Public Affairs Liaison

Department: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

Salary: $81,226.00 - $116,762.94 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Public Affairs Liaison serves as a strategic advisor and communications liaison to the Chief of Police, with primary responsibility for coordinating the Department’s communications with Charlotte City Council, the City Manager’s Office, elected officials, City department personnel, and key stakeholders in the community. The position ensures that critical information needs and requests are addressed accurately, promptly, and professionally while maintaining alignment with the Chief’s priorities and the Department’s operational objectives.

The role requires strong communication skills, sound administrative judgment, discretion, proactive issue management, and the ability to translate complex public safety matters into clear, timely communications. The position also advises the Chief of Police on emerging issues, reputational risks, stakeholder concerns, and communication strategies that promote transparency, accountability, and public confidence in CMPD.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Chief of Police and Charlotte City Council and Manager’s Office, ensuring timely communication, responsive coordination, and alignment with Council priorities and information needs.
• Coordinate responses to City Council inquiries, requests for information, constituent concerns, and emerging public safety issues in collaboration with the Chief of Police and Department leadership.
• Lead crisis communications planning and response for critical incidents, emergencies, high-profile investigations, and sensitive issues that may impact public confidence, community relations, or the Department’s reputation.
• Develop and coordinate timely, accurate, and consistent messaging during critical incidents, ensuring appropriate communication among the Chief of Police, City leadership, City Council, the City Manager’s Office, and other key stakeholders.
• Advise the Chief of Police on crisis communications strategies, stakeholder notifications, public messaging, and reputational risks associated with sensitive or high-profile matters.
• Anticipate emerging issues and potential crises by monitoring public concerns, and community sentiment, and recommend proactive communication strategies to executive leadership.
• Prepare executive briefings, talking points, correspondence, reports, and presentations for the Chief of Police and City Council to support informed decision-making and effective communication.
• Coordinate with City Communications, the City Manager’s Office, elected officials, and relevant City departments to ensure consistent messaging and appropriate responses to public safety concerns.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with elected officials, government representatives, City department personnel, community stakeholders, and media personnel to facilitate communication and strengthen public trust.
• Oversee the preparation and distribution of press releases, public statements, media advisories, and other communications related to Department operations, major incidents, and organizational initiatives.
• Ensure City Council requests and concerns are appropriately tracked, communicated to the Department personnel responsible, and addressed within established timelines.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive information, executive communications, active incidents, and matters requiring coordination with legal counsel.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Graduate or equivalent with at least ten (10) years of related experience

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree and five (5) years of experience
• OR bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of experience
• OR master’s degree and two (2) years of experience

 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

 

• Knowledge of strategic communications, crisis communications, media relations, public relations, and the effective dissemination of information through written, oral, visual, and digital platforms.
• Knowledge of municipal government operations, City organizational structures, and the roles and responsibilities of City Council, the City Manager’s Office, elected officials, and public safety leadership.
• Knowledge of government relations, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and protocols for coordinating information among City leadership, government agencies, media representatives, and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of crisis management, emergency communications, risk assessment, and strategies for addressing sensitive or high-profile public safety matters while maintaining public trust.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, public records requirements, confidentiality standards, and Department policies governing the release of information.
• Knowledge of public administration, community relations, and cultural and community dynamics that influence public perception and government relations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to exercise considerable independence, discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism when managing confidential information, sensitive matters, and competing executive priorities.
• Ability to serve as an effective liaison between the Chief of Police and City Council by anticipating information needs, coordinating responses, tracking requests, and ensuring timely follow-through.
• Ability to analyze complex or rapidly evolving situations, anticipate potential risks, and develop appropriate communication strategies and recommendations for executive leadership.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively and prepare executive briefings, reports, talking points, correspondence, presentations, and public statements for diverse audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, City leadership, command staff, media representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, respond to urgent requests, meet demanding deadlines, and maintain composure in a fast-paced executive environment.
• Ability to collaborate across departments, resolve communication challenges, and coordinate consistent messaging during critical incidents and sensitive matters.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership, initiative, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and political and organizational awareness while maintaining objectivity and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to evaluate communication processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement strategies that strengthen responsiveness, accountability, and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to perform other duties as assigned.

 

ADA and Other Requirements:

Positions in this class typically require: grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

 

Physical Requirements:

• Remaining in a stationary position, often sitting or standing for prolonged periods
• Occasional movement throughout the workday daily to interact with staff and accomplish tasks
• Communicating both verbally and written in order to exchange information
• Repeating motions of holding, grasping, turning, that may include the wrist, hands, and/or fingers
• Light to moderate lifting and carrying
• Work primarily in office environment
• Ability to operate office equipment, such as computer, copier, fax machine, and phone

 

Sensory Requirements:

• Concentrated and attentive use of one or more senses (visual, audio, and other sensory modalities) for proofreading, data entry, tabulating data.
• Ability to operate in an environment with frequent interruptions from people and or noises, which in return could result in some level of stress, fatigue, or strain.
• Comprehensive written information in work-related documents.
• Ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech.

 

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an indoor office environment with moderate exposure to atmospheric conditions; moderate exposure to environmental conditions (such as officers, community members, victims, etc.); and frequent exposure to computer screens, files and phone. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.