Communications Specialist - FOIA Officer
- General Definition of Work
Reporting to the Community Relations Manager, the Communications Specialist executes both internal and external communication strategies, by engaging with town staff, elected officials, citizens, businesses, visitors, and the news media. The Communications Specialist is responsible for communicating both emergent and time sensitive information to the public through a variety of resources, as well as identifying and promoting, through story form, Blacksburg’s success stories and initiatives.
As lead Freedom of Information Officer, this position serves as the point of contact on Virginia FOIA matters and coordinates Town compliance with all requirements of the Commonwealth. This position also works in partnership with the Human Resources Office on the administration of the MyTOB Customer Service and Employee Development program.
Shift Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm*
* Will be required to respond to emergent situations that occur outside of normal business hours, and attend occasional night meetings.- Essential Functions
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function well. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions
- Writes and distributes news releases, and other information pieces, and repurposes content for other platforms
- Develops and executes effective communications plans
- Responds to citizen requests and media inquiries
- Manages web based citizen request and notification systems
- Assists Web Administrator with web postings, as needed, and maintains news and information areas of the site
- Monitors, strategizes, and creates content for Town of Blacksburg social media sites
- Utilizes graphic design skills for small scale projects such as social media graphics, annual reports, budget covers, brochures, posters, and the like
- Coordinates the design, content creation, printing, digital posting, and mailing of the About Town recreation catalogue
- Serves as lead FOIA Officer, coordinating a team of others in the fulfilment of requests and compliance with Virginia Freedom of Information requirements. Training provided
- Serves as the MyTOB program co-leader
- Assists with the coordination of various events and activities of the town, including but not limited to, the annual Citizens Institute, press conferences, ribbon cuttings
- Assists with downtown event application processing
- Represents the Community Relations Office and Town of Blacksburg on internal and external committees as needed
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Must be an organized, thorough, articulate, focused, and professional communicator
- Ability to take initiative, create plans, lead teams, and meet deadlines
- Thorough knowledge of social media platforms
- Familiarity with content management systems, and other forms of technology
- Ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions
- Proficient writing and editing skills and familiarity with the AP Style Guide
- Ability to work quickly, yet accurately, under high pressure situations
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and Canva is advantageous, but not required
- Ability to pair written and visual communications together for greater impact
- Experience interacting with the news media, in every day scenarios and in crisis situations
- Experience with local government communications helpful, but not required
- Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships
- Proficiency in Virginia FOIA law advantageous, but not required
- Must maintain a comprehensive, current understanding of Town policies and procedures, and be able to communicate clearly the topics discussed, and actions made by Town Council
Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in communication studies, journalism, public relations, or related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
- Physical Requirements
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and night vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
The Town of Blacksburg offers a wide range of benefits.
Read more about what we offer here.