Public Information Officer/Legislative Liaison

State of North Carolina•Wake County, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The N.C. Office of the Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) is seeking a Public Information Officer/Legislative Liaison to develop, coordinate, and manage media and legislative outreach initiatives. This role involves providing internal and external communications support, including media relations, messaging, content development, public outreach, website and intranet maintenance, and implementing communication policies. The position aims to promote agency goals by providing accurate, timely information on initiatives to both internal and external audiences in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment. Responsibilities include writing and distributing press releases, interview briefs, talking points, correspondence, speeches, and PowerPoint presentations, as well as fielding media inquiries and responding to media requests. The role also requires working with staff to respond to news media and public records requests. Additionally, the Legislative Liaison responsibilities include analyzing, monitoring, and reporting on legislative, budgetary, or programmatic initiatives affecting the agency. This involves working with elected officials, legislative staff, and other stakeholders to promote agency legislative priorities and provide information on the agency’s policies, procedures, programs, services, and operational needs. Cultivating relationships with officials and external stakeholder groups is key to fostering support for agency initiatives. Maintaining proactive communication lines to gauge agency needs and identify opportunities through legislative initiatives, intergovernmental coordination, and strategic organizing is also part of the role. The position oversees the coordination, planning, and implementation of special projects. This position reports to the Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs and requires a flexible schedule when the legislature is in session, with potential for late evening or weekend legislative meetings. Limited travel is required.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in marketing, public relations, communications, journalism, public administration, business administration, political science, or a closely-related field.
Four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in public affairs, community outreach, intergovernmental relations experience, legislative affairs, state government administration, or business administration.
Media relations and/or spokesperson experience.
Knowledge of the state and federal legislative processes and state and federal legal systems.
Ability to set short-term and long-term goals in coordination with diverse stakeholders and build consensus among varied constituencies through collaborative work.
Knowledge of communication and brand-building tactics for both traditional and digital platforms.
Knowledge of policy analysis, legislative practices, and research and evaluation techniques.
Ability to critically review legislative and policy documents for potential issues.
Knowledge of project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
Knowledge of research principles, methods, and resources.
Knowledge of federal and state laws, regulations and standards for the management and disclosure of public information.
Knowledge of methods and techniques of planning, writing and editing publications according to correct English usage and accepted standards of magazine and press publications.
Knowledge of journalistic principles and practices as well as of techniques of disseminating information to the public through a variety of news media.
Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to represent the agency to internal and external audiences in a personal, diplomatic and polished way.
Strong organizational skills, an eye for detail, and the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines.
Excellent customer service-oriented communication skills.
Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience and familiarity with North Carolina state government and the North Carolina General Assembly.
Familiarity with the federal legislative and regulatory processes is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide internal and external communications support for the agency.
Manage media relations, messaging, content development, public outreach, and maintenance of the agency’s website and intranet.
Implement communication policies.
Promote agency goals by providing accurate, up-to-date information in a timely manner on the agency’s initiatives to both internal and external audiences.
Communicate in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment with counterparties and agency leadership.
Write, draft, and distribute written materials including press releases, interview briefs, talking points, correspondence, speeches and PowerPoint presentations.
Communicate with media by fielding inquiries and responding to media requests.
Work with staff across the agency to respond to news media and public records requests.
Analyze, monitor, and report on legislative, budgetary, or programmatic initiatives which affect the agency.
Work with elected officials, legislative staff, and other stakeholders to promote agency legislative priorities and provide information and awareness about the agency’s policies, procedures, programs, services, and operational needs.
Cultivate relationships with elected and appointed officials and external stakeholder groups to foster broad understanding and support for agency initiatives.
Maintain proactive lines of communication with internal and external stakeholders to gauge the needs of the agency and identify opportunities to meet those needs through legislative initiatives, intergovernmental coordination, and strategic organizing.
Oversee the coordination, planning, and implementation of special projects.
Additional duties as assigned.