Government and Public Affairs Manager

GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER

The Reno Housing Authority is seeking an experienced, professional, innovative, and collaborative Government & Public Affairs Manager with a desire to make a difference in our community every day! The Government & Public Affairs Manager plans, directs, and implements comprehensive public affairs, community and government relations, outreach, marketing, and media relations programs, projects, and strategies for the Reno Housing Authority. Provides expert professional assistance and guidance to the Executive Director, the Board of Commissioners, RHA executives, managers, and staff on media relations, public and legislative affairs.

Examples of some of the positions essential duties are:

• Serves as the public relations liaison with the media, public and other government agencies. Uses public relations and media expertise to enhance public understanding of the goals and operations of the Reno Housing Authority proactively and reactively.
• Develops and implements overall legislative and communications strategy and policy, developing position, messaging, marketing, and branding strategies and outreach programs, media outreach and response to inquiries, and writing and creating RHA information materials.
• Lead strategic engagements with elected and appointed officials, government agencies, legislative staff, community groups, business leaders through a solid understanding of the structures and processes of the local, state, and federal governments to ensure the agency’s interests are represented.
• Serve as the Agency contact for media interviews and press conferences. Organizes press conferences, facilitates media interviews, and responds to media inquiries.
• Responds to media inquiries and/or provides background and talking points to Executive Director; responds to difficult and sensitive media and public inquiries and complaints and assists with resolutions and alternative recommendations.
• Develops and manages marketing and branding programs to increase awareness of programs and services including review of materials developed by other departments for public distribution and outreach programs, projects, and issues of importance. Ensures consistent, timely, and accurate messages across department functions; assesses and provides advice on impacts to agency’s image and public perception.
• Provides oversight for RHA website content and social media platforms. Creates written and graphical content for a variety of media to support and promote the goals of the RHA. Monitor content on all RHA social media platforms.
• Advise the Executive Director and Board of commissioners on public relations matters and issues. Coordinate the development of key communication messages to achieve RHA strategic goals.
• Participates in the development of Agency plans and programs as a strategic partner and aligns the Agency’s messaging with the Agency’s long range strategic goals and objectives.
• Reviews new or revised regulations affecting housing programs; interprets new and revised legislation and collaborates with agency leaders to disseminate the impact on operations/business services; prepares and distributes related information to appropriate staff.
• Promote activities designed to open avenues of communication, promote public understanding, and gain support for RHA’s activities and objectives. Participates in community events and workshops in order to advance RHA goals and objectives.
• Lead, coach and manage assigned staff which includes selecting, training, supervising, evaluating, developing, counseling and, when necessary, appropriately managing performance in accordance with approved policies and procedures.

WHO IS THE RENO HOUSING AUTHORITY?

Our mission is to develop and provide fair, sustainable, quality housing in diverse neighborhoods that offer a stable foundation for low-income families to pursue economic opportunities, become self-sufficient and improve their quality of life. We are the largest community provider of affordable housing in Washoe County, assisting over 9,000 individuals and families to have a safe, secure place to call home.

For more information on the Reno Housing Authority and the valuable services we provide, please visit our website at: www.renoha.org

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY?

The RHA is committed to developing a team that embraces our mission and core values throughout our local community. To offer superior service to our clients, we invest substantially in the professional growth and development of our team and are focused on exemplifying our underlying values of integrity, trust, leadership, progress and customer service.

We offer competitive salaries with annual merit salary increases and regular cost of living increases, an exceptional benefits package, a robust defined benefit retirement plan, and ample opportunities for growth. Highlights of the benefits we offer includes:

• 100% employer paid health, dental, & vision insurance for employees
• Excellent vacation & sick leave accrual program
• Thirteen (13) paid Holidays a year
• Merit salary increases plus regular cost of living increases
• 100% employer paid retirement contribution for the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Flexible Spending Plans
• Paid Parental Leave program
• 457(b) retirement savings program
• Employer paid life and AD&D insurance
• Positive, friendly work environment focused on providing a healthy work/life balance

We are located in the largest city in northern Nevada. Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, the surrounding area provides unlimited indoor and outdoor recreational activities. With excellent weather averaging more than 300 days of sunshine annually the City of Reno is home to a vibrant food and entertainment scene with limitless major events such as balloon races, rib cookoffs, concerts, Hot August Nights, air races, renowned pub crawls, NCAA Division 1 sports, as well as minor league baseball and hockey teams!

WHAT IS NEEDED?

The minimum qualifications needed for this position are:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in marketing, public relations, communications, journalism, public administration, marketing, or a related field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in public communications, community relations, government affairs, media coverage or a related field, with at least one (1) year working in a government or legislative environment.
• One (1) year of supervisory or lead experience is preferred.
• Accreditation in Public Relation (APR) is highly desirable.
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform the work as determined by Human Resources.

Please review the attached job description for additional details regarding what is needed.

INTERESTED?

Please visit our website at www.renoha.org for more information on the Reno Housing Authority. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply as early as possible as this recruitment may close at any time based on applications received.

The RHA is committed to ensuring a safe, productive and positive work environment through a Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace. Selected candidates will need to complete a pre-employment drug screen and criminal background checks.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Reno Housing Authority is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in accordance with applicable Federal and State law, and Executive Orders. Our policies prohibit unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition including genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by Federal, State, or local laws.