Senior Planning Communications Strategist (Coordinator III - CPPW)

The Position

Job Appointment: Regular, Full time

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. Alternate schedule may be available.

Work Location: Hybrid. In-person work to be conducted at The Vanport Building located at 1810 SW 5th Avenue. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information, click here .

Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Differential: City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a “language pay differential.” This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skill to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here .

Union Representation: This classification was recently recognized as represented by a new labor union, City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW). Terms and Conditions are currently being negotiated as part of a new CPPW collective bargaining agreement. Current and future labor agreements can be viewed here .

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to attach a cover letter and resume.

The City Council has approved a 3.3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all eligible employees of the City of Portland for the fiscal year, effective from July 1, 2024. As a result, the salary for this position may increase due to the approved COLA.


Position Summary

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is seeking a Senior Communication Strategist (Coordinator III) to lead and implement proactive communications campaigns for the bureau’s Planning division. This position will oversee the design and production of compelling materials including print collateral, media releases, reports, e-newsletters, social-media content, and interactive engagement tools (video skills desired but not required). The Senior Communication Strategist will work closely with the BPS Communications Team in support of Planning’s communications needs.

A critical function of the Senior Communications Strategist is that of storyteller. The successful applicant will have the essential role of sourcing emergent planning projects in various communities and showcasing stories that illustrate the benefits brought to the community and the public through Planning initiatives. Working closely with Planning staff and the BPS Communications team, the Senior Communication Strategist will also organize and execute marketing, materials production, and media relations activities with discretion and awareness of intergovernmental and community issues.
As a Senior Communications Strategist, you will:

• Plan and Implement communications needs: Meet regularly with Planning staff and supervisor to understand critical needs, project goals, and timelines. Develop and implement strategic communication plans that advance and highlight the benefits of Planning initiatives, including writing/editing press releases, coordinating media responses, drafting talking points and responding to ongoing communications needs.
• Create and share compelling stories: Use creative and community-centered approaches to tell compelling stories of work done by the Planning team. Assess and utilize appropriate platforms to determine where stories should be told and amplified while increasing public awareness and highlighting achievements.
• Work with local and national media: Pitch stories of positive project impacts to local and national media, coordinate media responses, and develop public responses that explain positions in a timely manner.

Background:
The bureau’s long-range planning program includes comprehensive planning, urban design, river/environmental planning, area planning and code development, as well as historic resources and housing/economic planning. Planners in these individual program areas work on a steady stream of projects that respond to public and community needs, whether that’s greater environmental protections, increased opportunities for business development and jobs, more housing, and/or enhanced urban design.

Most of these projects will go through the state-mandated legislative process, which involves consideration by the Portland Planning Commission and City Council and requires robust community outreach and clear communication. At each stage of the process, clear and persuasive communication is essential to ensure understanding of the proposals and process by members of the public, commissioners and Council members.

The Planning Communications Strategist will work closely with each planning team as their projects “come online,” using all the tools in the communications toolbox to engage the public, help them understand what is happening in their neighborhood/district/city, how it could/will affect them and what they can do to voice their opinion. The Communications Strategist will also team up with our graphic designer and GIS staff as well as the BPS Equity and Engagement team to tell stories and meet our goals for robust community engagement.

Ideal Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate will be a skilled writer and communicator with a passion for impactful storytelling and “translating” complex ideas and materials into plain language. They should be an excellent collaborator and problem-solver. They should have a strong attention to detail and the ability to independently initiate and manage multiple projects at once. They should have a demonstrated track record with project management and a strong commitment to racial justice and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Ideal qualities include being creative, organized, data centric, collaborative, professional, and inclusive.

BPS values a diverse workforce and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization. Candidates of color, those who can speak a language other than English, and those with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and diverse communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Virtual Zoom Meet & Greet Opportunity

Come meet the hiring manager and the senior recruiter! We'll be talking about the position duties and responsibilities, day to day life in the role, review the announcement, discuss how to apply, and answer questions you may have about the position.

Tuesday, June 25th at 12:00PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82490513954
Meeting ID: 824 9051 3954

Questions?

Jaclyn Snyder, Senior Recruiter

Bureau of Human Resources

Jaclyn.Snyder@portlandoregon.gov

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
Experience with communications planning, communications project management, coordination of collateral production, digital-media management and editing a variety of content in a community- focused organization. Experience developing and implementing culturally conscious and competent communications and outreach with an equity lens. Experience exercising excellent verbal and written communication and storytelling skills including presenting information clearly, concisely, and persuasively to internal and external stakeholders. Experience in media relations including developing and refining proactive and reactive messaging in a high-stakes situation. Ability to turn complex and technical language and industry jargon into easy-to-understand language.

The Recruitment Process

STEP 1: Apply online between Monday, June 17 , 2024 - Monday, July 1, 2024

Required Application Materials:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Answer to three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

Optional Application Materials:

• Veteran documents to request for Veteran Preference (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.)

Application Tips:

• Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in your cover letter.
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis : Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
  
• Do not attach materials not requested.
  
• All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
  
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
  

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of July 1, 2024

• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and cover letter, weighted 100%.
• Your resume and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.

Step 3: Writing Sample Submission: Week of July 8, 2024

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email with instructions to submit two writing samples:
  • Sample news release.
  • A communications piece of your choice that you are proud of.

Applicants will have one week to attach their writing samples to their application. Each writing sample should be no more than two (2) pages. Each writing sample should be in a Word or PDF document. No zipped files or links will be accepted.
*Please note, your writing sample will be reviewed during the interview process.

Step 4: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of July 15, 2024

• Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and submitted their writing sample will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
  
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

Step 5: Selection (Interview): Late July/August

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates to interview.
• Please note, the selection process may take up to 90 days from the notification of being placed on the eligible list.

Step 6: Offer of Employment: August

Step 7: Start Date: September

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

*Timeline is approximate and subject to change*

Additional Information

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
• Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
  
  

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• Carrot Fertility
• Wellness Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Short- and Long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families.
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement
• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), includingcontributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
• Family Medical Leave
• City Paid Parental Leave

AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers .

Closing Date/Time: 7/1/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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