Digital Communications Specialist

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Department: Charlotte Area Transit System Department

Salary: $59,134 – $73,917 Commensurate with Experience

Our Guiding Principles Include

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce
• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development
• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services
• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems
• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

Summary

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking a creative and data-driven Digital Communications Specialist to enhance its online presence and engagement within the community. Your mission is to boost ridership and public education by managing our social media presence and crafting compelling digital narratives. Act as an on-the-ground content creator, transitioning from community events to customer interviews to capture the real-world impact of our services.

Beyond content creation, you will be a key voice in the community—leading public engagement sessions, collaborating on press releases, and assisting with agency-wide communications. The role demands significant public interaction and is under the supervision of the Communications Manager. This position is ideal for candidates with a knack for digital communication and a passion for community engagement.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

• Coordinate and participate in neighborhood meetings focusing on CATS-related topics.
• Project lead for CATS service expansions, including community meeting planning, press releases and other communications materials.
• Oversee and integrate social media strategies to enhance community engagement and feedback.
• Utilize social media platforms to effectively convey information about CATS services and programs while ensuring clear, engaging and informative content.
• Develop and execute social media campaigns that spotlight CATS employees, operations and major initiatives, employing creative storytelling and digital marketing techniques.
• Design and develop engaging social media graphics as required, ensuring alignment with CATS branding and messaging guidelines.
• Conceptualize, shoot, and edit high-engagement short-form video content (Reels, TikToks, Shorts) to drive brand awareness and audience interaction.
• Manage, monitor and respond to comments and inquiries on CATS social media platforms, maintaining active and positive community interactions.
• Compile and present social media reports as needed for leadership or specific campaigns, analyzing engagement metrics and insights to guide future strategies.
• Manage the social media liaison and organize biweekly social media team meetings to align strategies, brainstorm content ideas and review performance metrics.
• Serve on the CATS Media on-call rotation, promptly responding to media inquiries.
• Serve as a member of the Crisis Response Team.
• Work closely with media outlets to respond to inquiries, coordinate interviews, and generate earned media, positioning CATS as a leading voice in transit services.
• Perform other duties as assigned, adapting to emerging social media trends and organizational needs to support CATS’s strategic objectives.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Exceptional storytelling, editing, and proofreading skills with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to proficiently use social media management and analytics software, like Sprout Social, for effective campaign planning, execution and analysis.
• Proficiency in video production and editing; hands-on experience with Adobe Premiere Pro or Creative Cloud is a plus.
• Thorough knowledge of AP (Associated Press) format, including mastery in spelling, grammar and punctuation, ensuring all communications are professionally and accurately presented.
• Strong capability to work collaboratively as a team member, effectively engaging with diverse workgroups, and contributing positively to team dynamics and outcomes.
• Proven ability to set work priorities, organize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent computer literacy, including in-depth experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint), and the ability to quickly adapt to new technology tools and platforms.
• Understanding of search engine optimization best practices and Google Analytics.
• Proficiency in Canva or Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop/InDesign) for basic graphic creation.
• Competence in conducting thorough research and preparing detailed special reports, utilizing data analysis and clear presentation to inform decisions and strategies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, management and the general public, fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in English, Public Relations, Public Administration, Communications or related field with two (2) years of relevant work experience.

or

Associate degree in English, Communications or a related field of study with six (6) years of relevant work experience.

Benefits

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

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