Communications Assistant

All current City of Sarasota employees must apply to job postings on the internal career site.

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NOTE: The City of Sarasota is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Veteran, E-Verify and Drug Free Workplace employer. Click to view the City's Veterans Recruitment Plan. Click to view a the City's Educational Equivalency Statement.

Department:

City Manager's Office

Employee Type:

Probationary

Time Type:

Full time

Salary Range:

$26.4272 - $33.6946 Hourly / $54,968.50 - $70,084.84 Annually

Job Posting Period:

November 17, 2025 - December 02, 2025 12:00 A.M.

Job Description:

Overview

To provide support to the Communications unit. Acts as media liaison producing newsletters, generating content for social media platforms (including photos, videos and infographics) and disseminating information to the community.

Essential Functions

• Shadows and assists with meeting the City’s communications, public information, and community outreach objectives.

• Gathers information, writes news releases for review and disseminates news releases to media outlets and residents; posts news releases to website and social media as directed.

• Responds to requests for information from the media via a variety of methods including email, phone calls, text messages, and social media. 

• Proactively pitches news stories to media outlets.

• Cultivates strong working relationships with local media representatives.

• Reviews news stories for content accuracy.

• Participates in media relations efforts in emergency situations.

• Assists with the coordination of news conferences including recording and posting to social media channels.

• Assists with the production of a multi-media e-newsletter.

• Assists in the development of communication materials across multiple departments.

• Assists in the development of content (including photos, videos, infographics) and administers website content management system and social media platforms, with oversight, to engage residents and disseminate information about City activities and programs.

• Generates still photos and organizes archives.

• Ability to be on-call and respond to emergent issues at varying days and times pertaining to the City. 

• The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position.  Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, public relations, journalism or other related field.

Job Based Competencies

• Knowledge of the principles of local government.

• Knowledge of current principles, practices and procedures of communication, news gathering and social media.

• Strong, accurate writer

• Knowledge of the Associated Press Stylebook.

• Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to distill complex information under strict deadlines and write in a clear, concise manner.

• Ability to produce and edit high quality video content from conception to posting on social media platforms. 

• Ability to multitask.

• Ability to keep records and prepare reports.

• Ability to develop and mai