Communications Assistant

All current City of Sarasota employees must apply to job postings on the internal career site.

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NOTE: The City of Sarasota is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Veteran, E-Verify and Drug Free Workplace employer. Click to view the City's Veterans Recruitment Plan. Click to view a the City's Educational Equivalency Statement.

Department:

City Manager's Office

Employee Type:

Probationary

Time Type:

Full time

Salary Range:

$26.4272 - $33.6946 Hourly / $54,968.50 - $70,084.84 Annually

Job Posting Period:

November 17, 2025 - December 02, 2025 12:00 A.M.

Job Description:

Overview

To provide support to the Communications unit. Acts as media liaison producing newsletters, generating content for social media platforms (including photos, videos and infographics) and disseminating information to the community.

Essential Functions

• Shadows and assists with meeting the City’s communications, public information, and community outreach objectives.

• Gathers information, writes news releases for review and disseminates news releases to media outlets and residents; posts news releases to website and social media as directed.

• Responds to requests for information from the media via a variety of methods including email, phone calls, text messages, and social media. 

• Proactively pitches news stories to media outlets.

• Cultivates strong working relationships with local media representatives.

• Reviews news stories for content accuracy.

• Participates in media relations efforts in emergency situations.

• Assists with the coordination of news conferences including recording and posting to social media channels.

• Assists with the production of a multi-media e-newsletter.

• Assists in the development of communication materials across multiple departments.

• Assists in the development of content (including photos, videos, infographics) and administers website content management system and social media platforms, with oversight, to engage residents and disseminate information about City activities and programs.

• Generates still photos and organizes archives.

• Ability to be on-call and respond to emergent issues at varying days and times pertaining to the City. 

• The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, public relations, journalism or other related field.

Job Based Competencies

• Knowledge of the principles of local government.

• Knowledge of current principles, practices and procedures of communication, news gathering and social media.

• Strong, accurate writer

• Knowledge of the Associated Press Stylebook.

• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to distill complex information under strict deadlines and write in a clear, concise manner.

• Ability to produce and edit high quality video content from conception to posting on social media platforms. 

• Ability to multitask.

• Ability to keep records and prepare reports.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective and positive interpersonal communication with all.

• Computer experience including Microsoft applications, video editing, and photo editing is necessary.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, to be on call, and to work weekends/holidays on a rotational basis using a team approach for coverage.

Responsibilities

Under the direction and responsible to the General Manager, Communications or designated representative. No supervision exercised.

Physical Requirements

This is light work usually performed in an office environment and requires no unusual physical demands.  Visual acuity is required for reviewing and maintaining computer and written files, and for observing civic meetings and activities.  Incumbent is required to have sufficient hearing ability to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.  Manual dexterity to operate standard office computer, still camera, and other equipment is required.

Public Contact

Contacts are a component of this position.  The incumbent may interact with officials and employees of other City Departments and other City, County, State and Federal agencies.  Contacts are for the purpose of obtaining and furnishing information, providing interpretations and explanations, facilitating resident participation, responding to questions, conveying the City’s message and similar purposes.

Retirement Benefit

The City of Sarasota made the transition to become a Florida Retirement System (FRS) employer effective December 1, 2021. To learn more about what this benefit may mean for you, please visit MyFrs.com. Please note that if you are hired to work for the City of Sarasota as an FRS employer, you will be asked to complete a form to certify your FRS status, as there may be an impact to any FRS benefit you are already receiving.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Jake Brown our ADA Coordinator. Jake can be reached via email at Jake.Brown@sarasotafl.gov or via phone at 941-263-6299.

For questions pertaining to general employment or job application status, please call 941-263-6476, or email HR@sarasotafl.gov