PUBLIC RELATIONS CHIEF

Work Location: Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR), Phoenix, AZ

Salary: Up to $41.0957/hour (DOE)

About the role

The DEMA Public Relations Chief serves as the agency's communications leader and spokesperson responsible for developing, coordinating, and delivering strategic public information, media relations, and outreach efforts for the Department. This position supports emergency and steady-state operations by ensuring timely, accurate, and consistent communication with the public, media, stakeholders, partner agencies, and the Governor’s Communication Office. This role helps strengthen DEMA’s reputation as a trusted source of emergency management information while promoting awareness of Department programs, services, and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Agency’s primary spokesperson to the public and media, including fielding inquiries from all outside entities.
• Provide frequent verbal and written communication with agency personnel, stakeholder PIOs, and the Governor's office.
• Supervise the work of the PIO office, including staff interactions with the public and media, and the preparation of news releases, speeches, talking points, presentations, photographs, new media content, and publications (e.g., brochures, newsletters, and manuals).
• Support and assist other DEMA sections with communication strategy, outreach, technical advice, and presentation development, including facilitating the 'employee idea' program.
• Coordinate with DEMA PIO partners at all emergency management phases to ensure proportionate situational information awareness.
• Serve as spokesperson during exercises, trainings, and activations.
• Act as chief content creator for communications material including news releases, social media, online content, program announcements, graphic design, newsletters, and official reports.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all agency public record requests; coordinate and provide thorough information to requesters, DEMA employees, Legal, and the Governor’s office for all external requests for public records.
• Administer the Arizona Emergency Information Network (AzEIN) website, including the Emergency Bulletin System, and its ancillary social media channels. AzEIN provides near real-time emergency information and is updated 24/7/365 by a rotating "on-call" PIO.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Previous experience as a communication professional.
• Possession of and ability to retain a current, valid Arizona state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment.
• Must pass a criminal background investigation.
• Must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• Demonstrable knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures used in public affairs/relations, marketing, and communications.
• Familiarity with Associated Press (AP) style.
• Experience with staff management.
• Proficiency in social and new media tools, technologies, and etiquette.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Experience with desktop publishing and video, photo, and audio production hardware, software, and formats is a plus.
• Experience with Drupal content management system and Photoshop, InDesign, GIMP, or Illustrator is a plus.

Skills

• Effective oral and written communication.
• Prioritizing multiple tasks/projects to meet deadlines.
• Providing supervision and leadership to PIO staff.
• Leading the development, interpretation, and implementation of a dynamic public information and marketing program (e.g., brand development).
• Developing collaborative relationships with DEMA stakeholders and partner agencies.
• Proofing materials for accuracy and adherence to Department policies and procedures.
• Writing in a variety of styles according to Associated Press (AP) style guidelines.
• Operating standard office equipment (e.g., computer, copier, fax machine).
• Communicating complex concepts in clear, expressive language to the public and media.
• Demonstrable on-camera experience is preferred.
• Processing and synthesizing complicated concepts and ideas.
• Establishing effective working relationships with the public, media, and stakeholders.
• Participating in the development of policies, standards, and procedures.
• Producing professional-quality verbal, written, and electronic communication.
• Serving as the spokesperson during trainings, exercises, and activations.
• Exercising professionalism in interacting/interviewing with the public, media, and stakeholders.
• Presenting to small and large groups.
• Summarizing and communicating complex information.
• Responding to citizen and media requests in a timely and courteous manner.
• Organizing, prioritizing, and performing multiple tasks.
• Working occasional evenings and weekends, rotating "on-call" shifts, and overtime.

Qualifications

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described. The preferred candidate will have 5 years of experience as a communications professional.

Benefits

• Sick leave.
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year.
• Health and dental insurance.
• Retirement plan.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance.
• Paid Parental Leave program.

DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).