CITY OF DES PERES PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Communications, Marketing & Sponsorships Specialist

Department: Parks & Recreation
Reports To: Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation
FLSA Status: Exempt
Pay Grade: 13    $57,712 - $80,796

Position Summary
The Communications, Marketing & Sponsorships Specialist serves as the communications professional for the City of Des Peres Parks & Recreation Department. This position provides strategic leadership in communications, marketing, branding, public relations, sponsorship development, and community engagement while promoting the Department's parks, facilities, recreation programs, memberships, special events, and services.

As a member of the Department's leadership team, the position participates in the Supervisor on Duty (SOD) program, providing operational leadership for The Lodge Des Peres during assigned evenings (Thursday Closing 1pm-9:30pm) , rotating weekends (approximately 1 out of every 6), and holidays (split amongst all SOD staff).

Position Mission
Serve as the voice of the Parks & Recreation Department by connecting residents, members, businesses, and community partners through exceptional communications, innovative marketing, creative storytelling, and meaningful partnerships that enhance quality of life in the City of Des Peres.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Communications & Public Relations    25%
Marketing & Brand Management    25%
Social Media & Digital Engagement    15%
Sponsorship Development & Community Partnerships    15%
Supervisor on Duty (Leadership & Operations)    15%
Administrative Responsibilities    5%

Communications & Public Relations

• Lead department-wide communication strategies.
• Prepare press releases, newsletters, public notices, and media content when needed.
• Coordinate communications for programs, events, and capital projects to facility users.
• Support emergency and crisis communications when needed.

Marketing & Brand Management

• Develop annual marketing plans.
• Produce seasonal guides, advertisements, signage, and promotional materials.
• Maintain brand standards across all platforms.
• Evaluate campaign effectiveness using analytics.

Social Media & Digital Engagement

• Manage website, email marketing, and social media platforms.
• Create engaging graphics, photography, video, and written content.
• Monitor digital engagement and recommend improvements.

Sponsorship Development & Community Partnerships

• Recruit and maintain business sponsors.
• Develop sponsorship packages and recognition opportunities.
• Track sponsorship revenue and prepare annual reports.

Supervisor on Duty

• Serve as acting Building Supervisor during assigned shifts. Thursday evenings 1pm-9:30pm rotating weekends and holidays.
• Respond to emergencies and customer concerns.
• Support staff and ensure safe, efficient operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Three years of progressively responsible communications or marketing experience.
• Municipal or parks and recreation experience preferred.

Core Competencies

• Leadership
• Communication
• Customer Service
• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Accountability

Measures of Success

• Increase awareness and participation.
• Expand sponsorships and partnerships.
• Demonstrate effective operational leadership.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in office, park, recreation, and event settings. Evening, weekend, holiday, and Supervisor on Duty assignments are required.

Physical Requirements
Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift up to 25 pounds occasionally, operate office equipment, and work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Language and Mathematical Skills
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondences and memos.   Ability to write simple correspondence.   Ability to speak effectively before groups of diverse people. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.

Work Environment
The indoor environment provides for a safe and healthy work environment and is smoke and drug free. Occasionally, it may be wet and humid, as well as moderately loud.  The outdoor work environment may result in exposure to extreme weather conditions such as heat, cold, and humidity. Mental and Physical Demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.   Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet these demands.  Mental and Physical Demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to meet these demands.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written and oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.   Regularly required to sit, stand, walk and reach with hands and arms.  Must be able to see, speak and hear.  Regularly required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

In order to formally apply for this position please click the link below and fill out the online application through the City of Des Peres’s job portal:

https://www.desperesmo.org/FormCenter/Parks-and-Recreation-4/Des-Peres-Full-Time-Employment-Applicati-118

All questions concerning this position should be forwarded to:

Kathleen Beebe, HR Coordinator
Des Peres City Hall
12325 Manchester Road
Des Peres, Missouri 63131
Direct: 314-835-6107

Documents may also be delivered in person to City Hall if preferable. The position will remain open until filled. 

The City of Des Peres is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the City’s policy that employees and applicants for employment have equal opportunity in employment action in accordance with federal, state, or local law. All decisions will be made without regard to race; color; religion; sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions); sexual orientation; gender identity; age; national origin; ancestry; physical or mental disability or handicap; citizenship; marital or familial status; genetic information; stats as a victim of domestic violence; military or veteran status; lack of permanent mailing address or use of a shelter/social service provider; or any other protected classification. All employment decisions, including hiring, compensation, and benefits, leaves of absence, promotion, discipline, transfers, layoffs, recall, separations, and termination will comply with the Equal Employment Opportunity policy.

The City of Des Peres is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees and our community, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees that is free of harassment and discrimination of any kind. Come as you are – your differences are our strengths.

The City of Des Peres makes every effort to fully comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation for the application, interview, or a particular testing process, please contact the ADA Coordinator at (314) 835-6111. The City of Des Peres is a drug and alcohol free work place. A pre-employment drug screen is required for all positions. The City of Des Peres participates in E-Verify.