PORT TOWNSEND — Shelly Leavens is joining the city of Port Townsend as its new communications and marketing manager.

She will begin work May 4.

“Relationships and stories of people and place matter to me and connect this special community together,” said Leavins, the former executive director of the Jefferson County Historical Soceity.

“Now is a great time to join the city team,” she added. “With so many opportunities to communicate on city priorities and engage our community, I’m eager to dive in and ensure we’re all working together to guide our collective future.”

Leavens recently stepped down from her position with the historical society, an organization she led for nearly five years.

Prior to that, she was curator and public events manager for the Gage Academy of Art in Seattle, an Instructor at University of Washington, and an independent contractor focusing on curatorial work, collections, and oral history.

She holds a master’s in museology from University of Washington, focusing on public history interpretation and a bachelor’s in anthropology from Pennsylvania State University.

Her hire “is a significant step forward in improving how the city communicates, engages, and works with our community and partners to make a real difference, according to City Manager John Mauro.

“I’m thrilled to introduce Shelly as our new Communications and Marketing Manager, although she likely doesn’t need an introduction to the community she knows and loves so well,” Mauro said.

“Shelly stood out among a number of really excellent candidates for her deep leadership skills; her clear, approachable, and strategic communications and marketing style and acumen; her collaborative ethos; and her strong commitment to positive change in this community,” Mauro said.

“She brings a wealth of experience to this new role as an artist, storyteller, communicator, and change-maker.”

The role functions as the city’s strategic lead for communications and marketing, providing technical expertise as a conduit between internal teams and external organizations to plan, coordinate, and deliver strategic communications, marketing and engagement with the Port Townsend community and beyond, according to the release.

The city is undertaking a number of high-profile public engagements this year, including decisions concerning the Port Townsend Golf Course, an aquatics center, streets, housing and financial sustainability.

Shelly Leavens says: “Relationships and stories of people and place matter to me and connect this special community together. Now is a great time to join the City team. With so many opportunities to communicate on City priorities and engage our community, I’m eager to dive in and ensure we’re all working together to guide our collective future.”

Nine current open positions can be found at https://cityofpt.applicantpool.com/jobs.