It’s a great time to join the City of Boulder!

Application Deadline:

May 31, 2026

Compensation Details:

Full Pay Range

83,616.00 - 121,118.40

Generally, the hiring range is from the minimum up to 80% of the range.This is a full-time salaried position.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Benefit Eligibility Group:

Non Union (30+ Hours)

Locate the Benefit Eligibility Group value on the Employee Benefit Eligibility document to identify the benefits offered for this job.

Job Description Summary:

OVERVIEW OF ROLE (Utilities)
Under limited direction, the Communications Senior Program Manager supports the Utilities Department with the creation and implementation of an annual strategic and coordinated communications plan designed to keep customers and community members informed about services, projects and policies that impact them. The position also collaborates with department leadership to provide proactive and transparent communications around emerging issues or challenges related to Utilities’ core functions. The Utilities Department provides water, wastewater, stormwater and flood management services to protect human and environmental health through efficient management of fiscal and natural resources.

Job Description:

UTILITIES

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a contributing member of the city’s Communications & Engagement Department.

• Embeds day-to-day with Utilities leadership and staff, performing core communications duties and providing counsel to subject-matter colleagues in a collaborative team environment. 

• Serves as a communication strategy lead for the assigned department(s), in this case Utilities.

• Develops and implements an annual strategic communication plan each year for Utilities to ensure communications goals are achieved and aligned with department and city goals, including a focus on proactive communications and foundational education about water utilities functions.

• Works collaboratively as part of a team and attends Utilities staff meetings and leadership/management team meetings as necessary and advises on all communications matters.

• Understands the Utilities mission/services and actively shares them with the community through a variety of communications methods, and in collaboration with communication colleagues who support other relevant departments. 

• Remains aware of sensitive or political issues and provides communications counsel to Utilities leadership.

• Assists Utilities leadership in drafting and may respond directly on behalf of the department to community correspondence to City Council, city leaders or Utilities leadership.

• Assists Utilities leadership in developing and sharing internal department-specific communications messaging as needed.

• Identifies opportunities for communication connections on cross-departmental, high community impact and/or citywide projects and may be assigned to help coordinate effective cross-departmental communications strategy and execution, particularly on public safety topics such as floods, droughts, or other water-related issues.

• Monitors city communications channels to understand and respond to community sentiment.

• Keeps informed about and implements innovative and useful methods of communication with a focus on trends in social media and external public relations.

• Seeks to leverage local, regional, national and sometimes international media to share Utilities-related stories, projects and successes from Boulder.

• Advises and coaches subject-matter experts in Utilities on how to respond effectively to media inquiries, share messaging and on public and council presentations. May sometimes serve as Utilities Department spokesperson.

• Works closely with the Community Engagement Senior Project Manager – Flood and Stormwater Outreach to ensure outreach and communication efforts are complementary.

• Works closely with other public safety communications staff, including the city’s two Public Information Officers, to connect issues within the Utilities department to broader citywide messaging about p