A California district is seeking a communications consultant to develop a comprehensive strategic communications plan. The consultant will work closely with district staff to evaluate current communication pathways such as social media, press releases, newsletters, website content, and community outreach materials. An important initial step includes reviewing recent customer sentiment surveys to assess public perception of the district.

The project will involve identifying and categorizing key audiences, including customers, elected officials, employees, media, and community partners. Audience personas will be developed to guide targeted messaging and outreach strategies. The selected consultant will review and refine the district’s existing brand identity, tone, and key messaging themes, creating a message framework aligned with the organization’s strategic plan to enhance transparency, trust, and stakeholder engagement.

The scope also covers the development of a digital and social media strategy, assessing current digital assets, and outlining platform-specific goals, content categories, and posting frequencies. The consultant will recommend appropriate analytics tools to track engagement. Crisis communications planning is a critical component, including the creation of escalation procedures, key contact protocols, approval workflows, and message templates for scenarios such as water quality incidents or service interruptions. The plan should also designate spokespersons and provide pre-approved media responses.

Additionally, the consultant will assess internal communications and employee engagement efforts, offering strategies and tools to improve internal information sharing and alignment with organizational objectives.