The Marketing & Communications Director is responsible for managing communications with Winston-Salem residents and the media; for shaping the city's public image through storytelling, citizen engagement, public education and public events; and for protecting the city's brand. * Oversees the work of the Marketing & Communications Department staff, comprising the deputy director, the video services team, the creative services team and the community engagement team, and their respective work products; * Keeps citizens, news media and special interest groups informed about city policies and programs; * Develops and maintains effective relations with the news media and assisting them when appropriate;   * Develops marketing and advertising strategies for city programs, policies and events, and for city departments as needed;  * Works with advertising agencies and media outlets to place advertising on radio, television, print and social media; * Oversees and monitors the city's social media accounts; * Organizes news conferences as required; * Oversees special events, public forums and surveys;  * Provides expert advice to elected officials and senior city staff on general and critical communications issues including publicly sensitive issues;  * Effectively communicates accurate information to citizens and the media during emergency and crisis situations; * Represents the city or a specific department in public meetings pertaining to community issues;  * Attends as needed meetings of the City Council and other boards, commissions and organizations;  * Responds, or assisting in developing a response, to citizens' complaints regarding city programs, policies, operations or actions;  * Supervises the television operations center-WSTV 13. * Oversees the Marketing & Communications Department budget; and  * Conducts research, data gathering and analysis on issues in order to present information in an unbiased, accurate manner. Education and Experience: * Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in mass communications, journalism, public relations or related field. * Five years of professional experience in communications, marketing or public information/relations. * Experience in crisis communications. * A master's degree in a relevant field is preferred.  * Prior experience working for a municipal government is preferred. * Prior experience with a news media organization a plus.    * Prior experience overseeing website management, and working knowledge of website standards.   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: * Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.  * Ability to perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over the marketing & communications staff. * Working knowledge of composing news releases, radio and television scripts, advertising copy and reports. * Thorough knowledge of marketing, promotions, communications, public relations and public information tools and techniques to include media interaction.  * Thorough knowledge of various social media platforms including the best platforms to reach specific demographic groups, best practices for each platform and knowledge of platform analytics.  * Ability to organize and manage city events such as groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings.  * Familiarity with the structure of city government.  * Familiarity with website analytics. * Ability to learn the unique characteristics of the city and surrounding community.  * Ability to develop and implement programs and marketing and advertising campaigns.  * Working knowledge of the Winston-Salem media advertising market and the best resources to reach specific demographic groups.  * Knowledge of AP style and best practices in writing for social media, print and radio/television. * Knowledge of graphic design principles and layout. * Ability to gather, compile, analyze and interpret data.  * Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, community leaders and city staff.  * Ability to exercise judgment in advising officials on sensitive issues.  Physical Requirements:  This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and operating motor vehicles or equipment; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic). Special Requirements * Valid Drivers License Residency Policy This position falls under the residency policy that requires the person selected maintain their principal residence within a thirty-mile radius of the Winston-Salem City Hall, or establish their principal residence within a thirty-mile radius of the Winston-Salem City Hall within 180 days of the effective date of the personnel action.