Assistant Press Officer

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

8d•$5,425 - $6,813•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Press Officer works under the direction of the Director of Media Relations and Press Office Manager to perform various media relations work, including preparing press releases, media advisories and talking points, and providing information to the media on Texas Health and Human Services Commission activities. The position collaborates with the Director of Media Relations, Press Office Manager and Press Officers, as well as other divisions in the organization, to respond to media inquiries, coordinate internal and external messaging and assist with projects, as needed. Primary duties include compiling daily news clips and assisting with media inquiries. Other duties include monitoring the Press Office inbox, tracking office metrics, maintaining contacts and distribution lists, and drafting press releases, media advisories and key messages. This position may require working early morning hours.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public administration, public affairs, communications, journalism or a related field.
At least two years' experience in press, media relations, communications, or a combination of any of the three.
Knowledge about news media operations, including their requirements and approach to subject matter.
Knowledge of the executive and legislative branches of state government.
Knowledge of Texas Health and Human Services.
Knowledge of social media outlets, tools and trends.
Skilled in editorial concepts and practices.
Skilled in communicating, both in writing and orally.
Skilled in editing.
Skilled in gathering and analyzing information.
Ability to display a high degree of diplomatic competence and discretion.
Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, legislators and their staff, and external agencies and organizations.
Ability to establish effective working relationships with the media and external agencies and organizations.
Ability to write and verbally articulate ideas in a clear, concise manner to a wide range of constituencies.
Ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently with limited supervision.
Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Responsibilities

Collects, analyzes, organizes and distributes daily news clips to agency staff about HHSC and other health and human services-related issues affecting local communities, the state and the nation. Maintains distribution lists, news subscriptions and processes for distributing and collecting news clips. Responds to internal inquiries about news clips, notifies staff of major stories and maintains a system to capture stories handled by the press office.
Performs news media relations functions, such as coordinating interviews, fielding media inquiries, and writing press releases, media advisories, fact sheets and formal public statements. Responds to inquiries from a broad range of local, state and national media outlets. Quickly and accurately submits reports about key interactions with news media to the Director of Media Relations and Press Office Manager, and helps ensure the agency is apprised of major news media inquiries. Seeks substantive information about HHSC activities, initiatives and trends, and disseminates information in a compelling, professional way to news media and other appropriate audiences. Delivers clear, credible information to the public in a coordinated way. Critical thinking skills, attention to detail and an ability to meet deadlines are required.
Identifies and coordinates opportunities to promote agency initiatives. Maintains good working relationships with journalists. Serves as a subject matter expert to other departments on news media relations issues, including preparing subject matter experts for interviews. Reviews and tracks open records documents sent to news media.
Closely tracks and monitors incoming media inquiries to ensure a timely response. Assists the press office as needed for research, fact checking, information development, meeting attendance and other organizational and administrative press office duties as assigned
Develops and establishes background materials, messages and other communication pieces for the agency. Assists with developing general communications materials, including content for the HHSC website to improve public knowledge of agency operations.