Communications Manager, Cambridge, Massachusetts

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Under the direction of the Director of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation, and working closely with the Senior Management team, the Communications Manager will oversee communications and community outreach department wide. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, well-organized self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication skills who enjoys public and community interactions and enjoys working in a collaborative environment. In all work, the Communications Manager will seek to engage with the entire Cambridge community, including individuals and groups that have traditionally not participated in City-sponsored activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Communications Manager leads the Communications division of the Department, including the Project Administrator for Community Relations. Core responsibilities of role (assisted by the Project Administrator) include the following:

Direct internal and external communications for TP+T

• Manage the Department’s website, including overseeing updates and redesigns as needed
• Coordinate media relations, including press releases, advisories, and talking points for the Commissioner and others
• Manage the Department's social media strategy as part of the City’s overall social media approach
• Manage the development of outreach materials using digital, web, social and print media
• Produce weekly internal department newsletter
• Create and coordinate content for other City publications and outside organizations as needed
• Ensure consistency of messaging and graphic presentations
• Identify opportunities to improve communication strategies and implement guidelines for implementation
• Oversee department responses to public records requests

Manage staff

• Supervise the Project Administrator for Community Relations, who provides support on the tasks above, including: drafting communications, designing materials, coordinating and staffing public outreach events, planning engagement processes; updating the website; and overseeing channels the public uses to communicate with the Department

Manage and support community outreach and engagement

• Represent TP+T at public events and/or make presentations to audiences that vary in size and backgrounds (note that technical subject matter expertise will generally be provided by other staff)
• Working with staff from TP+T and other City departments, plan long-term engagement processes, messaging, and feedback gathering mechanisms for the City’s Cycling Safety Ordinance
• Coordinate outreach meetings and events, including scheduling, selecting venues, publicizing, and staffing events
• Develop templates and guidelines for project- and program-related outreach and engagement
• Introduce new methods for outreach based on best practices
• Facilitate the Cycling Safety Ordinance Advisory Group
• Oversee various channels the public use to contact the department, including Commonwealth Connect, email, web contact forms and future CRM efforts
• Develop metrics and measurements for tracking our communications and outreach efforts and develop ways to highlight and communicate these successes through a variety of channels
  

Work closely with other City staff

• Coordinate communications with TP+T staff and staff from other City departments; especially the Community Development Department, Department of Public Works, and Executive Communications Office
• Oversee the Project Administrator for Community Relations, who provides support on the tasks above, including: drafting communications, designing materials, coordinating and staffing public outreach events, planning engagement processes; updating the website; and overseeing channels the public uses to communicate with the Department

Key projects and programs the Communications Manager will work on include

• Parking management communications: customer service and operational processes, resident parking permits, parking tickets, parking ticket disputes and the City’s two municipal garages
• Engineering and street management communications: outreach around changes to streets, new signs and signals, street occupancy permits, policies and programs
• Cycling Safety Ordinance: annual reporting, updating webpages, communications around the goals of the Ordinance, and outreach for individual projects
• Vision Zero: assist in development and execution of the Vision Zero Outreach and Communication strategy

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, English, or a related field; plus 3 years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to relate to audiences with multiple dimensions of diversity and work collaboratively with peers
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, with a keen attention to detail and comfort handling multiple types of tasks and projects
• Proficiency and comfort with technology
• The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated interest and involvement in transportation or sustainability preferred
• 5+ years of communications experience, including in transportation related roles
• Experience working in a public sector environment
• Experience in crisis communications and/or facilitating contentious public processes is a plus
• Knowledge of and experience using HTML and CSS to create online content
• Knowledge of and experience using the Adobe Creative Cloud and web site content management systems. Design skills a plus
• Ability to work independently on routine tasks and manage recurring project cycles
• Familiarity with the Cambridge community preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to answer phones and maintain multiple files and be able to lift a minimum of 15 pounds. Ability to travel throughout the City of Cambridge to various meetings, sites, etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting, and window unit air conditioning. Moderate noise level. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Networked and stand-alone personal computers; telephones, copiers, scanners, paper, and electronic file system.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and Sick leave eligible
• Paid Parental Leave
• Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
• 3 Personal days
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Management Allowance, $2,700/year    
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter