Chief Communications & Engagement Officer (Operations Officer)

Unclassified position available with the City's Communication Office located at 414 E 12th St
Salary Range: $8,650-$13,620/month
Normal Work Days/Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, however, this position is on call 24/7 as needed
Application Deadline Date: Open until filled


Responsibilities

The Chief Communications & Engagement Officer (CCEO) is the City's senior executive leader responsible for developing and driving a unified, comprehensive strategy for citywide communications, community engagement, digital experience, and internal information flow. Serving a municipality of roughly 600,000 residents, the CCEO is accountable for strengthening transparency, public trust, civic participation, and the City's brand across neighborhoods, business communities, and diverse populations. This role leads all aspects of strategic communications, media relations, digital engagement, crisis communications, and executive messaging.

The CCEO reports to the City Manager, and collaborates with the Mayor, City Council and Department Directors to ensure all communications and engagement efforts advance the City's strategic priorities and reflect the values of transparency, responsiveness, and inclusive civic participation.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Executive Leadership

• Build, implement, and continuously refine a long-term, citywide communications and engagement strategy aligned to the City's mission, strategic plan, and major initiatives.
• Serve as primary strategic advisor to the City Manager on organizational positioning, public relations, brand and reputation management, stakeholder engagement, and high-visibility issues.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team (communications, digital engagement, community outreach) through strong organizational design, coaching, and capacity-building.
• Establish foundational communication governance, operating procedures, brand standards, and performance frameworks including KPIs, dashboards, and evaluation tools to reinforce accountability, quality and strategic alignment.
• Oversee budgets, timelines, and performance metrics for communications initiatives
• Champion a culture of transparency, equity, and trust, ensuring communications efforts reflect the City's values and commitment to inclusive community participation.

External Communications & Media Relations

• Set and drive the overarching media relations strategy and ensure the City's public communications are proactive, accurate, consistent, timely, and strategically aligned.
• Build and maintain robust relationships with local, regional, and national media, as well as influencers and strategic partners.
• Oversee the strategic direction, approval processes, and quality standards for all public messaging, external statements, speeches, and executive communications.
• Develop and deliver executive-level media training for elected officials and City leadership
• Manage narrative development for major initiatives, announcements, and events.

Community Engagement & Public Participation

• Establish and champion a clear vision for accessible, equitable, and inclusive community engagement that reflects resident voice and supports shared decision-making.
• Partner with City departments on engagement strategy for major capital projects, policy initiatives, service delivery changes, neighborhood planning, budget processes, and community forums.
• Integrate resident insight, sentiment data, and engagement outcomes into policy recommendations and service delivery improvements.
• Lead & champion civic education and participation by directing large-scale outreach initiatives, public forums, community events, and citywide engagement campaigns.

Digital Communications & Branding

• Provide executive oversight of the City's digital communications ecosystem-including websites, social platforms, mobile applications, newsletters, video content, and digital accessibility compliance.
• Develop and enforce brand governance, ensuring consistency in visual identity, messaging, and user experience across all departments and public-facing materials.
• Drive innovation by evaluating and implementing emerging technologies, digital trends, and modernization opportunities that enhance transparency, accessibility, and service delivery.

Crisis & Emergency Communications

• Lead the City's crisis and emergency communication strategy, including real-time coordination with public safety, emergency management, and regional partners.
• Maintain and regularly test the Emergency Public Information (EPI) Plan.
• Direct high-stakes me ssaging during emergencies, critical incidents, or issues with significant public impact.
• Lead post-incident communication evaluations and implement improvements to strengthen future readiness.

Internal Communications & Employee Engagement

• Build and oversee a citywide internal communications strategy that strengthens employee engagement, cultural alignment, and organizational understanding of City priorities.
• Partner with Human Resources and executive leadership to ensure employees receive clear, consistent information and understand their role in delivering public-facing services.
• Direct internal campaigns that support organizational change, culture transformation, and employee morale.

