Public Information Officer

About the role

The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads media relations across Portland's integrated water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The PIO serves as a key media strategist, adviser, and liaison. This role takes the lead in crafting compelling stories about Portland's critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public works projects. The position also contributes to public relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. Additionally, the PIO is a member of a city-wide team that responds during city emergencies.

What You'll Do

• Lead media strategy and engagement: create and implement proactive media engagement plans and strategies to promote projects, services, and programs in alignment with the Utilities' priorities; develop relationships with local reporters, producers, and media outlets, including culturally specific media.
• Serve as the lead spokesperson for the Utilities: respond to media inquiries in a timely manner, develop responsive media strategies and messages, identify opportunities for storytelling that strengthen public awareness and interest in the Utilities' work, and improve participation in and access to services provided by the utility bureaus.
• Collaborate with the Utilities leadership, Communications, Public Involvement, and Management teams: develop media plans and communications strategies that advance priorities and address community needs; provide strategic communications advice for complex community and media issues.
• Write, edit, and produce timely and informative content: including news and feature stories, media guides, press releases, talking points, and other content for distribution in a variety of formats for diverse external and internal audiences, centering plain language and accessibility.
• Serve as a lead emergency communications planner and responder: implement crisis communications strategies and tactics, including developing and implementing proactive and responsive crisis communications using both Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols for public information officers as well as using public involvement/public relations best practices. Serve as a lead communications strategist and spokesperson during emergencies and significant events and participates in bureau and City emergency operations efforts during emergencies.
• Serve as communications consultant and coach for bureau leadership and subject matter experts: provide public speaking and media training, coaching, and guidance for bureau employees and develop talking points and key messages for staff.
• Collaborate: on messaging and storytelling in partnership with the Public Works Service Area communications team.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Creative: Always thinking of new ways to connect with diverse audiences and finding new angles and approaches to evergreen content.
• Strategic: Anticipates organizational and team needs; prepares for known and unknown risks; maximizes opportunities to promote informative news that resonates with audiences.
• Organized and self-directed: Initiates and drives projects from conception to completion, often with little guidance.
• Interpersonal and political acumen: Understands the political, community, and organizational context surrounding issues; anticipates perspectives and potential sensitivities; and uses sound judgment when navigating complex internal and external dynamics.
• Responsive and level-headed: Maintains sound judgment, stays focused, and communicates effectively in fast-moving or dynamic situations.
• Curious: Asks questions, listens, enjoys the challenge of taking on new, complex, and technical subject matter.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience engaging with reporters, producers, editors, and other members of the media to proactively and responsively share critical information, set organizational narratives, and promote storytelling that resonates with the community.
• Experience developing and implementing media engagement strategies and emergency response/crisis communications plans designed to navigate complex, difficult, or contentious issues with a high level of public scrutiny.
• Experience serving as a lead spokesperson and coaching leadership, subject matter experts (SMEs), and key staff on interview skills and strategies.
• Experience writing, producing and/or editing clear, concise, and engaging digital content, talking points, reports, news releases, features, editorial content, and other communications collateral for diverse audiences, centering accessibility and translating complex technical information into plain language.
• Ability to develop intentional and trusting relationships with culturally diverse and non-traditional media.

Preferred Qualifications

• Emergency response and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) Public Information Officer standards and protocols.
• Public health and environmental regulations and/or regulatory agencies; utility operations; large infrastructure or construction projects.
• AP Style or the Chicago Manual of Style.
• Bilingual/Multilingual skills.

Schedule & Work Location

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Alternate schedules may be available. Hybrid position reporting to 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington.

Pay

Applicants start at the entry rate. The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Recruitment Process

How To Apply: Submit your resume and cover letter by the closing date. Veterans' Preference documents may be submitted if applicable.

What To Expect:

• Application Review - Week of August 31, 2026: We'll review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
• Notice/Feedback - Week of September 7, 2026: You will receive an email when the minimum qualification review is complete. If you disagree with the evaluation results, you may request a review within 14 days of the email notice, per City Administrative Rule 3.01.
• Selection Process - Late September: The hiring bureau will review qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
• Conditional Job Offer: Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check, depending on the position.