City of Waco

  • Senior Public Information & Communications Specialist

  • CITY OF WACO, TEXAS
  • 300 Austin Ave, Waco, Texas 76701 United States View Map

Job Description

Summary

Minimum Starting Salary: $65,000.00, Depending on qualifications

The City of Waco Seeks:
We are seeking an experienced and creative Senior Public Information & Communication Specialist to help tell the City of Waco’s story and connect our community with the programs, services, and information that matter most. The ideal candidate is a strong writer and strategic communicator who can develop engaging content, build relationships with departments and community stakeholders, and support communications during both everyday operations and emerging issues. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy turning complex information into clear, meaningful communication, we invite you to apply.

Minimum Qualifications:
Required:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Journalism, Organizational Communications, Media Relations, Public Relations, or a related field and 5 years' experience in journalism, communications, and public relations programs: or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Position Overview:
Under basic supervision, prepares and presents internal and external communications for assigned departments within the City of Waco.

Essential Functions:
  • Develops content, presents information, and ensures accurate information is presented to promote city departments and services; updates City website and social media sites and provides electronic and print media organizations with information.
  • Represents the City and maintains media relations in the community on a variety of topics in a timely manner.
  • Cultivates valuable content to promote city departments and services.
  • Develops policy and establishes infrastructure to enhance internal and external communication to cultivate stakeholder and community engagement.
  • Establishes and maintains communication with the overall city communications team.
  • Creates and evaluates presentations for assigned departments.
  • Evaluates public issues and public perception of issues and recommends solutions.
  • Develops and implements communication strategies for the dissemination of information to ensure that the key messages reach the public.
  • Develops and coordinates crisis and risk communications during city emergencies.
  • Required to respond after-hours, including holidays and weekends, in the event of a departmental or City wide emergency.

Required for All Jobs:
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.
  • Complies with all policies and standards.
  • Supports the relationship between the City of Waco and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with residents, visitors, and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
  • Lives the City of Waco Values.


The City of Waco offers a complete benefits package for eligible employees including; health, dental, vision, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Accounts, life insurance, long term and short term disability, retirement, deferred compensation plans, holidays, vacation, sick leave, credit union and savings bonds.

To learn more about the benefits offered, visit our Benefits page.

Why Work For Waco:
  • Meaningful and challenging work
  • Make a difference and improve communities
  • Competitive Salary and Benefits
    • Full Range of Benefits, including Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance
    • Mandatory TMRS Retirement Plan with a 2:1 City Match
    • Education Assistance Program
    • Paid Parental Leave
    • Employee Assistance
    • Longevity Pay
    • And More!
  • Chance to do work you are passionate about
  • Desire to give back
City of Waco

City of Waco

254-750-5740

Waco is centrally located in the heart of Texas on the I-35 corridor midway between Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin. This progressive and diverse city with a vibrant community spirit offers major attractions, museums, recreation, and abundant shopping to more than 140,000 residents. Waco is the 25th largest city in Texas and the county seat of McLennan County.

Waco is not only briming with Texas history, economic opportunity, and a rich variety of cultural experiences, it is also a major seat of high learning within three major colleges in its city limits including Baylor University, Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College.

The city is also the birthplace of Dr. Pepper, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.  Waco boasts one of the biggest and best municipal parks in Texas, Cameron Park. While the park is located in the middle of downtown situated on the Brazos and Bosque River it hosts numerous races, triathlons, boat races and much, much more.

Governance and Organization

Waco is a home rule city with a council-manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of a Mayor, elected at-large, and five City Council members representing single-member districts, all serving two-year terms. The City Council sets the tax rate, approves the budget, appoints members to City boards and commissions, enacts City ordinances, and appoints the City Manager, City Attorney, City Secretary, and the Municipal Court Judge.

The City has a strong Financial Management Policy that guides the operation and delivery of quality City services, contributes to excellent AA+ and Aa1 bond ratings, and maintains an unassigned fund balance reserve in the General Fund equal to 28% of current year budgeted expenditures. The City of Waco has more than 1,600 employees and a total operating budget of over $400 million.

The City provides a full range of municipal services including a regional airport, animal services, building inspections, code enforcement, convention and visitors bureau, emergency management, housing and community development, economic development, fire, public health, library, municipal court, parks and recreation, planning, police, public works, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum, utilities and zoo operations.  

The City Council and City Manager are committed to the mission of providing exemplary municipal services for citizens and visitors in a collaborative and transparent manner while honoring the public’s trust. Waco values include providing excellent and innovative services, promoting equality and inclusion, focusing on teamwork, investing in people and always doing the right thing.

With the City of Waco, you will find our home; where everyone belongs and thrives as move forward together.

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