Salary: $98,945.60 - $135,491.20 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number:
Department: Probation Department
Division: Department Administration
Opening Date: 07/21/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary
The County of San Diego invites resumes for the position of

Public Engagement Manager
Probation Department

(Actual Classification: Program Coordinator)
Interviews and job offers will take place beginning the week of August 31, 2026.
Future Salary Increases

** June 2027 - 4.49% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 1.49% Market Adjustment)

The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate's qualifications at time of appointment.
Program Coordinator is a professional management level classification that provides administrative, analytical, planning, and management support for programs, projects, and facilities where substantive administrative, policy and/or technical issues require specialized analysis, recommendation and implementation.
Working under the title of Public Engagement Manager, the position is responsible for developing and coordinating the community engagement and public relations program for the San Diego County Probation Department. The Public Engagement Manager will be responsible for managing community outreach, communications, social activities, and reputation management, as well as representing the Probation Department in community-facing events and showcasing the department's work and mission. The position reports to the Chief of Staff and has a heavy emphasis on community relations and building trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve. The Public Engagement Officer will serve as an ambassador for the Probation Department and liaise with community groups to nurture the relationships between sworn probation officers and our clients, partner organizations, and other community stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will be a dynamic and self-motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills, who values collaboration, and thrives in an environment of multiple stakeholder priorities. Professional history will demonstrate the following leadership competencies, attributes, and experiences:

• Demonstrated knowledge of, and experience working with, local community organizations, service providers, boards and commissions, public agencies, and advocacy groups in the justice space.
• Fluency in strategic communications practices, including but not limited to public affairs, social media, outreach campaigns, media relations, and internal communications.
• Knowledge of Board of Supervisors priorities related to the Probation Department, particularly related to juvenile justice and prevention, diversion, and reentry.
• Experience leading a complex communication effort, including proactive community outreach, information gathering and dissemination, rapidly and diplomatically responding with factual statements and resources, and efficient coordination with other agencies and organizations.
• Ability to work independently, exercise due diligence when researching inquiries and consulting with subject matter experts, and demonstrate appropriate judgement in answering questions, sharing resources, and providing information.
• Ability to oversee and execute the implementation of communications plans that combine direct community outreach, traditional media, social media, and creative storytelling avenues that showcase the Probation Department's work and mission.
• Ability to effectively advise and support Probation Department leadership in presenting clear, accurate, and applicable information to diverse stakeholders, including drafting speeches, talking points for senior executives, news releases, stories highlighting department activities, and social media posts.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced large governmental organization and successfully handle multiple priorities and projects with strict deadlines.

Learn more about the position, including essential functions, examples of qualifying education/experience, working conditions, etc.

Hiring Process and Timeline

• Job Offer and Background Process begins Shortly after the interviews.

Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening

• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.
Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, AND, four (4) years of professional experience performing analysis, budget management, program administration, engineering, or closely related work in a program performing planning and analysis; OR a combination of education and/or experience as stated above.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Evaluation Process

Qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in the supplemental questionnaire. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application form will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.
Accommodation
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, on a case-by-case basis.

Click here to see the Management Benefits Summary (MGT)
01

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough and complete manner and include this experience in the work history section of the application. Note that if you are invited to the selection interview phase of this recruitment, you may be asked to provide additional detail on your work experience in order to verify your responses.

Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Please select from the following the one that best describes how you meet the minimum qualifications.

Note: Make sure the experience you are using to qualify is reflected in the employment history of your application in order to be considered.

Note: If using education to qualify you MUST submit a copy of your college transcripts/diploma or foreign studies U.S. equivalency report with this application.

• I have a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, AND, four (4) years of professional experience performing analysis, budget management, program administration, engineering, or closely related work in a program performing planning and analysis.
• I have a master's degree or PhD from an accredited U.S. college or university, or certified foreign studies equivalency, AND, three (3) years of professional experience performing analysis, budget management, program administration, engineering, or closely related work in a program performing planning and analysis.
• I have a combination of education and/or experience as listed above totaling eight (8) years.
• None of the above

03

Please select the areas in which you have experience. Select all that apply.

Please ensure this experience is included in the Work History section of your Employment Application.

• Community Engagement
• Strategic Communications
• Political Acumen
• Public Relations
• Social Media
• Public Speaking
• Project Planning and Management
• Writing and Editing
• None of the above

04

Do you possess experience working with local community organizations and/or media outlets on policy issues?

• Yes
• No

05

If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please describe your experience and include the length of your experience, name of employer, and job title where experience was obtained. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A".
06

Do you possess experience working on issues related to law enforcement and/or the justice system, particularly as they relate to juvenile justice?

• Yes
• No

07

If you responded "Yes" to the previous question, please describe your experience and include the length of your experience, name of employer, and job title where experience was obtained. If you do not have this experience, please indicate "N/A".
08

Where did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County website
• Governmentjobs.com
• Veteran Outreach / FFSC
• Mana de San Diego
• Family, Neighbors, Friends
• County Employee Resources Group
• College/University Career Site
• County Social Media
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Voice and Viewpoint
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity
• Job Fair/Career Event
• Other

09

If you answered "Other" to the question above, please indicate where you first heard about this job opportunity. If this does not apply, please indicate "n/a" below.
Required Question