Employment Opportunities

The Town of Belchertown is looking for a part time Communications Manager to fill this newly created position. The Communications Manager develops and leads activities that extend the town’s reach, promote its assets, celebrates its achievements, and engage residents through its social media communication channels. This part time (19 hours/week) unbenefited position is grant funded for 1 year with extended funding potential.

Major duties include: Responsible for leading the development, implementation, operation, and assessment of the town’s communications activities. Working with town personnel, the Manager ensures that website and social media content is informative, current, accurate, and appropriate. The Manager is responsible for developing new, creative applications of digital media to facilitate the town’s promotion of its many attributes and activities. Coordinate communications and content through the Town’s website, social media platforms, email, and print to ensure consistency and accuracy of information among the various media. Ensure that important town projects, reports, events, agendas, minutes, contacts, and open positions, among other items, are regularly posted, appropriately emphasized, and easily accessed. Ensure town staff and volunteers are well trained and able to update department pages, post announcements, conduct business, maintain links, and fully support their respective portions of the website. Working with the website platform provider, periodically refresh graphics, content, layouts, and links to stimulate community interest and ensure the town's website reflects current standards and best practices, including SEO optimization. Write and distribute periodic press releases and media advisories. Promote public awareness, engagement, and participation in municipal governance and events through website and streaming media. Coordinate and disseminate crucial emergency push notifications as necessary. Provides periodic reports to Town Manager and Communications Committee. Collaborate with the Communications Committee on the development of a town communications plan. The Manager will be an ex-officio member of the Communications Committee which will provide support and guidance to the Manager.

Minimum qualifications: 3-5 years’ experience managing a website and social media channels; 3 years’ experience creating and posting digital content, writing press releases and media advisories. Mastery of grammar and excellent writing ability. Ability to manage concurrent, multiple projects and meet deadlines. An undergraduate degree in communication, digital media, computer science, journalism, marketing, business administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience desirable. 

This is an unbenefited grade 10 position with an hourly salary hiring range of $35.04 to $39.07. Work schedule may include evenings and weekends with remote work possible. This posting is open until filled. Application review will begin October 28, 2024. Anticipated start date is January 2, 2025.