Communications Specialist

Background: In 2025, the City of Portland implemented a historic change in its form of government, transitioning from the commission model—first established in 1913—to a council form of government. Under this new structure, Portland uses ranked-choice voting to elect a 12-member City Council. Councilors represent four geographic districts, with three members elected per district. This replaced the city’s previous system of at-large, citywide commissioners. The council now selects its own leadership from within.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney is a District 2 Councilor and serves as Portland’s first City Council President. In addition to the Council’s core legislative and oversight responsibilities, she is shaping the institution of the council and establishing the role of the presidency within this new governance framework.

Primary Purpose: The Communications Specialist is responsible for helping to implement the City Council President’s communications and outreach strategy. This role ensures that the Council President’s voice, priorities, and policy initiatives are clearly and consistently shared with constituents, the public at large, media, and key stakeholders across Portland and beyond.

The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator with the ability to:

• execute strategic communications that inform, engage, and build trust with the public;
• clearly and consistently represent the Council President’s voice on a variety of platforms.
• efficiently manage a large volume of incoming communication from constituents and respond quickly.
• navigate a dynamic political and media landscape;
• create content across platforms (social, digital, and earned media); and
• build strong relationships to work effectively with media, community partners, and internal staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the execution of communications strategies to raise public awareness of the Council President’s work, priorities, and Portland’s transition to a new form of government.
• Respond to a large volume of constituent communications (e.g. form letters, individual emails, and constituent services concerns), and respond to all quickly, with feedback from the Council President and in coordination with other staff.
• Help draft press releases, media advisories, op-eds, talking points, and other public-facing materials.
• Assist the Chief of Staff in managing responses to media inquiries, especially during high-profile or time-sensitive situations.
• Provide communications support to the Council President and Chief of Staff in preparation for interviews, press conferences, and public events.
• Assist in coordinating and supporting press events, including logistics, messaging, and media outreach.
• Identify opportunities and pitch creative stories to press which advance the office’s goals.
• Create compelling, accessible content for digital platforms including social media, regular newsletters, and the Council President’s website.
• Monitor media coverage and public sentiment, communicate coverage with the Council President and staff, and help adapt strategies in response.
• Communicate effectively with different audiences in different voices, including capturing the Council President’s tone with constituents and the office’s approach with media.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in public relations, political communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Strong writing, editing, and messaging skills across formats and audiences.
• Experience working with elected officials or high-level public leaders, government agencies, or in high-profile public roles is strongly preferred.
• An understanding of local government and the media ecosystem in Portland.
• Ability to work in high-pressure situations with discretion and professionalism.
• Commitment to belonging, bridging, and community-connected governance.

We encourage people to apply who may not meet all the qualifications listed. We hope you’ll apply if you think you can perform the duties of the job. This is an exciting time where we hope to find creative, hard-working people ready to do the historic work of building a new government.

The Council President and her staff work primarily in-person at Portland City Hall. To effectively meet the needs of this position, the Communications Specialist will be required to work primarily in-person.

Please send resume, cover letter and writing sample to Natalie Sept, natalie.sept2@portlandoregon.gov, 971-710-2914.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Commute:

• Portland, OR 97204 (Required)

Work Location: In person