Job Description

Posting number: D105K

Department: Sustainability Department

Job classification: Communications Officer

Posting type: Promotional

Categories: Communications

Logo of San Mateo County Sustainability Department featuring three interlinked circles in orange, green, and blue.

Are you passionate about using strategic communications to advance sustainability, climate action, and community resilience? Do you want to help tell the story of programs and partnerships that improve quality of life for San Mateo County communities?

The County of San Mateo Sustainability Department is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Communications and Engagement Officer We are looking for a highly organized, creative, and service-oriented communications leader who is skilled in relationship building, strategic messaging, media relations, and staff and community engagement and empowerment. The ideal candidate will bring experience working with diverse communities and a strong commitment to equity, accessibility, and public service.

Under the general direction of the Department Director and Assistant Director, the Communications Officer will lead the Department’s internal and external communications strategy to promote sustainability education, programs, services, and initiatives throughout the County. This position oversees external communications, media relations, executive and internal communications, impact reports, digital content, branding, community engagement initiatives including managing the department’s youth climate programs, outreach and marketing resources, and communications support for Department initiatives. The Communications Officer also establishes Department-wide branding standards, communications templates, outreach tools, and processes that support consistent, effective, accessible, and audience-specific communications across all Sustainability Department programs.

As a member of the Department’s Management Leadership Team, the Communications Officer will provide strategic counsel to executive leadership, supervise communications staff, manage consultant and vendor relationships, and help ensure the Department communicates clearly, consistently, and effectively with department staff, residents, community partners, elected officials, County departments, media, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders.

The Job/The Ideal Candidate

The Communications Officer will provide the vision, strategy, direction, and execution of communications that advance the Sustainability Department’s mission, priorities, programs, and strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate is an experienced communications professional who can develop and implement high-impact communications strategies that support public awareness, community engagement, behavior change, and organizational effectiveness. They will have deep experience in branding, messaging, media relations, social media, digital communications, public information, public records request coordination, event communications, community engagement, executive communications, production of public-facing materials, and internal communications.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong political acumen and sound judgment in working with elected officials, executive leadership, County staff, partner agencies, community-based organizations, the public, and the media. They will be comfortable advising leadership on sensitive, high-profile, or emerging issues and will be able to translate complex sustainability topics into clear, compelling, and accessible messages for a broad range of audiences.

As the Department’s lead communications strategist, the ideal candidate will be a creative and innovative thinker with strong technical knowledge of communications tools, media practices, digital platforms, marketing strategies, branding standards, and public engagement methods. They will be an excellent writer and natural storyteller, able to develop a wide range of materials, including press releases, newsroom posts, talking points, key messages, presentations, newsletters, social media content, web content, reports, campaign materials, outreach materials, and executive communications.

The ideal candidate will be skilled at building and maintaining Department-wide communications infrastructure, including branding standards, templates, collaboration tools, digital marketing resources, outreach materials, review processes, and internal procedures. They will be able to support staff and program teams in planning and executing communications, engaging stakeholders, building clear program identities, reaching target audiences, and using communications tools effectively.

As the leader of the Communications team, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated supervisory experience and the ability to inspire, coach, and support staff. They will work collaboratively with managers and program teams to develop targeted communications plans, strengthen Department-wide communications and engagement practices, and ensure staff have the guidance, tools, and support needed to communicate effectively.

The ideal candidate will also bring strong program and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple projects, campaigns, and deadlines simultaneously. They will be proactive in identifying promising communications strategies, evaluating effectiveness, improving systems, and phasing out approaches that are no longer effective. They will use data and performance metrics from social media, digital platforms, campaigns, and outreach activities to evaluate effectiveness, refine strategies, and develop measurable, actionable, and results-oriented communications.

A demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice is essential. The Communications Officer must understand how equity, racial justice, economic justice, language access, accessibility, and inclusive engagement inform the County’s climate and sustainability goals. The ideal candidate will be able to develop communications that are culturally responsive, plain-language, accessible, and relevant to communities across San Mateo County. They will also have experience working with community-based organizations and trusted messengers to develop and conduct outreach that is responsive to community needs and increases participation among communities with lower past engagement.

The ideal candidate will understand the role of internal communications in strengthening collaboration, cross-program coordination, staff cohesion, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. They will be comfortable supporting internal messaging, collaboration practices, change management efforts, and staff wellness communications that contribute to a connected and effective Department culture.

