Strategic Communications Supervisor
Join one of the Inland Empire's Top Places to Work in this exceptional supervisory level opportunity
At Western, we're looking for more than a paper pusher or press release pro to fill this new position. We're looking for a seasoned leader in public communications who can put outside-the-box ideas into action while supervising the day-to-day.
If you're a collaborative leader with strong interpersonal skills who will continue raising the bar, then this is your chance to join an exceptional agency and be part of something bigger.
Western Municipal Water District stands out:
- Western is one of the largest public agencies in Riverside County providing water and sewer services to nearly one million people;
- We see ourselves as more of a business than a bureaucracy;
- We view our customers as an essential partner in ensure long-term water security for our region;
- And together, the Western team is focused on being the definitive leader in water and sewer services, upholding the highest level of stakeholder trust.
The Position:
The Strategic Communications Supervisor will assist in overseeing and coordinating the efforts of the strategic communications and government relations staff, acting as a central point of contact for the department's day-to-day operations. This new position will assist the Director of Strategic Communications with strategic planning, board interaction and communication, regional and community involvement, and the continued overall review of staff productivity and accountability.
To join our team, you will need to:
- Supervise the department's day-to-day, acting as strategist and tactician capable of mentoring and empowering your team.
- Be a communications expert and keep our brand on point with consistent messaging.
- Stay ahead of the curve in industry best practices so that our District meets and exceeds its goals.
- Collaborate with all our departments - we don't work in silos here.
- Create ways to cut red tape, so we can all work smarter.
- Serve as a consultant to all departments while supervising contractors and creatives.
- Triage priorities, frequently recalibrate workflow and facilitate top-down and bottom-up communication within the strategic communications department.
The Strategic Communications Supervisor performs a full range of supervisory level functions and will report to the Director of Strategic Communications.
The Ideal Candidate At Western, we're looking for more than a paper pusher or press release pro. We're looking for a seasoned public communicator with strong interpersonal skills to supervise day-to-day operations and provide strategic guidance. We need someone who can design outreach plans, programs and events, work with management, all staff and elected officials-all while having the skills to implement a variety of outreach tools that get the job done.
Focusing on both long and short-range efforts, the strategic communications supervisor must be able to work directly with the Strategic Communications Director to take public engagement to the next level, implement a new program direction and have the confidence to build relationships with customers, stakeholders and staff.
Serving customers is paramount to all that we do. We are driven by the more than one million customers who count on us every day. For that reason, you must be responsive, collaborative and accountable to our customers and agency partners, which means representing the District and presenting at meetings, events and other public forums.
To top it off, you'll be supervising a department that serves as Western's centralized source of public and community information so you must know how to strategically share that information with employees, customers, member agencies, businesses, community groups, the public, the media, and other stakeholder groups.
Western expects you to have knowledge and experience in comprehensive communications, outreach, public affairs, legislative affairs and customer information initiatives supporting a complex special district providing reliable water and wastewater services to retail and wholesale customers throughout Riverside County.
Strong leadership, supervisory and organizational skills will be critical to your success, as are the abilities to coordinate and manage the activities and personnel of a large organization, and lead district wide public events and projects. Highly qualified candidates must be able to work effectively both independently and as a collaborative team leader.
Personal Competencies/Characteristics:
- A relationship-builder who is proactive in establishing and leveraging partnerships with key community stakeholders and other large utilities.
- A skilled professional with a heightened sense of emotional intelligence and an awareness of community and customer issues, and political sensitivities.
- Open, approachable, and action-oriented; exercises good judgment; treats others with respect.
- Collaborative approach to working with others; able to bring people together and leverage common interests to perpetuate the goals of the District.
- Outstanding facilitation and leadership skills.
- A self-starter who exhibits high initiative and a strong work ethic; embraces the opportunity to make a difference.
If you're ready to join a results-oriented team, able to see the bigger picture, have a heightened sense of emotional intelligence, and are aware of district and community issues-we'd love to hear from you.
The Job Duties
The following areas have specific essential duties and responsibilities that are typical for this classification. Under minimal direction, the incumbent assists in planning, organizing, and implementing comprehensive District communications, outreach, public affairs, legislative affairs and customer information initiatives. Participates in enhancing understanding of Western's policies, projects, and procedures with customers, elected officials, legislators and stakeholders. The incumbent may represent the District with the media and stakeholders and provide guidance to executives, management, board members and consultants regarding media relations, legislative, and community engagement matters. Western employees are expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings and holidays as required to accommodate District needs, and frequent travel is required in addition to responding as a Disaster Emergency Service Worker. This single position class is responsible for assisting with the integration of district wide initiatives designed to maintain and enhance the image of the District. Assignments are given in terms of broad objectives and are broad in scope allowing for a high degree of administrative discretion in their execution, requiring the use of seasoned judgment. The incumbent will integrate the perspectives and efforts of internal stakeholders while also dealing with customers, stakeholders, media and representatives of multiple organizations on sensitive, potentially contentious matters.
Education
- Equivalent to Bachelor's degree in communication, marketing, public administration, political science, or related field.
- Master's degree in a related field may substitute for one year of experience.
Experience
- Minimum seven (7) years of progressive responsibilities in the development and coordination of communications, public affairs, marketing, government affairs, or related area.
- Minimum two (2) years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
Required License / Certification
- CA Class C Driver's License
Desirable Licenses/Certifications
- Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through the Universal Accreditation Board
- PIO Institute Certification from the California Association of Public Information Officials
- Crisis Communications Certification from Cal EMA's Specialized Training Institute