Public Communications Specialist

Job Description:

Public Communications Specialist

Description

Description

If YOU are looking for a rewarding career in a place where you and your ideas matter - a place where the results of your hard work are reflected throughout your community and on the faces of your neighbors - this is your home. What are you waiting for? APPLY TODAY!

The City of Reno has an exciting and challenging opportunity for a dynamic, team-oriented, highly-experienced and well-rounded communications professional with excellent interpersonal skills to fill our Public Communications Specialist position.

Summary: The Public Communications Specialist develops and implements public information and media relations activities and services in a department or area of the City's community affairs; performs a wide variety of duties related to the implementation, monitoring, and dissemination of City information; implements program goals and objectives; and performs a variety of administrative tasks in support of assigned area of responsibility.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Public Communications Specialist performs skilled and technical work related to the assigned area. Work instruction is general in nature with limited guidance and direction. The incumbent is responsible for seeking clarity or further information as needed.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Work is normally reviewed upon completion to ensure compliance with departmental goals, plans, and policies; autonomy is granted at the functional area level; work is subject to departmental policies and accepted professional standards. Major work activities are covered by organization guidelines and directives permitting flexibility in selecting methods, procedures, work priorities, and the planning and coordination of programs or projects to achieve desired outcomes. This position exercises no supervision, guidance, and oversight to other positions.

Examples of Essential Functions

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job. The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Manage the communication between the City of Reno and media partners through traditional and new media platforms.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the media and ensure that communication with them is accurate and timely. Respond to requests for information from media outlets and arrange interviews with subject matter experts.
• Maintain media contacts and monitor news coverage of department events; contact media personnel to obtain coverage of department activities.
• Prepare correspondence, speeches, talking points and other materials; prepare news releases and disseminate news materials; assist with social media needs; prepare and maintain reports and records of activities.
• Oversee logistical aspects of press conferences, media interviews, and media events including, but not limited to; coordination of facility, podium, microphones/sound system, and any other logistical components that need to be provided.
• As assigned, attend City of Reno hosted, partnered, or sponsored events to capture photos or video for dissemination across a variety of platforms including social media and traditional media.
• Provide scheduled on-call media support within a team environment to ensure media and the community receive critical incident information in a timely manner.
• Provide communications and PIO support to both the City of Reno and regional government partners during disaster and crisis incidents through the Incident Command System.
• Develop, design, implement, and coordinate public relations and media relations activities and services in a department or area of the City's Communications Department to; ensure open avenues of communication and promote public understanding and support for City activities and objectives.
• Develop, design, implement, and coordinate strategic communications plans to address City and department priorities, including developing and implementing corresponding public relations materials and campaigns.
• Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for providing public relations services; implement policies and procedures.
• Gather and compile information; maintain informational press files for matters of department interest; provide information after verifying that it can be released to the requesting party; conduct informational briefings as needed.
• Represent the City and serve as a primary communicator at business, civic, industry and governmental meetings.
• Monitor program performance; recommend and implement modifications to systems and procedures.
• Serve as public relations liaison for an assigned area with the news media, public and other government agencies.
• Respond to and resolve difficult, sensitive, or complex complaints from citizens and visitors.
• Plan and arrange public education and awareness programs; write, edit and format newsletters and articles for internal distribution to department and City employees.
• Monitor program compliance with laws, rules and regulations related to provision of public communications services.
• Participate in professional organizations and keep abreast of new developments in the field of public communications; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.
• Provide staff assistance to appropriate department heads or other City management. Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of a public relations or communications program.
• Principles and practices of copy writing, editing, video production, news gathering and journalism.
• Techniques and practices of organizing and coordinating programs, activities and special events.
• Techniques of speech writing and delivering.
• Extensive knowledge of City Government including assisting the Fire and Police Departments with their communication needs.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Operations of a public relations or communications function.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Crisis communications best practices.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct public relations programs.
• Recommend and implement goals and objectives for providing public relations services.
• Interpret and explain department and City policies and procedures.
• Edit and organize information into an appropriate format for presentation.
• Appear before special interest and civic groups to present materials dealing with City activities.
• Serve as public relations liaison with the news media, public and other government agencies.
• Retain presence of mind in emergency situations.
• Work without direct supervision, exercising independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Respond to requests and inquiries from the general public.
• Perform responsible professional work in a high-profile position dealing with topics under intense public and media scrutiny and respond rapidly and appropriately as needed.
• Write, edit and format copy, newsletters and articles.
• Work in a team-based environment to achieve common goals.
• Collaborate with team members and partners to ensure cohesive and effective communications strategies.
• Be flexible and take on a wide range of communications projects.
• Coordinate multiple projects and complex tasks simultaneously.
• Meet the physical requirements to safely and effectively perform the assigned duties.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, communications, journalism or a related field.

Completion of FEMA Incident Command training programs including Basic or Advanced PIO is desired.

Experience:

Four years of increasingly responsible experience in public relations, marketing, journalism, communications, media coverage or a related field.

Experience in Public Information Officer (PIO) duties related to public safety is a plus.

Fluent in English and Spanish language skills is highly desired.

License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands and Working Environment:

• Work is performed in an office and field setting with some travel to attend meetings, interact with media at incident sites; occasional work in inclement weather and in an emergency environment; extensive public contact; exposure to computer screens and other media equipment.
• Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; operate media equipment; to travel independently to other locations using various modes of private and/or commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Please use this Health and Welfare Benefit Link to learn more about the City of Reno's great employee benefit plans and wellness programs.

Closing Date/Time: 9/29/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$85,342.40 - $111,862.40 Annually