COPYWRITER (PROGRAM SPECIALIST)

DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

The City of Long Beach, Office of the City Manager has an immediate opening for a full-time, unclassified, at-will Copywriter (Program Specialist) to serve in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications. Under the direction of the Chief Communications Officer, the Copywriter will play a pivotal role in storytelling while crafting and refining content that communicates the City's initiatives, programs and services to diverse audiences.

The position is a hybrid schedule in which daily activities are generally conducted by telecommuting, however it is required that the Copywriter be ready and able to work in person for certain activities, such as, but not limited to, press conferences, community events, site visits, activations, onsite trainings and onsite meetings.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Write and post content for various platforms, including, but not limited to:

• • External news website
  • City newsletters
  • LongBeach.gov webpages
  • City blog posts
  • Social media captions
  • City memos and internal communications
  • Talking points for City officials
  • Event materials and promotional content
  • Emergency communications materials
• Review, edit and proofread materials as needed for clarity, grammar and adherence to style guidelines.
• Ensure all content aligns with the City's brand, tone and messaging guidelines.
• Collaborate with various departments to gather information and develop content that accurately represents City initiatives.
• Stay informed about City programs, services and events to proactively develop relevant content.
• Assist in developing and maintaining the City's content standards.
• Monitor and analyze content performance metrics to inform future content strategies.
• Coordinate with language access to ensure equity.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited University or college with a Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications, Marketing, Public Relations or a closely related field.

*Proof of required documents, such as degree or transcripts, must be uploaded to the online application at the time of filing. Any proofs submitted must contain either the applicant's name or other identifying characteristics on the form. Degrees must indicate the field of study and transcripts must indicate a field of study and degree conferred date. Candidates who possess degrees from colleges or universities outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalence at the time of filing.

EXPERIENCE

• Three (3) years of full-time, equivalent, paid, professional experience in copywriting, communications, journalism or related field.

WRITING SAMPLE

• Applicants must attach a minimum of 3 writing samples at the time of application submission in order to qualify.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Language Proficiency: Strong command of the English language.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with content management systems and social media platforms.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Exceptional Writing and Editing Skills: Demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise and engaging content across various platforms and for diverse audiences.
• Attention to Detail: Strong proofreading skills with a keen eye for grammar, punctuation and style consistency.
• Adaptability: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adjust to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaboration: Experience working collaboratively with cross-functional teams and incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders. Experience on a professional communications team is a plus.
• Digital Proficiency: Familiarity with content management systems, social media platforms and basic SEO principles.
• Cultural Competency: Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse communities within Long Beach, ensuring inclusive and representative content. Proficiency in additional languages spoken in Long Beach is a plus.
• Commitment to Public Service: A passion for serving the community and communicating the City's mission and values effectively.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, July 8th. To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, proof of degree, and writing sample in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please call (562) 570-6913.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-6913 .

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

Employee Benefits

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally. As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

• Retirement: California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% @55 for "Classic" members and 2%@62 for new members as defined by PEPRA. Subject to employee contribution. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.
• Health and Dental Insurance: The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.
• Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
• Disability Insurance: City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Management Physical: Annual City-paid physical examination.
• Vacation: Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.
• Executive Leave: Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.
• Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
• Holidays: Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
• Transportation Allowance: Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;
  • Department Head $650.00
  • Deputy Director/Manager $550.00
  • Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA: $450.00
  • Executive Support Staff: $300.00
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation). City contributes 1% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) plan; effective September 30, 2022, the City will contribute 2% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) account. Employees may opt to contribute up to the IRS annual limits as well.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: Available (subject to City Manager approval).
• Paid Parental Leave: After six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).

Management positions - Refer to the Job Posting brochure included in the job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 7/8/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• City of Long Beach

• 5625707057

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