Job Details

Overview

The City of San Mateo invites your application for the Communications Manager opportunity!

Why Join our City?

The City of San Mateo is home to a collaborative team of skilled professionals and provides great benefits and retirement packages to care for its employees. The City Manager's Office (the Office) provides leadership and support throughout the organization to ensure the City Council's initiatives and programs are executed and that high-quality service is consistently delivered to the community and other departments. Our program areas include Communications, Economic Development, Sustainability, Goal-setting, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Volunteerism and have a community-wide impact. The team within the Office works closely together to assist in the success of each program. The Communications Manager plays a vital role in sharing critical information about what is happening in San Mateo and in engaging the community to help ensure everyone has a way to contribute to what happens within their city. Collaboration, accountability, innovation, respect, creativity, transparency, constructive leadership, and inclusivity are attributes that we are seeking in the candidates. Look to some of the reasons why the City of San Mateo is a great place to work:

What You'll Do

• Hone and execute the City of San Mateo's communication strategy, including actions to enhance community engagement and participation, increase awareness about City activities and initiatives, foster cross-departmental coordination, standardize media response procedures, improve the website user experience, and standardize training and onboarding for new communications staff.
• Work with the internal team to ensure current, high-quality communications products are available.
• Report to the Assistant City Manager; may receive direction from the City Manager; has direct supervisory responsibilities; will lead collaborative teams.
• Lead the City's social media efforts and cross-departmental social media team; develop and coordinate implementation of the City's social media strategy, policies and presence and monitor the City's online reputation.
• Develop and implement an integrated strategic communication plan to advance the City's brand identity and broaden awareness of its programs, priorities and accomplishments; ensure communication strategies are consistent with the City's strategic plan and vision.
• Create and manage a decentralized communications team to support departments' communications needs and the development and execution of the communications strategy.
• Anticipate and identify challenges and emerging issues faced by the organization; work with the senior management team and staff to recognize communications opportunities and design and execute appropriate strategies to address them.
• Develop and oversee mechanisms to measure the success and continuously improve the quality of the City's communications.
• Oversee development and dissemination of print communications (including the annual report, marketing collateral materials) and electronic communications (including the City's website, social media and new media) and manage relationships with associated vendors.
• Serve as spokesperson and lead contact on media interactions; build and manage press relationships to achieve accurate coverage of City events, public announcements, projects and programs.
• Prepare talking points, presentations, speeches and other supporting material as needed.
• Manage the City's website, including content strategy, integrated messaging, creative direction and analytics.
• Collaborate with departments to plan and coordinate public meetings, surveys and other outreach efforts to better understand community views regarding potential City decisions, satisfaction with City services and preferences for engaging with the City.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of

• Advanced principles, techniques and practices of public information, media, marketing and public relations.
• Principles, practices and concepts of open government and citizen participation.
• Principles of interactive outreach strategies and technologies.
• Operations, activities and services of municipal government.
• Modern office technology, procedures, methods and equipment.

Ability to

• Lead and manage a comprehensive strategic communication, media relations and marketing program.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift or carry weight of 10 pounds or less.
• Prepare a wide variety of effective, professional, and attractive communication tools, utilizing both traditional and social media, for a variety of audiences.
• Effectively represent the City with a wide range of diverse constituents.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Interpret and apply rules and regulations regarding accounting and auditing practices.

Experience and Education

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• Five years of professional communication experience in public relations, journalism, communication, marketing, social media or a closely related field.
• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in marketing, journalism, public relations, or a related field.

Highly Desirable Qualifications (not required)

• Experience working in a municipal setting, especially in a leadership capacity or with boards, councils, or commissions.
• Experience with media relations.
• Concise and clear writer and poised public speaker.
• Consistently exercises use of sound judgment.
• Motivates teams to unite and act toward common objectives.

Benefits

What We Offer

• Salary: $11,607.94 - $13,846.20 /month
• Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
• CalPERS retirement 2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members. Classic employees contribute 8.34% to CalPERS and New members contribute 7.5% to CalPERS effective 7/6/2024.
• Retirement Health Savings Account: City contribution of 0.75% of base salary
• Deferred Compensation: City will contribute 1% and match up to 0.5% of base salary
• Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation, Employee Assistance Program and Credit Union Membership

Additional Information

This classification is represented by the San Mateo Management Association Unit. For more information, please refer to the San Mateo Management Association document.

How to Apply

Post Date Sep 16, 2025

Application Deadline

Oct 03, 2025

Submit an online application, resume, and video presentation (to screen for Best Qualified) at

330 W 20Th Ave
San Mateo , CA 94403-1338
United States