The Civic Innovation Manager is a newly developed, exciting opportunity to lead and manage the Richmond City Council's communications and community engagement efforts. This position is unclassified and serves at the will of the Appointing Authority.

Responsibilities

• Strategy
  • Work collaboratively to design, develop, and implement the communications and community engagement strategic plan.
  • Provide administrative coordination for team's operations and support to further the strategic plan's goals and objectives.
  • Assist the Chief of Staff in launching a collaborative community process for refining the division's strategic plan.
  • Build structures and processes for strengthening culture and processes for strategic planning, team building, and people development.
• Communication & Engagement
  • Develop, direct, and assess the division's public relations, marketing, communications, and public affairs strategy, while nurturing productive relationships with community leaders, organizations, and media representatives.
  • Fulfill the role of the division's primary spokesperson assisting with press conferences, managing information releases to the media and the public, and addressing sensitive and contentious issues.
  • Oversee, develop and implement crisis communication plans to handle potential reputation-threatening situations and mitigate negative impacts on the division's image.
  • Oversee the division's online presence, including website content, social media platforms, and other digital communication channels.
  • Develop campaigns, programs, strategies, and plans for council employee communications; coordinate regular updates, newsletters, and town hall meetings to keep employees informed and engaged.
  • Collaborate closely with administrators, staff members, and community volunteers to strategize and implement comprehensive public relations programs catering to diverse stakeholders through both one-way and two-way communication channels.
  • Cultivate relationships with the local community and stakeholders by creating an environment where residents are empowered stakeholders and provide feedback to shape and implement future priorities and strategies.
  • Utilize data and analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of communication initiatives continually.
• Leadership
  • Communicate and represent the communications and community engagement vision and perspective internally and externally to the general public/community, as designated.
  • Assist in problem-solving between and among offices in issues involving the Council and Office of Chief of Staff input and may represent the Chief of Staff on teams for large-scale projects and city-wide initiatives with major employee and/or community impacts.
  • Develop and manage the communication and community engagement budget, including allocating resources effectively to achieve communication objectives.
  • Lead the communication and community engagement team, providing guidance, support, and fostering a positive work environment; supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
  • Administering, coordinating, and managing all functions related to the Richmond Civilian Review Board.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration or field directly related to assignment.
  • A Master's degree in a field directly related to assignment is preferred.
  • Seven (7) years of progressively responsible related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience.
  • 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:
  • An advanced degree in a field directly related to assignment preferred, but not required.
  • Significant experience working with community boards or commissions preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The City of Richmond offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities