Public Information Officer 1 – (Communications Specialist JOB FAIR)

About the organization

Our mission is to ensure the physical, operational, and financial integrity of the regional flood risk management system in southeastern Louisiana as a defense against floods and storm surge from hurricanes. We accomplish this mission by working with local, regional, state, and federal partners to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain projects that will reduce the probability and risk of flooding for the residents and businesses within our jurisdiction.

About the role

This entry-level position provides administrative, logistical, and routine communications support to the Governmental and Public Affairs Department. The role is ideal for someone who is organized, service-oriented, detail-focused, and comfortable supporting multiple projects while communicating with employees, visitors, governmental partners, and the public.

Key competencies

• Building and Supporting Teams: The ability to combine one's actions and efforts with others to work toward achieving a common goal.
• Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
• Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions.
• Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.
• Acting with Ethics and Integrity: The ability to make choices that reflect ethical standards, integrity and honesty, regardless of circumstances or personal benefit.
• Adapting to Change: The ability to demonstrate flexibility in thoughts, behaviors, and actions in response to evolving circumstances or unexpected change.
• Building Trust: The ability to create a safe and supportive environment where others feel comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas, and acknowledging mistakes.
• Demonstrating Initiative: The ability to assess situations independently and take proactive steps to address them without being prompted or instructed by others.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Three years of experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, content creation, social media management, or graphic design; OR
• Six years of full-time experience in any field; OR
• A bachelor's degree.

Experience Substitution: Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Responsibilities

• Monitors the department’s general public-information email account, website contact forms, telephone inquiries, and other designated intake channels; acknowledges and logs routine requests; routes matter to the appropriate employee or department; and tracks follow-up and completion.
• Coordinates the scheduling and logistics and may lead tours of major flood risk reduction assets, including the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps and the IHNC-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, and for visits to other Authority offices, facilities, and field locations.
• Gathers routine information from departments and prepares basic public notices, employee announcements, newsletter items, website content, agency information-board content, tour materials, event notices, correspondence.
• Assists with and, after completing required training, conducts routine asset tours using approved scripts and materials; answers routine questions and refers technical, policy, media, or sensitive matters to the appropriate authorized employee.
• Provides administrative and logistical support for approved communications before, during, and after hurricanes, flooding, severe weather, operational incidents, public-safety incidents, and other emergencies.

Benefits

• Insurance Coverage (health, dental, vision, life, and more).
• Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave.
• Paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Mardi Gras, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and additional holidays proclaimed by the Governor).
• Sick and annual leave accrual (rate increases with years of service).
• Retirement plans through various state retirement systems (e.g., Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana, Louisiana School Employees Retirement System).

This appointment type can be filled as Probational, Promotional, Lateral Transfer, Detail to Special Duty, or Job Appointment. This position does not participate in a Career Progression Group.

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.