City hiring communications specialist, planner

MADISON – The City of Madison has announced openings for two professional positions, communications specialist and associate planner.

The communications specialist will handle public information efforts and serve as news media liaison for the city. The mayor will supervise the specialist.

Annual salary for the communications specialist is $50,835.50 to $53,931.40.

Job responsibilities include writing and disseminating news articles to the media and residents, updating content for city’s website and cable television station and managing social media, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

In addition, the specialist will manage the city’s branding and marketing efforts and respond to residents’ questions. This employee will coordinate groundbreakings and be contact person for promotion of city-sponsored events and during weather outbreaks or other emergencies.

In minimal qualifications, the communications specialist needs a bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing or communications or related field, along with considerable experience.

In the Planning Department, the associate planner opening will pay an annual salary of $50,835.50 to $53,931.40. This employee supports and manages casework related to Planning Commission and Technical Review Committee as primary duties, while assisting Madison City Council, Zoning Board and Historic Commission.

The associate planner coordinates long-range planning projects and implements current projects, including applicant and resident coordination and report/agenda preparation. The employee oversees required legal advertising.

Work on zoning/rezoning, master planning, city’s comprehensive plan and policy recommendations are duties of the job. The associate planner coordinates reviews subdivision plats, site plans and other applications to city agencies.

The job involves frequent interruptions, evening meetings and occasional appearances at neighborhood, trade and civic meetings. This employee must understand federal, state and local law review processes of land use in Alabama municipalities, along with knowledge of Microsoft products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and GIS/database software.

Educational requirements for associate planner are a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or equivalent, in urban planning or related field. The candidate must have three years of experience.

For more information, visit madisonal.gov and click “Job Openings” in the left pane.