Communications & Public Policy Director

About the role

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Dashboard career section to apply for this position. Employee Type: Regular Department: Executive Management Salary: $96,000.23 - $134,298.07 Annually / $8,000.02 - $11,191.51 Monthly / $46.15 - $64.57 Hourly Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Overtime Eligibile: No Job Posting Date Range: 05/08/2026 - Until Filled Job Summary: The Communications & Public Policy Director is a strategic leadership role responsible for planning, developing, and implementing County wide communications, marketing, public relations, and community engagement strategies that support the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the County CEO, and executive leadership. The position provides high level guidance on complex issues involving public perception, emerging concerns, and external communication impacts, and ensures consistent, accurate, and transparent messaging to the public, media, community partners, and stakeholders. In addition to communications leadership, the Communications & Public Policy Director collaborates closely with policy and community engagement partners to research, evaluate, and communicate policy initiatives, legislative updates, and County priorities. The role serves as a connector between County leadership, the community, outside agencies, and regional organizations to support effective engagement and understanding of County programs, services, and public policy efforts. Work is performed with considerable independence and involves significant interaction with elected officials, local and regional partners, community groups, departmental communication managers, and the public. The Communications & Public Policy Director represents the County in public settings as designated and ensures that communication and engagement strategies reinforce the County's mission, values, and strategic objectives. Job Description: ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Plans, develops, and implements comprehensive County-wide marketing, communications, public relations, and community engagement strategies to support the BOCC, CEO, and executive leadership initiatives. Provides strategic advice to the BOCC and CEO regarding complex issues, public perception, emerging concerns, and policy-related communication impacts. Leads the development of policy-related communication materials and collaborates with internal and external partners to ensure accurate, consistent, and timely messaging on County initiatives, public policies, and community priorities. Coordinates, leads, and implements proactive community engagement strategies that build understanding, transparency, and trust between the County and residents, community partners, business organizations, and stakeholders. Serves as spokesperson for the County when designated and assists the BOCC and CEO with responses to media inquiries, public information requests, interviews, and issue-specific messaging. Represents the County at public meetings, briefings, and community events. Crafts, reviews, and disseminates key communication tools including fact sheets, presentations, briefings, policy updates, newsletters, public reports, media releases, and digital content for web and social media platforms. Works closely with County departments, public information staff, and communication managers in a matrix environment to align messaging and ensure consistency across all County platforms. Partners with County lobbyists, policy advisors, and subject matter experts to research, evaluate, interpret, and communicate policy proposals, legislative updates, ordinances, resolutions, and Board initiatives to internal and external audiences. Leads engagement efforts for targeted initiatives, including public outreach campaigns, listening sessions, community education efforts, and feedback collection. Utilizes engagement data to inform communication strategies and policy recommendations. Develops and monitors County branding and graphic standards as approved by the BOCC, ensuring consistency and adherence across all communication channels. Manages the County's external website content for assigned areas to ensure accurate, relevant, and accessible information for the public. Provides technical support to leadership for County-wide public information programs, including scripting, speaking points, editing, and message alignment. Builds and maintains strong working relationships with media, elected officials, community partners, business organizations, state and regional agencies, and constituent groups to support policy communication and strategic outreach. Participates in planning, research, and analysis to support long-term public policy, communications, and engagement strategies for major County and regional initiatives. Directs emergency communication and public information efforts during County-wide or region-wide incidents and collaborates with regional partners as needed. Develops and delivers media training for County officials and staff to ensure effective message