Posted: January 01, 2008 Community Engagement Manager City of Menlo Park Salary: up to $108,504 annually DOE, with excellent management benefits package

Menlo Park is a charming mix of old and new, reflecting both the region's rich heritage and technology-oriented future. Situated midway between San Francisco and San Jose, the City's location provides its 32,000 residents with numerous cultural and academic opportunities. City resources include an operating budget of $36 million and a staff of 243 permanent and 200 part-time employees.

The Community Engagement Manager is an executive management position and a member of the City's leadership team. Reporting to the Assistant City Manager, the Community Engagement Manager will serve as principal staff resource for development, support and implementation of the City's community engagement efforts. The goal of such efforts is to create meaningful opportunities for community members to have a voice in City decision-making and engage in dialog with each other in order to help the City Council and staff understand community values, needs and concerns and develop policies, programs and services that are responsive to them. Under administrative direction, the successful applicant will develop and periodically update a Community Engagement Plan with specific strategies for creating and disseminating clear, accurate and comprehensive information about City policies, programs and services and for facilitating public input into the City decision-making process. The Community Engagement Manager will be responsible for implementing the plan, directly through his/her own work, by managing the work of consultants and contractors and by supporting and guiding the work of other City staff throughout the organization.

Minimum qualifications for this position include:

• Knowledge and skill in the areas of open government and citizen participation concepts
• wide knowledge of public information, public media and public relations techniques, resources and methods, including Internet/web/cable
• ability to prepare a wide variety of effective, professional, attractive and economical communication materials
• exceptional writing and public speaking skills which include the ability to use proper English grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Two or more years of prior experience in a responsible public relations position is required, preferably in a public agency. Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a degree in Public or Business Administration, Journalism, Community Organizing, or closely related field. Additional relevant experience may substitute for the education requirement. Possession of a valid California Driver's license is required.

Please submit a resume and completed application by 5 pm on February 14, 2008, for consideration. Interviews for finalists are tentatively set for March 6, 2008. For a complete job description and application, contact: Personnel Department, 701 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025; www.menlopark.org, or www.Calopps.org. EOE