Communications Specialist (Part-time)

Are you a creative storyteller with a passion for video, photography, digital content, and community engagement? The City of Decatur is seeking a part-time Communications Specialist to help share the stories, services, and events that connect our community. In this hands-on role, you’ll produce multimedia content, support livestreams and social media, and help keep residents informed and engaged. This position offers up to 20 hours per week, primarily during afternoon and early evening hours, with occasional nighttime and weekend availability required to support City events and communications needs.

The part-time Communications Specialist supports the City of Decatur’s efforts to provide accurate, timely, accessible, and engaging information to residents, employees, news media, and other audiences. The position serves as the Communications Department’s primary multimedia producer and livestreaming specialist. Responsibilities include video production, photography, livestream operations, digital content creation, and support for the City’s website, social media platform, public information efforts, and special events.

The part-time Communications Specialist also assists the Communications Manager with broader departmental responsibilities and receives cross-training in public information, media relation, emergency communications, website management, social media, and other communications functions.Multimedia Production

• Plans, shoots, edits, and produces video content for City communications.
• Photographs City events, programs, facilities, infrastructure projects, employees, elected officials, and community activities.
• Produces short-form videos, feature stories, informational videos, public service content, promotional materials, and other digital media.
• Creates content for the City's website, social media channels, video platforms, presentations, and other communications outlets.
• Identifies opportunities to visually tell the story of City services, projects, employees, and community initiatives.
• Maintains an organized and searchable archive of City photographs, video footage, graphics, and other multimedia assets.
• Assists with basic graphic design and visual content development as needed.
• Ensures that City-produced multimedia content adheres to established branding, accessibility, and quality standards.

Livestreaming and Video Operations

• Coordinates and operates livestreaming for City Council meetings, work sessions, press conferences, public meetings, special events, and other designated activities.
• Operates cameras, audio equipment, video switching equipment, encoders, streaming platforms, and related production systems.
• Monitors livestream quality and troubleshoots technical issues before and during productions.
• Ensures recorded meetings and programs are properly archived and made available through approved City platforms.
• Assists with captioning, accessibility, and video publishing requirements.
• Develops and maintains written procedures for livestreaming, recording, archiving, and multimedia production.
• Coordinates with Information Services and other departments on equipment, network, software, and technical needs related to City communications.
• Assists with evaluating future multimedia equipment and production needs.

Communications Support

• Assists the Communications Manager in developing content for City social media channels.
• Assists with writing and publishing website stories, announcements, public notices, and other digital content.
• Gathers information, photographs, video, and interviews from City departments for use in public communications.
• Supports communications efforts surrounding major City announcements, public meetings, community events, emergencies, and special projects.
• Assists with press conferences and media events, including staging, audio, video, photography, and supporting materials.
• Helps monitor City communications platforms for content needs and opportunities.
• Assists with internal communications projects as assigned.
• Supports City branding and ensures consistent visual and editorial standards across departments.

Professional Development and Cross-Training
The Communications Specialist will receive progressive cross-training in other Communications Department functions, including:

• Media relations
• Public information
• Crisis and emergency communications
• Website administration
• Social media management
• Public engagement
• Communications planning
• Writing and editing
• Executive and departmental communications
• As experience and proficiency increase, the Communications Specialist may assume additional communications responsibilities under the Communications Manager's direction.

• An Associate or Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, broadcasting, multimedia production, marketing, public relations, digital media, or a related field; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Experience with video production, photography, livestreaming, broadcast operations, digital media, journalism, public relations, or governmental communications.  
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• The successful candidate should have knowledge of or the ability to develop proficiency in:
  • Video production and editing
  • Digital photography
  • Uvestreaming and broadcast production
  • Audio and video equipment
  • Social media content creation
  • Digital storytelling
  • Website content management
  • Basic graphic design
  • Writing and editing
  • AP style
  • Public-sector communications
  • Digital accessibility practices
  • File management and digital asset organization
• The position requires the ability to:
  • Communicate clearly and professionally.
  • Exercise sound judgment in a public-sector environment.
  • Manage multiple assignments and deadlines.
  • Work independently and collaboratively.
  • Adapt quickly during live events and changing situations.
  • Maintain professionalism while working with elected officials, City employees, residents, news media, and community partners.
  • Handle sensitive or time-critical information appropriately.
  • Work evenings, early mornings, weekends, and other hours required for meetings, events, emergencies, and City operations.
• Preference may be given to candidates with experience using:
  • Professional or prosumer video cameras
  • Digital photography equipment
  • Nonlinear video editing software
  • Livestreaming and video switching systems
  • Audio production equipment
  • Content management systems
  • Social media publishing platforms
  • Adobe Creative Cloud or similar production software

Guidelines

• City Policies.

 Complexity/Scope of Work

• The Communications Specialist will strengthen the City’s ability to communicate directly with the public through professional multimedia production, reliable livestreaming, and expanded digital content.
• The position also creates additional organizational capacity within the Communications Department by helping to develop a second employee who can support core city communications functions, and through training, provide back-up.

 Contacts

• Contacts are typically with co-workers, other city employees, elected and appointed officials, members of the community, and members of the general public.
• Contacts are typically to exchange information, motivate persons, negotiate matters, resolve problems, and provide services

 Physical Demands/Work Environment

• The position includes work in an office environment and at locations throughout the City of Decatur. Assignments may require outdoor work, travel to City facilities and events, standing for extended periods, carrying production equipment, and working outside normal business hours.

 Supervisory and Management Responsibility

• None.