Communications Director – Cumberland County, NC
Known for its cultural diversity and accessible location, Cumberland County in southeast NC, is seeking an experienced and innovative communications professional to serve as its next Communications Director. Leading the County’s Public Information Office, the next Communications Director will have expertise in mobilizing an organization-wide communications team with a common mission rather than a segmented delivery model that treats each service as separate from the whole. The successful candidate will have outstanding skills in leading with proactive and strategic methods that align communication and tactics with the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
This position is for the community-minded professional who thrives in being in front of or behind the camera – one who is highly skilled in delivering sensitive information in an authentic way to a variety of audiences. In his/her daily interactions, the Communications Director will uphold the County’s reputation and ensure that all communication reflects positively on the County and Board of Commissioners. County leadership seeks a highly effective manager with a proven track record of uniting staff around a common vision and leading departments with high morale.
The ideal candidate will understand and have creative approaches in communicating effectively with residents in the urban and rural areas of the County, as well as with a sizeable active-duty and veteran military population and collaborating with other County staff and departments to improve community awareness and understanding of County services and engagement opportunities. The next Communications Director values the importance of meaningful communication and will thoroughly assess the County’s communication strategies and methods internally and externally and prioritize making improvements and bridging gaps where identified.
About the Organization, Department and Position: Cumberland County operates under the Commission-Manager form of government with a seven-member board. The County has an overall budget of approximately $553 million and approximately 2,600 employees in 30 departments.
The Cumberland County Public Information Office is responsible for coordinating external and internal communication and effectively telling the County’s story. The department provides the public, media and County employees with timely and accurate news and information through media relations, digital platforms, web content, social media engagement, outreach events and other tools. It also houses the County’s print shop and mail distribution functions.
Reporting to the Assistant County Manager for General Government and Stewardship within the County’s Public Affairs division, the Communications Director is responsible for the planning, administration, and management of the Public Information Office. The next Communications Director will oversee a budget of $1.5 million and provide leadership and supervision to 13 employees including a Deputy Communications Director who assists with management of the department. This position identifies and analyzes the communication needs of the County and executes internal and external communications in accordance with County policy, departmental guidelines and the Governmental Communication goals outlined in the Board of Commissioners’ Priorities and Objectives.
Qualifications: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in communications, journalism, public administration, marketing, or a closely related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in leading a communications team for a public entity, media outlet or a similar environment is required. At least two (2) of the years must be in a lead or supervisor role; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Driving is an essential function of this position. To be considered, you must have a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. If your driver’s license is from another state, you will be required to obtain and show proof of a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of hire.
Salary and Benefits: The full salary range is $87,943.22 to $148,007.14. Salary will depend on experience and qualifications. The County’s comprehensive benefits package can be viewed here.
To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click on the Communications Director – Cumberland County, NC title. To learn more about the selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/, select “Client Openings” and scroll down to “Important Information for Applicants.” All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal – NOT the County Employment Application portal, nor any other external website; it is not sufficient to send only a resume – resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application. Applicants must apply by June 16th, 2023. Successful semi-finalists will be invited to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluation on July 11th – 12th, 2023. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate. All inquiries should be emailed to hiring@developmentalassociates.com. Cumberland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates, LLC.