Examples of duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advise the Department Director, Assistant Director, executive leadership, managers, and program staff on communications strategy, messaging, media relations, public information, stakeholder engagement, and sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate strategic communications plans that advance Department priorities, programs, services, initiatives, and organizational goals.
• Establish, maintain, and oversee Department-wide branding standards, communications templates, outreach tools, marketing resources, editorial standards, and communications procedures.
• Lead external communications, including media relations, public information, digital communications, social media, newsletters, web content, community outreach materials, and public awareness campaigns.
• Serve as the Department’s primary point of contact for media inquiries; coordinate responses, prepare spokespeople, develop talking points, and maintain relationships with key media representatives.
• Review, write, and produce press releases, newsroom posts, media advisories, statements, talking points, speeches, presentations, reports, newsletters, social media content, web copy, fact sheets, outreach materials, and other communications materials.
• Develop messaging that translates complex environmental, climate, energy, water, waste reduction, transportation, resilience, and sustainability topics into clear, accessible, and compelling public information.
• Provide strategic communications support for sensitive, high-profile, or emerging issues, including crisis communications and rapid-response messaging.
• Develop and support staff capabilities in planning and executing internal and external communications, stakeholder engagement, outreach campaigns, program identity development, and audience-specific messaging.
• Support programs in developing clear program identities, messaging frameworks, outreach strategies, and materials that align with Department and County branding standards.
• Lead the development of tailored, audience-specific outreach and education materials that respond to community needs, support program implementation, and improve community benefits.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations and trusted messengers to co-create and conduct outreach, particularly in communities with lower past participation or greater barriers to engagement.
• Lead communications and outreach strategies that support inclusive, equity-centered community engagement, including engagement with historically underserved communities.
• Oversee communications and engagement strategies for youth climate programs, including efforts to expand educational opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and increase participation in communities with lower past engagement.
• Oversee the Department’s brand identity and ensure consistency, accuracy, accessibility, and quality across print, digital, web, social media, presentation, and public-facing materials.
• Use social media, digital marketing tools, website analytics, email marketing data, and other performance metrics to develop measurable, actionable, and results-oriented communications strategies.
• Track, analyze, and report on communications performance, using data to refine messaging, improve public engagement, and increase the effectiveness of outreach campaigns.
• Modernize and streamline communications tools, templates, workflows, review processes, and outreach resources to improve consistency, responsiveness, efficiency, and support across Department teams.
• Support internal communications and change management efforts by developing messaging, staff updates, leadership communications, presentations, collaboration tools, and resources that help employees understand Department priorities and initiatives.
• Strengthen internal communications by refining collaboration tools, procedures, messaging practices, and cross-program communication channels to improve coordination and cohesion across the Department.
• Manage or support Department staff wellness communications, initiatives, and related internal engagement efforts, as assigned.
• Develop and conduct communications, media relations, storytelling, plain language, branding, digital communications, and public engagement training for Department managers and staff.
• Supervise, mentor, assign, review, and evaluate the work of communications staff; support professional development and team effectiveness.
• Manage consultants, contractors, vendors, and creative partners providing communications, design, translation, interpretation, marketing, media, digital, or engagement services.
• Coordinate communications for public meetings, community events, campaigns, workshops, youth climate programs, and other Department initiatives.
• Represent the Department at County, committee, interagency, community, and partner meetings as assigned.
• Work closely with executive leadership and program managers to respond to difficult, sensitive, or complex public inquiries, complaints, and stakeholder concerns.
• Coordinate with appropriate County staff on public records requests, media requests, records retention, accessibility, language access, and other public information requirements.
• Monitor changes in communications practices, media trends, digital technology, accessibility standards, public engagement methods, laws, regulations, and County policies that may affect Department communications; recommend updates as needed.
• Perform special assignments, lead cross-functional projects, and perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of public information, media relations, and community outreach project and program development.
• Methods and techniques for the development of press releases, talking points, newsletters, presentations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• Public agency contract administration, county-wide administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.

Skills/Ability to:

• Design, implement, and manage multiple or ongoing programs/projects, and direct the related resources, personnel and activities.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls.
• Provide professional leadership and direction in managing department-specific communication strategies, media relations, and campaigns.
• Conceptualize messages and effectively communicate in writing, speech, and other methods of communication.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with reporters, editors, and other media representatives.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Effectively represent assigned department in committees and meetings with stakeholders and the community.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with internal and external partners, stakeholders, and media contacts.
• Apply an understanding of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities to improve communication strategies.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way of gaining the knowledge and skills is equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public relations, communications, journalism, business or public administration, or a related field and five (5) years of management experience in public affairs, media relations, or related area.

Supplemental information

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Sustainability Department with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the " Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org to apply. Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule
Final Filing Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Application Screening Date: Friday, August 7, 2026
Civil Service Panel Interview: Week of August 17, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

HR Analyst: Sarah Huynh (072326)( D105)