains strong working relationships between the Department of Public Safety and the Citys Communications Team staff; tracks and monitors performance metrics; seeks opportunities to improve metrics and customer satisfaction.
• Prepares requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services including graphic design photography and videography.
• Manages contracts and contractors to develop communications materials such as graphic design photography videography and video editing.
• Provides complex and technical support to the Director of Public Safety in responding to major incidents and emergencies; assists with the development of emergency response preparedness content templates and operating procedures.
• Supports crisis and emergency communication efforts including real-time messaging and coordination with the Citys Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Responds to offsite community events operational incidents and critical incidents as requested by the Director of Public Safety or Command Staff.
• Assists the Director of Public Safety and other management staff with media relations and responding to inquiries; prepares media responses and drafts media materials.
• Serves as liaison for assigned functions with other City departments divisions and outside agencies; provides staff support to commissions committees and task forces as required.
• Prepares reports and correspondence concerning new or ongoing programs and program effectiveness; prepares statistical reports as required; establishes and maintains working and official program files; ensures the proper documentation of operations and activities.
• Represents the Department of Public Safety in meetings with members of other organizations community groups contractors and the public.
• Provides information for special population groups within the City including materials in second languages; and establishes community partnerships with the Citys diverse communities.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in communications multimedia technologies web page design social media and emergency communications.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes as approved.
• Answers questions and provides information to the public; researches and responds to complaints and inquiries from residents other departments and agencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:
The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following way:

A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in public administration communications journalism public relations or related field; AND

Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in public communication public relations or communications or journalism with at least one (1) year supporting a law enforcement agency preferred and prior experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of communications with internal staff and the public.
• Best practices for social media creation analytics and digital content.
• Current principles techniques and objectives of professional journalistic methods including research publication and presentation.
• Principles and practices of marketing public information graphic design media and community relations and production.
• Public information and public relations concepts principles methodology and techniques.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Principles of providing functional direction and training.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Recent and ongoing developments related to the media and engagement management.
• Principles and practices of budget development and administration.
• Principles and practices of contract administration and management.
• Legal ethical and professional rules of conduct for public sector employees including Fair Political Practices Commission rules and the Public Records Act.
• Various forms of mass media including print cable television radio and the Internet.
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) for digital accessibility compliance.
• Research methods and techniques.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports and general correspondence.
• Applicable federal state and local laws codes and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• City and mandated safety rules regulations and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively working with the public vendors contractors and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words rules of composition and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and programs project and task coordination including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

• Plan organize oversee develop implement and administer a comprehensive public information program.
• Track employee and community engagement and effectiveness of social media strategies.
• Assist in developing and implementing goals objectives practices policies procedures and work standards.
• Manage sensitive and confidential law enforcement information in a professional manner.
• Convey complex or sensitive issues and technical information in a clear and careful manner.
• Effectively provide staff leadership and work direction.
• Prepare and administer budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Coordinate and manage assigned projects and programs.
• Conduct strategic planning for assigned projects.
• Collect evaluate and interpret information and data in statistical narrative and verbal form.
• Develop community relations and communications programs and strategies for the Department of Public Safety.
• Effectively collaborate with staff to coordinate and implement communication campaigns using various mediums including digital print cable television radio and direct in-person tactics.
• Effectively express thoughts and facts clearly orally and in writing; demonstrate effective use of listening skills and display openness to other ideas and thoughts.
• Plan and conduct special events.
• Prepare and present organized and accurate oral reports statements and presentations.
• Research analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods procedures and techniques.
• Prepare maintain and update accurate detailed records and files.
• Interpret and evaluate statistical data.
• Understand interpret and apply all pertinent laws codes regulations policies and procedures and standards relevant to work performed.
• Establish maintain and foster positive and effective working relationships; discuss problems and complaints tactfully courteously and effectively.
• Effectively represent the Department of Public Safety meetings with governmental agencies community groups various business professional and regulatory organizations and in meetings with individuals.
• Prepare clear and concise reports correspondence documentation and other written materials.
• Use tact initiative prudence and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work set priorities meet critical deadlines and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Effectively use computer systems software applications relevant to work performed and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

• Prior experience in a public safety or government communications role.
• Experience conducting on-camera interviews or serving as a spokesperson.
• Bilingual skills.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & PROCESS

The application submitted must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description in order to move forward in the recruitment process with the City of Sunnyvale. The information provided in the Work Experience Education and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application will be used to determine if the application meets the minimum qualifications. A resume employment history provided elsewhere in the application or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application.

Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience.

If you are interested in this opportunity please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resourcesby Thursday January 22 2026 at 5:00pm.

Candidates are asked to fully describe any training education experience or skills relevant to this position.Electronic applications may be submitted online through the Citys employment page at and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS

Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position.Based upon a review of the application materials the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in theoral examination process scheduled for Tuesday February 10 2026. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources.)

SELECTION PROCESS

Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year in accordance with the Citys Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies.

Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process which may consist of a background history check as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION

Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts).A candidate with education obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidates expense to determine its equivalency in the United States. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search education equivalency verification or similar online you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA).

For assistance on how to fill out your job application watch the following video:

• How to Apply for a City of Sunnyvale Job- YouTube (5:13)

The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age race color religion sex national origin sexual orientation disability veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal state or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability please contact us at or.