Department Evolution & Modernization Expectation

• Create training and upskilling programs for staff.
• Build a culture of high performance, accountability, and service orientation.
• Establish clear cross-departmental partnerships and service expectations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Executive presence with exemplary written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including storytelling, public speaking, and executive messaging.
• Strong political acumen, discretion, integrity, and the ability to manage sensitive or highly visible issues.
• Expertise in brand governance and reputation management, ensuring consistency, trust, and positive public perception across all platforms and audiences.
• Deep understanding of proactive media relations, social and digital media best practices, public engagement techniques, and civic participation.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, transparency, and community-centric communication.
• Strategic, forward-thinking mindset with the ability to anticipate issues, shape narratives, and execute proactively.
• Proven ability to build, mentor, and evaluate a high-performing team and create measurable performance outcomes.
• Proven ability to collaborate across functions and influence at executive and board levels.
• Experience with crisis communications, emergency information protocols, or EPI coordination, with the ability to lead emergency messaging and maintain composure under pressure.
• Thorough understanding of municipal government operations, stakeholder ecosystem (residents, business community, media, civic organizations), policy processes, and neighborhood-level dynamics.
• Digital fluency and data-informed communication skills, leveraging analytics, emerging technologies, and best practices to optimize engagement, accessibility and transparency.
• Ability to work extended hours, weekends and nights as needed.

Qualifications

Qualifications for this position are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, Marketing or related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Minimum 15 ye ars of progressive responsibility in strategic communications, media relations, public affairs, or community engagement, ideally within public-sector environments or large, complex organizations.
• At least 10 years in an executive or senior leadership role directing organization-wide communications, digital platforms, public affairs, or engagement operations.

Other Information

Why You'll Love Working with Us - Core Employee Benefits

Comprehensive Health Coverage
Affordable medical, dental, and vision plans with multiple options and low employee contributions.

Generous Paid Time Off
Enjoy vacation, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays-with accruals that grow the longer you're with us.

Secure Retirement Planning
City-funded pension plan plus an optional 457 savings plan to help you build long-term financial security.

Support for Life's Big Moments
Paid parental and bereavement leave to help you navigate major life events with peace of mind.

Tuition Assistance
Get reimbursed for eligible education expenses-invest in your future while you work.

Income Protection
Short- and long-term disability coverage options to safeguard your earnings.

Life Insurance Provided
City-paid life insurance with the option to add more coverage for extra peace of mind.

Community Volunteer Leave
Take up to 8 hours annually to give back to causes you care about.

Want the Full Picture?
Click here for a complete benefits summary.

URGENT!!! CRITICAL RECRUITMENT INFORMATION

Applications and/or resumes are evaluated on the information received by the application deadline. Please ensure that your application or resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying, this includes providing all relevant educational dates and a detailed description of relevant work experience, including months/years of employment. Applications and/or resumes may not be considered if information is incomplete.

In order for a resume to be used in lieu of an application the resume must have been submitted online via the City's Applicant Tracking System.

Positions requiring a high school diploma/GED certificate must be obtained from a school/program accredited by the Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

The minimum education requirement for positions that allow for experience equivalency for an accredited degree is a high school diploma. Unless otherwise specified, an accredited degree must be obtained from a college or university listed with the U.S. Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
For positions with a salary grade of EX6 or higher that require an accredited degree, qualifying professional experience must be obtained AFTER the accredited degree is obtained.
Successful completion of a pre-employment criminal history/background check is required for all positions. Some positions require a post offer drug screen and/or physical.

If appointed, non-residents must obtain residency inside Kansas City, Missouri's city limits within nine months.

The City of KCMO is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The City is committed to providing a workplace environment for its employees and citizens free from discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more information, please see our EEO Policy

The City of KCMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 816-513-1908 or send an e-mail to accommodations@kcmo.org .

If claiming military veterans' preference points, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or a DD-256 (for reservists). To claim veterans' points you must have served 180 days of regular active duty service and be discharged or released under honorable conditions during peacetimes or 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. (DOD) 38 U.S. Code • 4211).

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• City of Kansas City

• 816-513-1903

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