Website Specialist

JOB SPECIFICS

The Website Specialist role prioritizes a strong understanding of UX/UI principles and website design best practices over hands-on coding or custom website development skills. The CMS (CivicPlus) does not require custom code, the ideal candidate should be knowledgeable in the fundamentals of website development without needing to write or implement custom code for site customizations. The ability to design and maintain intuitive, user-centered websites and to understand how design decisions directly impact the overall user experience is essential.

The ability communicate effectively and provide guidance and training to team members is essential to success, as the role involves close collaboration with content managers across multiple departments. Clear communication, approachability, and the ability to translate best practices into actionable guidance are essential. The role is best suited for someone who balances design expertise with strong interpersonal skills.

JOB SUMMARY

A communications specialist develops and maintains a unified internal and external voice for programs within a department through various communication media in collaboration with overall county communication. The work involves planning, coordinating, and implementing communications projects and activities with internal and external stakeholders. Activities can vary from designing and implementing communications, marketing plans and campaigns, promoting assigned programs, evaluating and analyzing communications efforts with community partners, interpreting data, and developing measurements related communication effectiveness.

EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, English, Journalism, or related discipline AND three years experience in a communications environment – public relations, marketing, media, graphic design or mass communication ; or equivalent.

A background check is required. A driver's license is required.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create, oversee and collaborate with staff on communication plans and communication approaches for various topics and audiences; ensure communication is in accordance with county policy guidelines
• Write, edit, prepare and produce a variety of communication messages including but not limited to media relations, community relations, social media, news releases, talking points, fact pages, email messages, list serves, presentations, web pages, marketing and media research, media planning, audio/video presentations, or displays
• Prepare presentation materials and coach staff for presentations, public meetings, and media interviews
• Work with appropriate vendors in the design and printing of publications, online and print advertising, contracted photography and video; manage consultant/contractor communications contracts in coordination with project managers
• Interview employees, stakeholders and community partners to write feature stories, testimonials and program newsletters for internal and external audiences
• Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of communication strategies, ensure message accuracy, analyze and make communication strategy recommendations
• Provide appropriate annual department budget recommendations to carry out communication plans
• Work with internal and external community partners on messages and tool development through meeting facilitation, focus groups or key informant interviews.
• Monitor county web pages for content accuracy and up to date information; identifies areas for improved optimization on related search engines
• Develop and communicate web writing style guidelines and standards, presentation guidelines, and ADA accessibility standards
• Monitor and evaluate web services and content through usage reports, surveys and customer feedback and inquires. Provide recommendations to improve website usage
• Photograph events as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is sedentary in nature performed within the Government Center or satellite offices. There is a lifting requirement of 15 - 20 pounds on an occasional basis. There may be frequent wrist and finger manipulation due to high concentration of filing, compiling, calculating, or computer work. No special physical effort or ability is required to perform the work. Most work is performed in a normal office environment.

Additional physical/mental requirements that occur may not be listed above, but are inherent in performing the position's essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the kinds of tasks and level of work difficulty being performed by people assigned to this classification. The list of responsibilities is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The County retains the discretion to add or change the contents of this job description at any time.