Public Information Representative 1

About the role

This position prepares, presents, and shares information to promote awareness and understanding of programs, events, and research activities undertaken by the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC).

Responsibilities

• Produce materials designed to promote awareness and understanding of programs, events, and research activities undertaken by the Transportation Research and Education Center.
• Design, write, edit, and produce written material for the website and publications (print and electronic) to explain and promote center/institute activities.
• Create and distribute newsletters for the center/institute.
• Promote center/institute events through a variety of communication methods, including email, website, social media, and outreach to partner organizations.
• Coordinate printing, graphics and other production work for timely project completion.
• Advise management and staff on planning and production of information materials.
• Monitor production process to assure costs are within budget.
• Give technical advice and assistance to student assistants.
• Ensure that products conform to federal requirements for accessibility from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Operate cameras and video recorders to document events and other activities. Edit video.
• Update center/institute website. Catalog and organize an electronic library of photographs, video, logos, and graphics for center/institute use.
• Maintain center/institute public-facing social media, including YouTube channel and LinkedIn.
• Meet with management to identify communications needs and procedures for gathering, packaging and presenting information to meet communications objectives.
• Search center/institute files and public documents to find background information for communications tasks.
• Interview center/institute staff and management about current activities.
• Compile statistics or other data to show successes or progress in attaining communication goals.
• Research similar communications activities in other university, governmental or private organizations to learn about their experience.
• Conduct outreach to units, researchers, and students across campus to develop and share stories about PSU’s transportation research and education activities and accomplishments.
• Maintain information resources, material/production resource files, and internal operating procedures related to communications.
• Respond to inquiries from the media by connecting them to faculty experts.
• Meet regularly with staff and management to keep informed of center/institute activities.
• Consult with management regarding sensitive or controversial issues to assure correct and consistent responses to inquiries.
• Represent TREC at outside meetings and on-campus visits to present overviews of the center’s activities.
• Respond to written or telephone inquiries about center/institute activities.
• Write media news releases. Ensure correct and effective format, timing and distribution of releases.
• Write scripts for audiovisual presentations and promotional videos.
• Format and copyedit documents written by others.
• Prepare or edit presentations, remarks, and talking points for the center/institute management.
• Aid at large in-person TREC events, including set-up, registration, and clean-up.
• Staff information table at events.

Requirements

• Three years experience in gathering information, writing/producing materials, presenting information to the public and public relations. One year of this experience must have included responsibility for press releases and interaction with the news media.
• A Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communication or closely related field may substitute for up to two years of the general experience.
• Three years experience in gathering information, writing/producing materials, presenting information to the public and other audiences.
• One year of this experience must have included responsibility for website and social media communications.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to plan and manage multiple projects to meet critical deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written, visual, and oral) with a wide range of people and organizations particularly including external partners.
• Collaborative. Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexible. Ability to adjust work tasks and deadlines to meet changing priorities.
• Experience with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Calendar OR Experience with Microsoft Word (including using styles), Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; and Experience with Adobe Acrobat.

Qualifications

• Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) databases and software.
• Experience with HTML, Drupal, and other related web and content management programs.
• Experience with Adobe InDesign, Canva, and other graphics software.
• Experience with social media (LinkedIn, You Tube, etc.) in a professional setting.
• Knowledge in making written electronic documents accessible for people with disabilities (e.g., using screen readers).

Benefits

The starting rate for this position will be between $22.84 and $26.20 per hour, dependent upon the knowledge, experience, skills and abilities of the chosen candidate, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. PSU’s excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon Public Universities.