Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer
- Salary: See Position Description USD
- Full Time
- Administration and Management
- Information Technology and Communication Services
- Political or Public Affairs
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Job Description
Job Summary
Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer
City of Santa Monica, California
Annual Salary: Up to $258,756 (salary range under review)
The Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer serves as a trusted strategic partner to the City Manager and the City’s executive leadership team, providing high-level, complex administrative support for high-priority initiatives. This role works at the intersection of policy, operations, and community engagement, managing the City’s legislative platform, supporting the City Council, and collaborating regularly with intergovernmental agencies, neighborhood groups, and key community stakeholders. A central responsibility of this role is to develop, implement, and evaluate an annual, integrated strategic communications plan that strengthens the City’s brand identity, broadens awareness of major events, programs, priorities, and projects, and elevates the visibility of key messages across diverse stakeholder audiences. This role is for a forward thinking, relationship-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated by meaningful, citywide impact. The position reports to the City Manager and serves as an integral member of the City Manager’s Office, while overseeing staff in the Policy & Legislative Affairs and Communications divisions, which include CityTV, Marketing/Branding, and Media Relations.
View the full recruitment brochure here:
Brochure
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The salary range for this position is currently under review and is anticipated to be up to $258,756/annually, PLUS a competitive benefits package.
HOW TO APPLY
For consideration, apply ASAP and no later than midnight on Monday, January 19, 2026. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early, as final interviews may be scheduled before the stated deadline. To be considered for this opportunity, upload cover letter, resume and a list of six professional references using the “Apply Now” feature at www.tbcrecruiting.com
QUESTIONS?
Contact Recruiter for Details:
Tina White, COO & Senior Recruiter
619-948-1786
tina@tbcrecruiting.com
The City's liberal fringe benefits for full-time employment include sick leave, holiday and vacation pay, the Public Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision insurance, credit union, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, Dependent Care Assistance Plan and priority enrollment consideration at Hill & Dale Family Learning Center, Marine Park Child Development Center, and Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School.
Closing Date/Time: 1/19/2026 5:30 PM Pacific -
Special Instructions
Please mention you found this employment opportunity on the CareersInGovernment.com job board. -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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City of Santa Monica
Show moreSanta Monica is a beachside city of 8.3 square miles on the westside of Los Angeles County. Offering an environment of unparalleled natural beauty, the city is home to a mix of residential communities, commercial districts, and recreational venues. Recently named by National Geographic as one of the Top "10 Beach Cities in the World" and by TIME as one of the "Best Places to Live", Santa Monica features three miles of Pacific beaches and the Santa Monica Pier. Santa Monica’s residential population is approximately 93,000, increasing to an estimated 250,000 during the day with tourists, shoppers, and employees. Tourism attracts over 8 million visitors annually.
The City of Santa Monica was incorporated on November 30, 1886 and subsequently adopted a City Charter in 1945. In 1947, a City Council-City Manager form of government was established. The City Council consists of seven members elected by the community at large to four year terms.
The City of Santa Monica is a full-service city. City departments provide police, fire, a regional transportation network, water, refuse and recycling, streets, parking, planning, building, engineering, free public wifi, a high speed fiber optic network, parks, affordable housing, economic development, library, rent control, recreational, cultural, and educational services to the community.
The City-operated Big Blue Bus regional bus service provides over 16.5 million rides for customers each year, all powered by renewable natural gas. Breeze Bike Share was Southern California's first bike share system with 500 bikes at 85 locations. In 2016, the Metro Expo Line opened connecting Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles in under an hour.
The City of Santa Monica is a national leader in environmental, economic and social sustainability. The City is working toward aggressive climate action goals including: water self-sufficiency by 2020, zero waste by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The highly-rated Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District serves both Santa Monica and Malibu residents. Santa Monica College (SMC), one of the state's top two-year community colleges, serves over 30,000 full-time and part-time students on several campuses and offers more than 90 fields of study. Santa Monica's strong education institutions are complemented by the 5-star rated Santa Monica Public Library system.
Public safety is a top priority in the City of Santa Monica. Santa Monica Fire Department continues to maintain a Class 1 ISO rating, the highest possible rating.
Santa Monica has a strong and diverse economy. Known as “Silicon Beach,” local businesses are at the leading edge of the nation’s creative economy and startup scene.
Sana Monica is also home to three renowned and respected health facilities, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente.
Connect with the City of Santa Monica by visiting www.santamonica.gov, follow @santamonicacity on Twitter, or sign up for the City's newsletter and emergency alerts at www.smgov.net/newsletter.
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