Director of Marketing and Communications

Description

The City of Fayetteville, NC (pop. 208,797), seeks an experienced and strategic communications professional to serve as Director of Marketing and Communications. This position oversees City-wide public communications, including public information, media relations, marketing initiatives, community engagement, and communications during emergency or disaster situations. The Director serves as a key advisor to City leadership on the planning, development, implementation, and management of communications, marketing, media coverage, and public relations strategies.

This is an opportunity to lead the City’s comprehensive communications strategy while ensuring that messaging remains consistent, transparent, and aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities. The Director will manage the City’s brand, publications, social media platforms, and government access channel while strengthening relationships with residents, businesses, media outlets, and community organizations. The successful candidate will be a collaborative leader who can work across departments, support executive leadership, and ensure City initiatives, programs, and services are communicated effectively to the public.

Fayetteville, NC, is one of the most family-friendly, patriotic, and diverse communities in America. As the home to Fort Bragg, the Army’s headquarters for Airborne and Special Operations, Pope Airfield, and the Army Special Forces Command, Fayetteville proudly serves the 57,000 military personnel, 11,000 civilian employees, and 23,000 family members connected to the installation, making it one of the largest military installations in the world.

Fayetteville has an FY 2026 approved operating budget of over $315.2 million, a capital improvement plan of $94.1 million, and approximately 1,735 full-time (FTE) positions. The Marketing and Communications Department has an approved budget of $1,349,926 with 12 allocated positions.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strategic leadership, strong communication skills, and political awareness in managing public messaging and community engagement. The Director must be an effective communicator who can translate complex government initiatives into clear and accessible information for residents, stakeholders, and the media. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to City leadership and guide messaging during both routine communications and high-profile or sensitive issues.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to build strong relationships with internal departments, community leaders, and media organizations while fostering collaboration across the organization. This role requires a professional who can anticipate communication challenges, provide thoughtful strategic guidance, and ensure the City maintains a proactive and transparent approach to communication with the public.

Responsibilities include developing and implementing the City’s strategic communications and marketing plan; managing and promoting the City brand; leading consistent messaging across social media, digital, and broadcast platforms; managing media relations and preparing City leadership for interviews and public engagement; overseeing publications, marketing materials, and presentations; managing the government access channel and televised Council meetings; leading internal communications initiatives; supervising communications staff; managing the department budget and resources; coordinating communications during emergencies or disaster situations; and building relationships with City departments, community organizations, and media outlets.

Qualifications & Experience – bachelor’s degree in public administration, marketing, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field. Seven years of progressively responsible experience in public communications, public information, public relations, journalism, or related work, including experience managing communications programs. A minimum of five years of supervisory experience is required. A master’s degree in a related field is preferred.

The anticipated hiring salary range for the position is $120,166 – $150,000 + DOQ/E with an excellent benefit package. If needed, a relocation allowance is negotiable. The application deadline is April 17, 2026. Candidates can apply online with a resume, cover letter, and contact information for five professional references. For more information, contact Sarah McKee, Senior Consultant, MGT at 847-380-3240 ext. 120.

The City of Fayetteville is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are critical to their success. No applicant or employee shall be deprived of employment opportunities because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, natural hair, hairstyle, or genetic information.

Application Deadline: April 17, 2026

To apply for this job please visit www.govhrusa.com.

Health And Dental Insurance

The City of Fayetteville Employee Healthcare Benefit Plan provides comprehensive and affordable health and dental coverage while maintaining reasonable costs to employees. Coverage is available for all regular status employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. The premium is deducted on a pre-tax basis, with the City paying a portion of the premium. Qualifying employees are eligible for benefits on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of service.

Employer Paid Leave

Vacation Leave

Regular employees begin accruing vacation leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on years of service

and the number of hours an employee is scheduled to work.

Sick Leave

Regular employees begin accruing sick leave the first day of employment. Accruals are based on the number of hours

scheduled to work; regular full-time employees accrue eight (8) hours per month. Sick leave hours accumulate without

limits and may be used toward creditable service upon retirement from the NC Local Governmental Retirement System.

Holidays

The City of Fayetteville observes 12 paid holidays per calendar year. When Christmas day is on a Wednesday, an

additional holiday is provided making for 13 paid holidays.

Bereavement

Regular employees are eligible for bereavement leave. The City will authorize 24 hours per calendar year to mourn or

attend a funeral or memorial service of a family member.

Retirement

The City of Fayetteville assists employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the NC

Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular employees

scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member

of this system, employees are required to contribute 6% of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.

Deferred Compensation Plans

To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These

programs enable regular full-time, and part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week, an opportunity to save a

portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefits. These programs are the NC 401(k)

plan and NC 457 plan; both administered by Empower. The City currently contributes 3% of base salary to an eligible

employee’s NC 401(k) account with a proposal, but must be approved by Council, to increase to 4% for Plan Year 25/26.

Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits

Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:

• > Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts (pre-tax)

Interested in relocating to United State? Check out our comprehensive Relocation Jobs in United State page with detailed relocation packages and benefits.

• > Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• > Optional Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  
  

Death Benefit

The first year an employee contributes to the retirement system, the City provides a death benefit of $3,000 once the

employee is benefits eligible. After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided

by the NC Retirement System that is equal to the highest 12 months’ salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no

less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for this benefit.

Pay Periods / Deduction For Benefits / Direct Deposit

City employees are paid bi-weekly (every other Friday). Benefit deductions are taken for 24 pay periods of the year. As an added convenience and safety measure, the City requires all new employees to sign up for direct deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

The EAP is available at no cost to all employees and their household members. The EAP provides confidential guidance

on legal, financial and personal issues affecting your health, relationships and job.