Public Information Officer

Benefits

Benefits Description (Anticipated Hiring Salary: $78,480 - $82,472/annually)

Essential Duties

• City spokesperson providing information to citizens, responding to citizen requests and concerns, and any media request for information, and publishing news releases.
• Citizen engagement through coordination of public information and assisting all staff with interagency issues related to emergency management for the community.
• Outreach to neighborhoods, council members, and City staff; responding to citizen and business questions regarding events; reviewing and processing event applications; scheduling event meetings; providing follow-up information and notifications to applicants; mediating and facilitating neighborhood disputes.
• Collaboration with city departments on information distribution and increasing marketing as needed; connecting goals and objectives of the City Council to community organizations.
• Coordination of responses to various social media pages such as Facebook and Twitter accounts with City leaders; researching responses and forwarding to appropriate divisions or departments as necessary; updating and maintaining the City website.
• Assistance with organizing, implementing, and maintaining various educational programs, speakers, and participants.
• Researching and preparing letters, talking points, or other materials for staff and/or elected officials.
• Supporting the City’s policies, goals, and objectives and working with management and other staff to ethically achieve such goals and objectives; ensuring compliance with safety procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with a Bachelor’s degree and four (4) years paid full-time experience in media coverage, communications, facilitation, and community outreach programs;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental Information

Knowledge of City and Department procedures, policies, and guidelines; City Code; Arizona Revised Statutes. Operating a personal computer utilizing standard software such as Microsoft Office and some specialized software; functioning standard equipment. Assessing, prioritizing, and completing multiple tasks and demands simultaneously. Conflict negotiation and problem-solving techniques and methods.

Skills

• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with coworkers and other individuals in contact during the course of work;
• Communicating clearly and concisely;
• Addressing the public and presenting to various organizations and groups;
• Writing press releases;
• Planning and managing projects;
• Navigating social media websites;
• Website administration.

Pre-employment Requirements

• Fingerprinting, background investigation, employment verification, and potential drug/alcohol tests, medical, polygraph, and/or psychological evaluations.
• Valid driver’s license to operate a vehicle in Arizona, or meeting the transportation needs of the position.