Director of Communications & Marketing

City of Gainesville Open · verified Sep 11, 2026

Gainesville Full-time Director Communications

Leadership Communications role at City of Gainesville. Gainesville · full-time.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Build short- and long-term communication plans around city goals
Create content for web, email, social, broadcast, events and speeches
Lead media relations for city offices and the commission in routine and emergency situations
Oversee broadcast staff, communication channels, outreach and city marketing efforts
Track results, contacts and spending while coordinating a consistent citywide message

What you bring

A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing or a related field
Seven years of progressively responsible communications or marketing experience, including three years supervising
A valid Florida driver’s license
Experience delivering presentations and using desktop publishing software
Strong written and verbal communication with employees, vendors, media, elected officials and the public

Who this fits

This role suits a senior communications and marketing leader who can manage staff, coordinate across city offices and communicate with media, officials and the public. You’ll work in Gainesville and may need to travel, work weekends or holidays, stay on call during emergencies and work outside normal business hours. The position serves at the City Manager’s will.

From the employer

If you are an Internal City Employee, Retiree or Dependent/Survivor of a City Employee please apply internally via Career Icon in your Workday account.

Make a diﬀerence in the community you live in! As a Community Builder—an employee with the City of Gainesville— you will have a direct hand in building and improving your community and making a visible impact on the lives of your neighbors. Working for local government is more than a job, it’s a chance to contribute to community success and to help enhance the Gainesville way of life.

Department:

GG_Communications and Marketing: Communications and Marketing

Salary Range Minimum:

$113,880.00

Salary Range Maximum:

$191,936.33

Closing Date:

Until Filled

Job Details:

This is work planning, researching, designing, directing, and implementing communications and marketing strategies to promote the City of Gainesville and its services.
The Communications and Marketing Director serves at the will of the City Manager and may be appointed or removed at will by the City Manager. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its managerial duties and emphasis on communications and marketing and from other Communication Manager positions due to its expanded responsibility for communications for all other Charter Offices and the City Commission.

Job Description:

SUMMARY

This is work planning, researching, designing, directing, and implementing communications and marketing strategies to promote the City of Gainesville and its services.

The Communications and Marketing Director serves at the will of the City Manager and may be appointed or removed at will by the City Manager. Work in this class is distinguished from other classes by its managerial duties and emphasis on communications and marketing and from other Communication Manager positions due to its expanded responsibility for communications for all other Charter Offices and the City Commission.

EXAMPLES OF WORK**

**This section of the job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities of the position. The omission of a specific job function does not absolve an employee from being required to perform additional tasks incidental to or inherent in the job. Performance of lower level duties may be required.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Develops communications plans to support both short- and long-range city objectives.

Develops communications materials to be used across multiple platforms including, but not limited to, interactive, mass, targeted, and broadcast media, special events, newsletters, web site, email and speeches.

Coordinates all City Government’s media functions, communication platforms and strategies, including those for other Charter Offices and the City Commission.

Develops and maintains the City of Gainesville website and social media platforms.

Coordinates and develops media relations efforts in emergency and non-emergency situations, prepares news releases and responds to news media inquiries for other Charter Offices and the City Commission.

Manages and directs broadcast staff and resources across all communication platforms.

Develops and implements plans to market the City and its services.

Develops and supports community outreach programs.

Develops, facilitates, and delivers presentations, including, but not limited to news conferences, external presentations and/or events, as well as internal presentations.

Monitors progress toward communication and marketing objectives.

Coordinates across all charters to ensure a unified communication program and message.

Maintains detailed tracking of expenses associated with communications and marketing planning for budgeting purposes.

Participates in industry organizations.

Maintains accurate media contact database.

Attends work on a regular and continuous basis.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

May act in the absence of supervisor.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. Below are the required education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in communications, journalism, public relations, advertising, marketing or related field with seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in communications management, journalism, public relations, advertising or marketing, including three (3) years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES

Licenses

Valid Florida Driver license required.

Certifications

None.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of communications and marketing.

Ability to plan, organize and control work activities and resources to meet objectives of predetermined plans, programs and standards.

Ability to determine appropriate opportunities to reach target audiences, including but not limited to, interactive, mass, targeted, and broadcast media, special events, trade shows, newsletters, web site, email and speeches.

Ability to analyze problems and exercise sound professional judgment in achieving results.

Ability to plan, assign, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the work of support staff, interns, and volunteers.

Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.

Ability to organize, track, and detail expenses associated with communications and marketing planning for budgeting purposes.

Ability to work with outside contractors such as public relations firms, advertising agencies, designers, videographers, and printers to develop promotional materials.

Ability to maintain a professional demeanor to communicate and work effectively, both orally and in writing with employees, customers, vendors, the general public, the news media, and elected officials under routine and emergency conditions.

Experience developing and delivering effective presentations.

Experience using desktop publishing software.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess certain physical abilities and be able to withstand work related environmental conditions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is often required to sit for prolonged periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Requires working outside normal business hours, including weekends, holidays and being on-call during emergencies and non-emergencies.

May require travel.

Note:

May Require Assessment(s).

May fill multiple positions.

May establish an eligibility list.

Come join our team! The City of Gainesville oﬀers a competitive beneﬁts package and opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.

All ‘regular’ employees are eligible for traditional beneﬁts such as health insurance, life insurance, paid leave, 11 paid a holidays a year, a pension plan and a deferred compensation plan, but we also oﬀer great things like on-site ﬁtness centers, tuition reimbursement, on-site medical staﬀ and a wellness program to keep you healthy and happy. Please note; benefits are not available for temporary employees.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Gainesville is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in hiring. Minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Individuals with a disability, who require special accommodations during the selection process, should notify the Human Resources Department at 352-334-5077 or TDD/TTY at 352-334-2292.

Veterans' Preference

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference ensures that veterans and eligible persons are given consideration at each step of the selection process. However, preference does not guarantee that a veteran or other eligible person will be the candidate selected to fill the position. Section 295.07, Florida Statutes (F.S.) specifies who is eligible for Veterans’ Preference. State of Florida residency is not required for Veterans’ Preference.

If you are unable to apply online due to a disability, contact recruiting at HR@cityofgainesville.org or by calling 352-334-5077.