Creative Communications Specialist in Sarasota, Florida at Sarasota County Sheriff's Office

Reporting to the Community Affairs Manager, the Creative Communications Specialist is responsible for the creation, production, management, and preservation of visual and digital content on behalf of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. This position serves as the agency’s primary multimedia content specialist and is responsible for visual storytelling, photography, videography, graphic design, website administration, digital asset management, and electronic forms development. The successful candidate must possess advanced creative and technical skills and the ability to communicate complex information through compelling visual and digital communications. This position requires extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud applications, website content management systems, database systems, and emerging communication technologies. The Creative Communications Specialist supports the daily operations of the Community Affairs Office by maintaining agency digital platforms, managing agency publications and forms, ensuring website accessibility compliance, preserving agency digital assets, and assisting with social media and public information initiatives. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, highly organized, innovative, and capable of managing multiple projects while producing high-quality work with minimal supervision.

• Serve as the agency’s primary photographer, including photographing, editing, cataloging, and maintaining official agency member portraits.
• Produce, edit, and manage professional photography, videography, graphics, publications, and multimedia content for agency use.
• Develop visual content that effectively communicates agency initiatives, programs, events, operations, and public safety messaging.
• Maintain, update, and enhance the Sheriff’s Office website, ensuring all content is accurate, current, user-friendly, and compliant with ADA accessibility standards and best practices.
• Serve as the agency’s website administrator, including content updates, troubleshooting, user support, and coordination with vendors and Information Technology staff.
• Design, develop, revise, and maintain agency forms utilizing Adobe Acrobat and JavaScript, while coordinating with the General Counsel’s Office, Accreditation, Records, Human Resources, and other agency stakeholders.
• Manage the archiving, backup, organization, retention, and retrieval of all Community Affairs Office digital assets, including photographs, videos, graphics, publications, agency reports, strategic plans, newsletters, and historical records.
• Administer and maintain the agency’s digital asset management system and related file storage architecture.
• Assist in the design, production, and publication of agency reports, newsletters, brochures, strategic plans, presentations, and other printed and digital communications materials.
• Utilize agency databases, records management systems, and reporting platforms to retrieve information and generate reports as directed.
• Assist in the day-to-day management of agency social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and future communication channels.
• Research, evaluate, and coordinate the purchase of photography, videography, and multimedia equipment and software.
• Provide technical support and subject matter expertise related to multimedia production, website administration, digital accessibility, document creation, and digital asset management.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree required in Visual Arts or a closely related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in photography, videography, graphic design, digital communications, website administration, or a related field.
• Proficiency in professional DSLR and mirrorless camera systems, lenses, lighting equipment, and photographic techniques.
• Experience with off-camera flash systems, studio lighting, and field photography.
• Advanced proficiency in professional video production equipment, video editing workflows, and multimedia content creation.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Audition, InDesign, and Acrobat.
• Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat form creation, electronic document workflows, and JavaScript scripting.
• Experience managing websites through Content Management Systems (CMS).
• Strong graphic design, layout, branding, and visual communication skills.
• Experience with digital asset management systems and file organization methodologies.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, confidential environment.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Demonstrated creativity, initiative, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies, software platforms, and communication tools.