Job Description

Following is a brief overview of the position. Please review the entire job description (attached) for a 
complete listing of the essential duties, responsibilities, physical demands and working environment, 
minimum qualifications, and other requirements of this position. 

Class Summary
The City of Hudson is accepting applications for the position of Communications Manager. This is responsible, management level public information and public relations staff position. An employee in this class directs and carries out the City's internal and external communications program and serves as liaison between City administration and the community.

Minimum Qualifications
Please review the minimum qualifications section on the attached job description. Possession of a valid insurable State of Ohio driver’s license is required.

How to Apply
Employment application forms may be download here and the full job description can be found at 
Completed employment application with resume attached must be submitted by email to HumanResources@hudson.oh.us, or fax to (330) 342-1794, with Communications Manager included in the subject line. Completed application with resume must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2025. EOE

The City of Hudson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and maintains a policy of Equal Employment 
Opportunity for all employees and applicants. The City of Hudson does not discriminate in employment or the provision of services on the basis of race, color, national origin and ancestry, gender (sex), religion, age, 
disability, sex (wages), military status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected 
by Federal or State law.

CLASS SUMMARY
This is responsible, management level public information and public relations staff position. An employee in this class directs and carries out the City's internal and external communications program and serves as liaison between City administration and the community. Work is performed under the general direction of the Assistant City Manager or their designee. The employee is responsible for determining work procedures and for seeing assignments through to completion. Supervision is exercised over other staff assigned to or 
performing subordinate communications program related tasks.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Any one position may not include all the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. Allocation of positions to this class will be determined on the amount of time spent
in performing the primary duties.)

Assists the City Manager in developing external and internal staff communication plans, strategies, and policies. Develops effective means of communicating City policy and information about City projects and programs to City Council, City staff and members of the public.

Determines the need and appropriate audience for specific and general information campaigns. Plans, prepares and arranges for the publication and dissemination of printed, online and/or electronic communications in connection with such information campaigns.

Works closely with the City Manager and City Council on communications and campaigns that may be highly confidential in nature.

Writes and prepares speeches for Council, City Manager and other staff, including PowerPoint presentations, room visuals, and speech preparation.

Prepares, implements and reviews email marketing and social media campaigns and posts, including but not limited to email newsletters, text messages, announcements and posts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media outlets for the City. Also prepares campaigns and posts for Department social media sites. Monitors and tracks social media 
relevant to the City.

Performs the graphic design and layout of internal and external City communications, using desktop publishing and related graphic design software. 

Prepares and implements a graphic identity and standards which is carried through all City departments and monitors those standards to ensure consistent use.

Prepares written replies or makes oral replies to a wide variety of inquiries received from the community and from private citizens and public officials in other jurisdictions. Works with Department Managers toward solutions to residents’ concerns/service requests; communicates with community members and representatives to address specific questions, concerns and requests.

Acts as the primary public records administrator for the City. Fulfills or coordinates fulfillment of public records requests, as appropriate. Works with the City Solicitor to ensure information is provided and/or redacted according to the Ohio Revised Code.

Develops, writes and produces, with assistance from Hudson Community Television staff, video programming to serve the public information needs of the Hudson community or City staff.

Acts as the City Webmaster and prepares or coordinates preparation of updated text and graphics as necessary. Reviews and edits the content of materials submitted by other staff departments for posting on the City’s website for accuracy and consistency of style. Implements, monitors and encourages two-way communication through website tools. 

Prepares press releases, public announcements and related correspondence to communicate City policy objectives, programs and items of public interest to the media and to individual members of the public.

Reviews and edits communications to citizens from other City departments to ensure consistency, accuracy and readability.

Serves as Public Information Officer (PIO) and City spokesperson, and in that capacity answers questions and concerns from the media and public about City operations, including Police, Fire, and EMS. Prepares or works with appropriate staff personnel to ensure that responses to such inquiries and concerns are generated in a timely manner. 

Serves as lead Public Information Officer (PIO) in crisis situations, is part of the emergency management team when the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated, and implements Reverse 9-1-1 and other emergency communications tools as needed during an emergency. Acts as point person for Summit County Emergency Management Agency when its EOC is activated for countywide issues that relate to Hudson.

Prepares, assists and advises on marketing campaigns for various departments. Prepares, writes and produces marketing materials, visuals, PowerPoint presentations, tradeshow materials and other marketing-related communications.

Must provide a high level of customer service by being courteous, responsive, respectful and helpful in all interactions with staff, superiors and the general public.

Must establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, superiors, colleagues, co-workers, City officials, and the general public.

Performs related work as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT (The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk, sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Work requires a Bachelor's Degree in public relations, communications, journalism or English; and a minimum of five (5) to 10 years of responsible experience in public relations, communications, print or broadcast journalism or publishing; or any equivalent combination of education and/or experience that provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:

Thorough knowledge of public relations and communications principles and practices and the effective use of common communications media.

Knowledge of and superior ability to utilize word processing, desktop publishing/graphic design and computer-generated public presentation technology to effectively and efficiently carry out the public and internal staff communications functions of the position.

Superior writing skills, including superior knowledge and application of rules of grammar and syntax. Employees written work product should require a bare minimum of editing in these areas.

Superior oral communication skills.

Ability to handle people with tact and skill, with excellent interpersonal skills and sound, reasonable judgment.

Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships. 

Knowledge of legal principles concerning public records and public information requests.

Ability to deal effectively with the public and the media, using diplomacy; sound, reasonable judgment and tact.

Ability to effectively plan, coordinate, organize, schedule, and prioritize activities, functions, and assignments, with flexibility to adapt to changing and urgent deadlines and work requirements.

Ability to perform research and prepare informational literature, and to disseminate effectively information and data in a timely and responsive manner.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Valid State of Ohio drivers’ license

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