Department:
CommunicationsStart Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.
Join our team and make a meaningful impact in the community! In this supervisory role, you’ll support Sarasota County’s Division of Program Management, with a primary focus on the Resilient SRQ program - our long-term grant initiative helping residents recover from hurricanes Ian, Debby, Helene, and Milton. You’ll play a key part in preparing the Program Manager for community and County Commission presentations by developing clear, compelling materials and talking points. This role also supervises the Resilient SRQ Communications Specialist and provides communications and outreach support for additional programs, including ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds and future housing initiatives.As part of the Communications Department and reporting to the Creative Services Manager, you’ll lead presentation development, manage short- and long-range communication strategies, support media relations, and carry out targeted marketing and community outreach. If you’re passionate about public service, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to help shape communication efforts that directly support Sarasota County residents, we encourage you to apply today!
In this role, you will...
Support the Program Manager in creating and delivering community presentations and related communication materials.
Develop written, verbal, and digital communications for the Resilient SRQ program, including community engagement plans, internal messaging, brochures, flyers, FAQs, media releases, talking points, ads, and website content.
Create and present clear, engaging information to both internal teams and external audiences.
Serve as the Community Outreach Specialist by coordinating and participating in events, speaking engagements, and public outreach; respond to community questions about the Resilient SRQ program.
Build and maintain communication plans, schedules, and project trackers, and provide regular updates and reports.
Special Note: This position is a time-limited role. In this time-limited role, your position may be maintained until December 31, 2029. You will receive benefits and retirement, but will lack retention rights to your position.
Work Hours:
As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.
E-Work/Hybrid Work: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home up to two days per week! After your first six months, and based on job performance and departmental needs, you’ll be eligible to take advantage of this great benefit.
To be considered for this role, you must have the following:
Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Relations, Marketing, Mass Communications, Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Illustration, or related field with 3 years of related work experience.
OR: Master's degree in any of the above fields with 2+ years of related work experience.
OR: 7+ years of related professional experience may substitute for the required education at management discretion.
The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:
Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred, with strong customer service skills and the ability to build effective relationships across departments.
Demonstrated experience developing senior-level communication strategies, writing and editing accurately in AP style, and creating high-quality materials on tight timelines.
Strong presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively in group and one-on-one settings.
Skilled in managing multiple projects, shifting priorities when needed, and working independently with sound judgment—even in fast-changing or urgent situations.
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop), email/newsletter/survey tools, and project management software with the ability to provide routine analytics.
Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 lbs.
Starting Pay Range: $56,139.20 - $59,009.60, based on experience.
Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).
If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:
1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)
Benefits:
A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.
We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.
Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.
A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.