Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement (Manager II), Grade MII
Montgomery County Government
·Yesterday
- Salary
- $117k – $207k/yr
- Location
- 101 Monroe St Rockville MD 20850 USA, MD, US
- Department
- Marketing
- Seniority
- Manager
- Source
- GovernmentJobs
Description
Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $116,956 to $206,553, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
THIS IS A MERIT TERM POSITION (WITH BENEFITS). THE TERM ENDS DECEMBER 21, 2030. THE TERM MAY BE EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 4 YEARS FROM JANUARY 1, 2030 AND EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2034.
Individuals appointed to this position will be required to serve a probationary period, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuance in the position will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.
WHO WE ARE
The Montgomery County Office of Public Information (PIO) is the communications hub for the County government, responsible for effectively conveying the County Executive’s vision, priorities, and initiatives to the public. Serving a diverse community of over 1.1 million residents, PIO develops and delivers timely, accurate, and engaging content across a wide range of topics.
Our team is made up of skilled professionals specializing in public relations, graphic design, website management, social media, television and video production, event planning, marketing, advertising, and photography. Together, we ensure that the County's message reaches all communities through clear, inclusive, and impactful communication.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Extensive experience and success interacting and communicating with diverse audiences, using clarity, consistency, and sound judgement across all platforms and situations.
- Working equitably, collaboratively, and effectively with staff at all levels and decision makers within an organization to accurately understand and convey evolving information while maintaining strategic alignment with County priorities.
- Advanced skill in navigating and coordinating complex, sensitive, and politically interdependent or sensitive issues, providing thoughtful guidance and coordinated communication approaches that reflect broader governance and policy implications.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including mastery of executive messaging, AP style editing, and high-stakes content development.
- Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and operational management abilities necessary to advance department-wide initiatives while overseeing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Proven tact, professionalism, and composure—especially during times of crisis, heightened stress, or rapidly changing situations—ensuring accurate, timely, and coordinated information flow.
- Ability to rapidly interpret and respond to difficult questions, emerging issues, and high-pressure demands with diplomacy, strategic insight, and sound judgment.
- Demonstrated exemplary leadership that motivates teams, empowers staff, strengthens cross-departmental collaboration, and builds a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence while moving towards common goals.
- A creative self-starter with a strategic mindset grounded in innovation, analytics and measurable outcomes, and proactive planning and problem solving—bringing new ideas, data-driven insights, and high-impact approaches to teambuilding and public information work.
- Deep knowledge of local government operations, emergency communications, policy environments, and the role of public information in supporting executive priorities, transparency in government, and community engagement.
To succeed in this role and to effectively complete core functions within this role, the incumbent must develop and establish and sustain strong, trusted relationships with the County Executive’s Office, County departments, the County Council, elected officials, media partners, business and community leaders, unions, residents, direct reports, and other stakeholders—ensuring unified messaging and coordination across all public-facing efforts.
The successful candidate will also serve as the department’s resident grammarian, AP style authority, and communications strategist to shape messaging frameworks, elevate written materials, and guide high-level content creation.
As a member of Montgomery County’s leadership team, this position is responsible for fostering a workplace environment built on positive labor relations, mutual respect, cooperation, and strong internal communication.
As the Manager, Public Communications, Marketing & Engagement (Manager II) in the Office of Public Information, you will serve as a senior executive leader responsible for directing countywide communications, overseeing multimedia production, and managing key operational functions that advance the priorities and public positions of the County Executive.
In this role, you will manage complex, high-impact work that requires independent judgment, political awareness, cross-departmental coordination, and exceptional leadership—helping shape how the County communicates, responds, and engages with its community every day.
This role will be essential in enhancing team cohesion, strengthening performance expectations, and fostering a high-achievement, service-driven culture across the Office of Public Information. The successful candidate will provide clear direction, structured leadership, and supportive coaching to ensure all functional areas—including public information officers, web and graphic design, video production, and administrative support—operate with alignment, efficiency, and a shared commitment to excellence. By clarifying priorities, improving workflows, and empowering staff, this position will help advance productivity and efficiencies, elevate professional standards, and ensure the delivery of high-quality, strategic communications that support the County Executive to best serve and include our community.
You will:
- Lead all countywide public-facing communications, ensuring consistent, timely, and strategic messaging across press releases, social media, cable programming, live events, and crisis communications.
- Oversee high-level content creation and review, including speeches, talking points, newsletters, video scripts, and digital content produced by staff for the County Executive, departments, and community stakeholders.
- Direct daily operations of the Office of Public Information, including budget management, staffing strategy, resource allocation, performance metrics, policy development, procurement oversight, and compliance with county regulations.
- Supervise and lead multiple functional teams, including public information officers, visual information specialists, IT specialists, program managers, and administrative support staff, while guiding managers and ensuring accountability for departmental goals.
- Plan and execute major public events and community engagement initiatives, such as budget forums, announcements, and large-scale public gatherings, ensuring seamless logistics and unified messaging
- Serve as a senior liaison and public representative, building and sustaining strong partnerships with elected officials, County departments, media outlets, community organizations, and business leaders.
- Coordinate strategic communications across government, including monitoring legislative developments, aligning messaging with policy priorities, and representing the County Executive in interagency and public forums.
- Lead crisis and emergency communications, developing emergency messaging strategies, advising leadership, and coordinating rapid, accurate communication across departments and emergency management partners.
- Advance data-driven communications, establishing analytics tools and dashboards, tracking media and engagement performance, and using insights to strengthen strategies and improve public reach and transparency.
- Act as a communications strategist and editor, serving as the department’s lead grammarian and AP style authority to ensure high-quality, accurate, and professional information is delivered to the public.
Working Offsite Locations: This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at locations outside the office.
Financial Disclosure Requirement: The selected candidate will be required to complete and submit a Financial Disclosure Statement.
Evening and Weekend Hours: This position may require the ability to occasionally work some evening and weekend hours.
Telework: Due to office needs, telework is not available for this position.
Effectively completing core functions within PIO is reliant upon the incumbent establishing and maintaining collaborative and mutually beneficial professional relationships with the County Executive's Office and other County agencies, the County Council, elected officials, community leaders, and other various stakeholders, unions, business leaders, the media, County employees, direct reports, and the public. This individual will also be expected to serve as resident Grammarian, AP writing-style editor, and communications strategist and planner.
As part of the Montgomery County government leadership team, this position is responsible for fostering a positive labor relations environment based on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in a field preferably related to communications, public information, multimedia, or a related area, three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity.
Note: The term “executive” is further defined as a high echelon or high-level position in an organization that is assigned technical research, management advisory services responsibilities, or policy-making duties and responsibilities that exert considerable influence on organizational policy, plans, and operations through technical research, management advisory services, and/or policy-making duties, and
responsibilities (e.g., County positions at Grade 30 or above).
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
The application of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:
- Media relations, strategic communications, public information, journalism, and multimedia content development.
- National, state, and/or county government organizational structure, programs/services, policy environments, and issues.
- Communicating effectively both orally and in writing with high-level governmental officials, employees, business executives, the public, and representatives of the media.
- Supervising professional staff and delivering core administrative functions such as budget development, performance metrics, and personnel oversight/evaluations.
- Organizing and prioritizing multiple high-stakes assignments in fast-paced, time-sensitive, and politically dynamic environments.
- Flexibility in managing multiple competing priorities for self and staff while producing accurate, high-quality, and strategically aligned work products.
- Leading crisis and emergency communications, including cross-departmental coordination and rapid messaging during critical incidents.
- Using data-driven analytics, performance measurements, and communications technology tools to evaluate and strengthen messaging effectiveness and community engagement.
