Columbia to pay firm $28,000 in search for new communications director; six-figure salary listed for position
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
EDITOR'S NOTE: The City of Columbia originally provided the wrong contract cost.
The City of Columbia is looking across the nation for the new leader of its communications department.
According to Assistant Director of Human Resources Heather Russell, the city hired Affion Public LLC to lead the search for its new communications director. The deal is worth $28,000, Russell said. According to Linkedin, the salary for the new job ranges from $110,000- $169,000 per year and 36 people have applied so far.
The city voted to approve the creation of the department during its March 2 after City Manager De'Carlon Seewood presented the idea to the city council in February.
The department will consist of 25 full-time permanent positions and four part-time temporary positions with the hopes of improving communication in the city. According to a presentation from a March 9 City Council work session, the department will work toward the goal of creating consistent citywide messaging by utilizing a "decentralized newsroom approach."
The department's main goals include: Enhancing external communication, media and public relations and crisis and reputation management, the presentation states.
The presentation also says that the department would form an updated communication policy and states that all communications will be grounded in the city's strategic plan. The department will be informed by initiatives such as the city's annual community survey, community summit feedback and the city's comprehensive plan, the presentation says.
Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman said he finds the hiring of a search firm allows the city to broaden its search and ensure that the best candidate is selected.
"There's a sentiment among some in the community that we don't communicate well. I think we're definitely making some improvements like the Let's Talk Local and other things of that nature...and I think this will just be another step in that direction," Waterman said.
Waterman also said he's hopeful the new department will also help the city to better coordinate its messaging. According to city documents, the department will also work to coordinate a monthly communications plan with input from all departments within the city, as well as work to improve the flow of communication across departments.
Documents also state the department will respond to resident inquiries and "proactively share topics of interest to our residents" and create a citywide crisis communication plan.
The creation of the new department comes as the city's current spokeswoman Sydney Olsen plans to leave at the end of the month. Waterman said the department will be tasked with similar work, but will play a bigger role in coordinating the city's messaging.
The city used a search firm in 2023 to hire Police Chief Jill Schlude after Geoff Jones retired from the position. The contract with that firm cost the city $60,000. A national approach was also used to hire Columbia Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer the following year after the former chief Clayton Farr announced his retirement.
Waterman said he isn't sure when the new department will officially be in the works in the city, saying that will likely depend on how the search goes. He estimated that it could take roughly six months.
