Public Affairs Coordinator I (Community Engagement Specialist)

The City of Manassas is seeking a Public Affairs Coordinator I (Community Engagement Specialist) and communications professional who thrives in a fast-paced, community-focused environment that balances a historic heart with a modern beat while supporting well-executed events and collaborating closely with residents and City staff to ensure information is clear, accurate, and welcoming.

Do you bring a strong foundation in news writing, visual content creation, and digital communications, along with a commitment to transparency, public service, and attention to detail? Are you someone who enjoys contributing creative ideas and seeing them carried through from concept to completion? If so, the City of Manassas encourages you to apply for our Public Affairs Coordinator I position.

The hiring range for this position is $33.50/hour - $46.06/hour ($69,680 - $95,804.80 annually) based on education and experience.

Why Join the City of Manassas?

• Be part of a team that values transparency, service, and high-quality public information.
• Use your writing, video, and design skills to tell meaningful community stories.
• Support City events and initiatives through strong, professional communications.
• Do work that has a visible and lasting impact on the community.

The Public Affairs Coordinator I supports Citywide public information and community engagement efforts through community outreach, content creation and community-based communications, under the direction of the Office of Public Affairs. This role focuses on community building through face to face communication and through producing clear, accurate, and accessible written, visual and digital communication that inform residents and support City initiatives.

In this role, the Public Affairs Coordinator I works with a variety of community and internal stakeholders, including homeowners’ associations, business groups, advisory committees, and City departments, to support communications related to City programs, public meetings, and events. Engagement is conducted in a professional, coordinated manner and is focused on ensuring information is clearly communicated and consistently presented across City platforms.

This is a public-facing position for someone who understands that strong interpersonal interactions, writing, thoughtful visuals, creative problem-solving, and well-supported events are essential to public trust and understanding.

• Support the planning, coordination, and on-site execution of communications logistics at City events, festivals, public meetings, and similar public-facing activities.
• Assist with event logistics including schedules, layouts, signage, staffing coordination, and real-time communications support.
• Engage directly with residents, businesses, and community organizations in the context of City events and communications activities.
• Create, edit, and publish news stories, announcements, and feature content for internal and external audiences using AP Style.
• Assist with video production, including basic filming, editing, and post-production for City events, programs, and initiatives.
• Support graphic design needs, including layout, typography, and visual assets for digital and print communications.
• Capture photo and video content at events, meetings, and in the field.
• Assist with updating and maintaining content on the City’s website and other digital platforms in accordance with established standards and workflows.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal City departments and external partners.
• Assist with public records transparency by supporting communications-related FOIA requests, including locating responsive records and coordinating with departments in accordance with established procedures and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.
• Support culturally responsive communication practices, including bilingual materials when appropriate.
• Work evenings and weekends as needed to support City events.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or related field; supplemented by two (2) years of experience in communications, website design or related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong news-writing skills, including the ability to produce clear, accurate content in AP Style, along with strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Fundamental understanding of video production, including basic filming and editing, as well as graphic design principles such as layout and visual hierarchy. 
• Basic knowledge of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort working in public-facing environments are essential, as is the flexibility to work evenings and weekends to support events as needed.

• Experience producing communications content for government, nonprofit, or other public-sector organizations, along with familiarity with website content management systems and basic website maintenance. 
• Experience creating content for websites and social media platforms is strongly desired, as is familiarity with design and content tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or comparable platforms. 
• Bilingual or multilingual skills applied in support of communications materials, or experience working in culturally diverse environments, are a plus, along with an awareness of language access practices. Participation in the City’s language stipend program may be available in accordance with City policy if deemed eligible. 
• Ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously while remaining highly organized and detail-oriented. 

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit work samples or a portfolio demonstrating relevant experience. This may include examples of news writing, press releases, website content, social media posts, videos, photography, graphic design, or other communications materials. Portfolios may be submitted as links or attachments and should reflect the applicant’s role in the work provided.

While submission of a portfolio is not required, it will help the review panel better understand an applicant’s writing style, creative approach, and ability to carry communications projects from concept to completion.