Location
Description
Location: 501 Main Street Half Moon Bay, 94019
The City of Half Moon Bay has an exciting opportunity for the position of Communications Program Manager! APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 2025, 5:00 P.M.
ABOUT THE CITY:
The City of Half Moon Bay is a Bay Area coastal community of approximately 12,500 residents and is located 25 miles south of San Francisco. The City is governed by a five-member elected City Council and utilizes the council-manager form of government. The City Council appoints a City Manager who is responsible for the oversight of daily operations and provides leadership for the City’s programs. The City currently employs 45 full-time employees in the following departments: City Manager’s Office, Communications / City Clerk, Administrative Services, Community Development, and Public Works. The City contracts Public Safety with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department.
The city and surrounding Coastside are a thriving agricultural, fishing, tourism, and recreational destination. There is a rich culture of diverse traditions and multi-generational families who have lived in Half Moon Bay for well over 100 years. In any given neighborhood, you will find farmers, high-tech entrepreneurs, and artists living amongst each other as one community.
Description
The incumbent provides high-level public information, community outreach, and multi-media services that require in-depth knowledge of public sector communications, multi-media, script writing and editing, website and graphic design and experience in managing and implementing creative and innovative promotions and projects.
Under general direction, the Communications Program Manager coordinates the citywide public communications activities and maintains content on the City's website and intranet; implements and supports internal and external communications efforts; and coordinates social media and video communications activities. Incumbents may function as a supervisor of as-needed employees, or an individual contributor, depending on the department or assignment.
Applications must be filled out completely. Please do not substitute "see resume or see personnel file" in the employment history section of the application. To be considered for this position, candidates must submit: 1) City Employment Application online, 2) Current Resume, and 3) Cover Letter, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee admittance into the examination process. Only the most qualified candidates who demonstrate the best combination of qualifications in relation to the requirements and duties of the position will be invited to test.
Typical Duties:
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop, lead, and implement community outreach strategies to engage residents, local organizations, and stakeholders (e.g. Civic Academies).
- Implement marketing and advertising campaigns to promote City services, activities, programs, and special events.
- Develop, write, edit, and produce various communication materials including newsletters, brochures, correspondence, reports, speeches, presentations, and special publications.
- Perform the research, planning, and analysis necessary to develop and implement the City’s community relations and public communications efforts.
- Write and coordinate the preparation, publication, and distribution of the weekly City’s newsletter and other departmental and project-based newsletters, as well as City brochures, press releases, multimedia scripts, and other collateral materials.
- Maintain the City’s website content and design ensuring accuracy, consistency, and quality.
- Coordinate and develop the City’s social media program and policies.
- Interface and coordinate with graphic designers, printers, and mailing services for production and distribution of materials.
- Respond orally or in writing to public inquiries and provide information to the public on services, facilities, and programs, as needed.
- Attend a variety of staff, Council, commission, and other related meetings.
- Provide advice and support to City staff regarding public and media relations.
- Prepare and submit award nominations, proclamations, and other written materials as needed.
- Receive, prepare, respond to, and facilitate solutions to citizen complaints, inquiries, and requests.
- Participate in the planning and implementation of special events.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of communications and public information techniques through different mediums, including print, internet, radio, and television.
- Effective outreach strategies and techniques for engaging community members and affiliations, neighborhood organizations, business groups, and other such organizations.
- Effective public presentation methods to attract and inform a variety of audiences.
- City services, structure, programs, and policies.
- Web design tools; familiarity with graphic design software.
- Social media tools and account management.
- Research and problem-solving techniques.
- Proper grammar, punctuation, spelling and diction.
- Pertinent state, federal, and local laws and regulations.
- Techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, in person, online, and over the telephone.
Skill to:
- Develop, plan, and coordinate a community relations and public communications function.
- Understand and effectively communicate technical data and complex information to the public and media.
- Analyze and draw logical and sensitive conclusions.
- Write effective proposals, press releases, articles, and award nominations.
Ability to:
- Set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments with minimal direction.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with City staff, public, agencies, organizations, and vendors.
- Prepare and present clear, effective, and accurate staff reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other oral and written materials.
- Use initiative and independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines.
- Take a courteous, effective, and proactive approach to customer service.
- Interpret, apply, and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances, as needed in relation to communications tasks.
Ideal Candidate
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Requirements:
Sufficient education and experience to satisfactorily perform the duties of this classification are required. Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in business, communications, public administration, or a related field.
- Experience: Five years of communications and public relations experience, preferably within a local government organization.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Experience working in the public sector communications, press releases, social media platforms, website and graphic design, and analytics research is desirable.
- Experience in managing and implementing creative promotions and projects is desirable.
- Bilingual fluency in Spanish, Cantonese, and/or Mandarin is highly desirable, as it reflects the language needs of the diverse communities we serve and individuals who commonly seek our services.
LICENSES
Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license is required at the time of appointment and for the duration of employment.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
- May be required to work odd and unusual hours in the performance of duties and during emergency situations.
- Must be able to perform all of the essential functions of the job assignment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. This is often a sedentary office classification, some activities may require extended standing or walking between work areas. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Working in an office environment is required in this position. The incumbent must travel to and from work site. Will be required to interact with customers with varying dispositions. Special events may require exposure to varying weather conditions.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
The City of Half Moon Bay is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of a person’s race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age or sexual orientation. Candidates with a disability, which may require special assistance in any phase of the application or testing process, should advise City of Half Moon Bay upon submittal of application. Documentation of the need of accommodation must accompany the request.
Benefits
Retirement: PERS Classic employee receives 2% at 55; single highest year and PEPRA employee receives 2% at 62, with highest 3 years. Classic employees pay 7% employee contribution and PEPRA employees pay half the normal costs (currently 6.5%). The City of Half Moon Bay does not participate in Social Security, except the required Medicare.
Health Insurance: Employee can choose from medical plans provided through CalPERS. Dental Insurance is available through Delta Dental and Vision coverage is available through VSP. The City provides an allowance of $1,900 per month, which can be used for medical premiums. Any unused portion may be taken as additional compensation.
Dental and Vision premiums are paid by the employer up to family coverage.
Other Insurance: The City provides long-term disability coverage equal to 2/3 of monthly salary to a maximum of $6,000/mo.
Life Insurance: City provides coverage equal to 1 X annual base salary.
Holidays: 14 paid holidays per year.
Vacation: Accrual of 12 days annually for the first four years; increasingly periodically thereafter to 23 days annually after 21 years.
Administrative Leave: 12 days per year. Sick Leave: Accrual at the rate of 12 days per year.
Education Incentive: $1,500 annually for eligible expenses upon approval.
Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in ICMA or CalPERS 457 plans are available.
Special Instructions
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, AUGUST 22. 2025, 5:00 P.M.
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered for this career opportunity, you must submit a complete online application, resume, cover letter, and answers to the supplemental questionnaire. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a complete online application. Incomplete applications and/or supplemental questionnaire will be rejected. Applications will be screened in relation to the criteria in this job announcement. Applicants with the most relevant qualification will be invited to an interview.
Examination and Selection Process: The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to the Job Specific Questions. Applicants are requested to provide their resume upon applying. Only the candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Hiring Manager).