Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Manager in Clearwater, Florida at Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is seeking a strategic, hands-on communications leader to serve as Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Manager. This is a working manager position responsible for leading the Agency's communications program while remaining actively involved in the planning and execution of high-impact communications initiatives.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff/Chief Strategy Officer, this position serves as the Agency's lead communications professional and trusted advisor on communications strategy, public affairs, media relations, stakeholder engagement, digital communications, and crisis communications. The Manager develops and implements strategic communications plans, serves as the Agency's primary Public Information Officer, advises executive leadership on communications matters, and oversees public engagement initiatives that support project implementation and strengthen public understanding and trust in Tampa Bay Water's mission.

In addition to providing leadership and supervision to communications and audiovisual staff, the Manager remains directly involved in developing communications strategies, crafting key messaging, writing and editing content, managing media relationships, supporting executive communications, and advancing agency visibility through traditional and digital communication channels.

This role is ideal for a "player-coach" communications professional who enjoys balancing strategic leadership with meaningful day-to-day communications work. This position plays a critical role in helping Tampa Bay Water tell the story of how it provides a reliable and sustainable drinking water supply to millions of residents across the region. In addition to being a trusted advisor to leadership, the Strategic Communications & Public Affairs Manager is also a visible ambassador for the Agency, and a hands-on communications professional responsible for strengthening public understanding, stakeholder engagement, and trust in Tampa Bay Water's mission and services.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Communications Leadership

• Lead the Agency's communications, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, and public information functions.
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans aligned with the Agency's Strategic Plan and organizational priorities.
• Serve as a strategic communications advisor to executive leadership.
• Establish departmental goals, work plans, budgets, performance measures, and reporting metrics.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of communications programs and recommend improvements based on stakeholder feedback, analytics, and organizational needs.
• Ensure communication activities support Tampa Bay Water's mission, goals, and regional reputation.

Communications Execution (Working Manager Responsibilities)

• Personally develop, write, edit, and review agency communications materials, including media releases, speeches, executive talking points, presentations, newsletters, website content, articles, reports, public information materials, and stakeholder communications.
• Develop communication strategies and messaging for Agency initiatives, projects, programs, and issues.
• Lead media relations efforts, respond to media inquiries, and proactively generate positive media coverage.
• Serve as the Agency's Public Information Officer and coordinate emergency and crisis communications activities.
• Prepare executives, technical staff, and subject matter experts for media interviews, presentations, public meetings, and stakeholder engagements.
• Ensure consistency of messaging across all communication channels and audiences.

Public Affairs & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead stakeholder outreach and public engagement efforts supporting agency projects, programs, initiatives, and policy objectives.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with member governments, community organizations, partner agencies, media representatives, and other stakeholders in coordination with the Government Affairs Program Manager.
• Plan, coordinate and implement public meetings, community events, educational programs, facility tours, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Support executive leadership with communications related to public affairs, regional partnerships, and strategic initiatives.

Digital Communications & Content Strategy

• Lead strategy, planning, and performance measurement for agency websites, social media platforms, email communications, intranet, multimedia content, and other digital communication channels.
• Oversee development and implementation of digital content strategies that support public education, stakeholder engagement, and organizational objectives.
• Ensure Agency digital communications meet accessibility requirements, brand standards, and industry best practices.
• Monitor communication analytics and recommend content and channel improvements to maximize effectiveness and audience engagement.

Audio-Visual & Multimedia Services

• Oversee the Agency's audio-visual, multimedia, and Board meeting production functions, including staff, vendors, and technology.
• Ensure effective support of Board meetings, public meetings, executive presentations, agency events, livestreams, recordings, and digital communications while maintaining compliance with accessibility and public access requirements.
• Coordinate audiovisual and multimedia resources to support executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and agency outreach initiatives.

Staff Leadership & Resource Management

• Supervise Public Communications and Audio-Visual staff, interns, consultants, and contracted service providers.
• Establish performance expectations, provide coaching and professional development, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and customer service.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets and resource plans, including tracking expenditures to outside consultants and service providers
• Procure and manage contracts related to communications, public relations, advertising, website support, graphic design, multimedia production, and related services.
• Evaluate service delivery models and recommend operational improvements that enhance effectiveness and efficiency.

Organizational Leadership

• Participate in cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives to support organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with leadership across the Agency to identify communications opportunities, manage issues, and build stakeholder trust.
• Stay current on emerging communications, public affairs, digital media, and public engagement trends and best practices.
• Support, promote, and enforce workplace safety policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Disaster Service Worker:

Employees of Tampa Bay Water are Disaster Service Workers under State and Federal law. In the event of a declared emergency, employees may be assigned duties that support the protection of public health and safety or the preservation of life and property.

Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public affairs, media relations, public relations, stakeholder engagement, marketing communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years leading communications programs, projects, staff, consultants, or cross-functional teams with at least two (2) years of direct staff management experience.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic communications plans and campaigns.
• Experience serving as a spokesperson, managing media relations, and supporting crisis or emergency communications.
• Experience managing digital communications platforms, websites, social media channels, and content strategies.
• Experience working with executive leadership, governing boards, elected officials, regulatory agencies, or public-sector stakeholders is highly desirable.
• Experience in utilities, government, infrastructure, environmental services, or public-sector organizations is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong strategic communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Excellent writing, editing, presentation, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong media relations and issues management capabilities.
• Ability to translate technical information into clear and engaging public-facing communications.
• Strong project management, planning, organizational, and budgeting skills.
• Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across all levels of an organization.
• Familiarity with website content management systems, digital communication platforms, communication analytics, and web accessibility best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams while remaining actively engaged in communications execution.

Education

Required

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Affairs, Marketing, Strategic Communications, Business Administration, Public Administration or a closely related field.

Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience may be considered.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Valid Florida Driver's License or ability to obtain one within six months of hire.

Preferred

• Accreditation in Public Relations (APR)

MINIMUM STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Physical Abilities: Must be able to speak clearly so listeners can understand and listen carefully to understand the speech of another person; must be able to work on a computer (close vision) for extended periods of time; must be able to visually discern differences between colors, shades and brightness; must be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds; push items weighting up to 25 pounds; must be able to stand for 60 minutes at a time; may occasionally be required to stoop, kneel or crouch; must be able to walk up to 1 mile without a break in varying weather conditions.

Sensory Abilities: Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination.

Environmental Requirements: Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, toxic agents, violence, disease, or pathogenic substances, with periodic exceptions depending on project requirements.

Employees in this role must show proficiency and will be rated on the following performance indicators/competencies:

• Job Knowledge
• Work Planning & Initiative
• Communication Skills
• Problem-Solving & Decision Making
• Productivity (Quantity & Quality of Work)
• Interpersonal
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Supervisory Skills
• Team Development
• Staff Development & Performance Management
• Resource Management

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as required to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

To be considered for this position, please plan to upload three writing samples, preferably a press release, blog/article, key messages, and/or social media posts. This would be in addition to a resume and cover letter.