Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y? Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

The City of Richmond Office of the Council Chief of Staff is seeking a talented and innovative Digital Communications Specialist to join our team. This multifaceted role will be responsible for overseeing various aspects of digital presence, including web design, social media management, and user experience design. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in enhancing the City Council's online presence, ensuring a seamless digital experience for all users, and building trust with the community. This position reports to the Senior Civic Innovation Manager.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Web Design

• Designing, maintaining, and supporting the web presence across City Council offices, ensuring it remains visually appealing, user-friendly, and current with relevant content
• Collaborating with City Council and Council Chief of Staff office to create dynamic content and functionality for the website
• Optimizing the website architecture for ease of use and access to vital information
• Monitoring website analytics and implementing strategies to improve user engagement and retention

Social Media Management

• Developing and executing a comprehensive social media strategy to promote City Council initiatives, events, and announcements across various platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, etc.
• Creating compelling and shareable content, including graphics, videos, and written posts, to effectively communicate with constituents and foster community engagement
• Monitoring social media channels for mentions, inquiries, and feedback, and respond in a timely and professional manner
• Analyzing social media metrics to assess the effectiveness of campaigns and make data-driven recommendations for improvement

User Experience Design

• Conducting user research, usability testing, and stakeholder interviews to understand the needs and preferences of website visitors and social media followers
• Using insights gathered to inform the design of intuitive and accessible digital experiences that prioritize user satisfaction and task completion
• Collaborating with developers and content creators to ensure that digital assets align with best practices for usability and accessibility standards
• Staying updated on industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously improve the City Council's digital communications strategy

Planning and Strategy

• Collaborating with City Council and the Office of the Council Chief of Staff to develop a sustainable and effective communications plan
• Engaging with ongoing revision and development of communications strategies

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in public relations, communications, design, marketing, public affairs, or a directly related field.
• Two (2) years of public communications experience such as writing, editing, graphic design, and layouts.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Web Design, Digital Media, Communications, or a related field.
• Proven experience in web design including HTML, CSS, PHP, and content management systems (e.g., WordPress).
• Strong graphic design skills and proficiency with design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Canva.
• Knowledge of user experience design to support effective implementation of digital engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in government or public sector communications is a plus.

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• None required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities or some combination of the following:

• AP Stylebook in writing content for newsletters, web, social media platforms, and press releases.
• Audiovisual equipment such as lecterns, speaker systems, and projectors.
• Graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and Acrobat.
• Printing and writing work orders for print jobs.
• Social media platforms, including creating, developing, and posting content (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube).
• Drupal or basic HTML for entering content on Intranet.
• Legal trademark/copyright restrictions for reusing photos and content from various sources on the internet.
• Different types of graphic files and usage.
• Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, CRM, and other similar graphic design/photo editing software programs.
• Photography/photo editing.
• Proofreading and copy editing.
• Effective oral and written communication.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Public speaking.
• Desktop publishing.
• Event production and scriptwriting.
• Customer service.
• Time management and organizational skills.
• Program and project management.
• Thinking strategically.
• Taking initiative.
• Problem-solve.
• Produce consistent results.
• Learn new concepts, products, or technical knowledge and effectively convey that knowledge.
• Write and communicate effectively with internal and external clients at all levels.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Multitask.
• React to and adapt to changing situations.