Communications Specialist

City of Rochester, NY

$73K — $97K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field
  • 5 years of experience in writing news releases and promotional copy
  • Proven ability to develop comprehensive communication strategies
  • Strong writing skills across various media formats
  • Experience in managing social media accounts for organizations

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the liaison for city departments, identifying key communication opportunities
  • Create and implement comprehensive communications strategies
  • Develop diverse communications materials including news releases and social media posts
  • Prepare briefings and scripts for senior leadership
  • Coordinate with graphics team for marketing materials creation
  • Manage social media strategy and maintain accounts
  • Support senior staff during press events and community initiatives

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care coverage
  • Dental and vision insurance options
  • Retirement and deferred compensation plans
  • Flexible spending accounts
  • Generous paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave
Full Job Description
Salary: $73,916.00 - $97,462.00 Annually
Location : Rochester, NY
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26DM381ADA15
Department: Communications
Opening Date: 06/09/2026
Closing Date: 6/23/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

General Description
This position will serve as an experienced staff member to provide comprehensive and strategic communications support to City communications activities and programs, with a particular focus on internal-focused initiatives. This new position will improve alignment and coordination of formal communication between internal and external stakeholders and deliver efficient and effective communications to different audiences. Top candidates will have experience in a broad range of communications tactics and illustrate proven writing ability.
This is a Competitive Class position. The individual selected to fill this vacancy will be given a provisional appointment and will be required to participate in the next Civil Service Examination for this title.

A qualified applicant may be provisionally appointed and serve in the position until a Civil Service Examination is administered and an appropriate eligible list can be established to make a permanent appointment in accordance with the Civil Service Rule of Three. (See "" Provisional Appointment - FAQ's) If you are already a City employee and have permanent, competitive status in your current position and appointment to this title would result in a provisional appointment in another department, you will lose your previous permanent competitive rights.
CITY RESIDENCY WILL BE REQUIRED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF HIRE.
Typical Work Activities

  • Serves as the Communications Bureau liaison for assigned City departments and bureaus ("beats"), participating in staff and status meetings to identify communications opportunities;
  • Creates and leads the implementation of communications strategies for assigned City departmental beats;
  • Utilizes excellent writing skills in the development of news releases, fact sheets, media advisories, social media posts, collateral material and advertising copy, correspondence, and other marketing communications materials for assigned departmental beats as well as other projects as assigned;
  • Develops briefings and scripts for Mayor and other senior leaders tied to efforts and activities of assigned departmental beats;
  • Coordinates with Bureau's graphics team to coordinate the creation of collateral materials, advertising, and other promotional materials;
  • Coordinates special communications services to neighborhood and community groups and special projects as assigned;
  • Supports Press Officer and Director in managing media at news conferences for assigned departmental beats and other events as assigned;
  • Creates and implements social media strategy; manages, monitors, updates and interacts on the City of Rochester's social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn);
  • Takes photos at City events for use in social media, on website, and in other communications materials;
  • Proofreads written copy drafted by colleagues;
  • Helps assess programs and services, measuring public interest and participation;
  • Supervises and advises junior team members on specific projects.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree AND five (5) years of experience writing news releases, speeches, promotional copy for various media or other material for public dissemination.

* Familiarity with local and state government operations is a preferred.
For full-time employees:
The City of Rochester offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

For less-than full-time employees:
The City of Rochester offers numerous growth opportunities to include the potential to transition into full-time, permanent employment.

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