Public Information Officer

City of Houston•611 Walker Street, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Houston Public Works is seeking an organized, proactive, and highly responsive Public Information Officer to join its Communications and Marketing branch. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer within the Chief of Staff Office, the position coordinates the department’s response to a high volume of media and public inquiries across HPW’s diverse operations. It works with leadership, subject matter experts, and operational teams to research and verify information, develop proposed responses, coordinate reviews and approvals, track requests, and submit approved responses to the Mayor’s Office of Communications. The PIO monitors media coverage and emerging issues, identifies proactive communications opportunities, and supports interview coordination and executive briefing preparation. The position also coordinates communications support during emergencies, critical incidents, service disruptions, and other time-sensitive operational issues. It may require work outside regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Proposed media responses require departmental approval before submission. Unless directed, the PIO does not independently issue public statements, provide media quotes, or conduct interviews on behalf of Houston Public Works or the City of Houston. Work is primarily performed in an office environment but may involve travel to departmental facilities, project sites, and other off-site locations. Work may occur indoors or outdoors and may include exposure to varying weather, construction areas, traffic, and active operational environments. This is a Houston Public Works Emergency Management position at the Tier I Level.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Public Relations, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
Five years of progressive professional experience in media, public relations, or a closely related field.
Knowledge of public information, media relations, professional writing, and communications practices.
Knowledge of research, fact-checking, and techniques for accurately communicating complex technical and operational information.
Knowledge of media monitoring, proactive media relations, issue management, and executive communications practices.
Knowledge of crisis communications principles and the importance of timely, verified information during emergencies and critical incidents.
Knowledge of communications planning, message development, confidentiality requirements, records management, and applicable public information laws and policies.
Skill in writing, editing, researching, and fact-checking clear and accurate responses under tight deadlines.
Skill in developing executive-ready briefing materials, media talking points, proposed press statements, and crisis communications materials.
Skill in managing multiple concurrent requests and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Skill in obtaining information from subject matter experts and translating complex information into concise, understandable language.
Skill in tracking requests, coordinating approvals, following up proactively, and identifying and escalating issues that may delay responses.
Ability to manage assigned requests from receipt through research, verification, departmental approval, and submission to the Mayor’s Office of Communications.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, and discretion when handling sensitive information and time-critical matters.
Ability to obtain cooperation across multiple divisions and organizational levels without direct supervisory authority.
Ability to distinguish verified facts from assumptions, identify information gaps, and ensure proposed responses are supported by reliable information.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and maintain accuracy and composure during emergencies and other high-pressure situations.
Ability to anticipate deadlines, resolve coordination challenges, and move requests toward completion while following established approval protocols.
Ability to identify emerging communications issues, anticipate leadership information needs, and recommend proactive communications opportunities while adhering to established review and approval procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience responding to media inquiries, public information requests, or sensitive communications matters in a fast-paced organization.
Experience supporting communications for a large, complex, or highly operational organization, such as a corporation, municipal government, public works department, utility, transportation agency, public safety agency, or other public service organization.
Experience monitoring media coverage, identifying emerging issues, evaluating potential reputational risks, and recommending proactive communications opportunities.
Experience coordinating emergency or crisis communications, including gathering and verifying information during rapidly evolving incidents.
Experience translating technical, engineering, infrastructure, water/wastewater, construction, transportation, drainage, or other operational information into clear, factual written responses.
Experience managing multiple concurrent requests, maintaining tracking systems, meeting strict deadlines, and proactively following up with stakeholders.
Experience drafting responses requiring review and approval by departmental leadership, legal personnel, executive offices, or a central communications office.
Experience coordinating media interviews and preparing executive briefing materials, background information, and proposed talking points for organizational leadership.
Familiarity with the Texas Public Information Act and handling public records and sensitive government information.
Knowledge of municipal government operations, interdepartmental coordination, and City communications protocols.
Experience supporting internal communications, communications strategy, narrative development, and consistent organizational messaging.
Familiarity with emergency management communications principles, including the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
Experience using request-tracking systems and other applications to monitor deadlines, approvals, and deliverables.
Experience working with confidential information and exercising discretion in sensitive or high-visibility situations.

Responsibilities

Manage high volumes of incoming media and public inquiries, prioritize deadlines, maintain a centralized inquiry and response tracker, document request status and approvals, and follow requests through submission.
Coordinate with departmental leadership, subject matter experts, and operational personnel to research and verify technical, statistical, historical, and operational information; identify discrepancies and obtain clarification.
Draft clear, concise, factual proposed responses and supporting materials based on verified information, translating complex operational details into understandable language.
Obtain required departmental reviews and approvals before submitting proposed responses to the Mayor’s Office of Communications, ensuring submissions are accurate, complete, documented, and timely.
Serve as a departmental liaison with the Mayor’s Office of Communications and appropriate departmental personnel to clarify information needs, communicate deadlines, and facilitate follow-up.
Monitor media coverage, emerging issues, City Council priorities, and public concerns; identify trends, communications risks, and opportunities for proactive storytelling; and provide updates to leadership.
Coordinate media interviews involving departmental leadership and subject matter experts, including scheduling, background research, proposed talking points, and required approvals.
Coordinate rapid information collection and verification during emergencies, critical incidents, service disruptions, and other urgent operational events; prioritize requests, identify gaps, and escalate issues affecting accuracy or timeliness.
Develop and maintain proposed holding statements, crisis response templates, and briefing materials for emergencies and critical incidents.
Assist with communications planning, internal communications, key message and narrative development, and informational materials for departmental programs, infrastructure projects, operational priorities, and organizational initiatives.
Identify proactive media and storytelling opportunities with the Communications and Marketing team.
Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and follow City policies, information security requirements, records management practices, and approved communications and branding standards.
Prepare concise executive briefings for the CMO and departmental leadership, including issue summaries, verified background information, anticipated media questions, proposed messaging, and communications considerations.
Prepare speaking points, briefing materials, presentations, and other supporting materials for the Director and departmental leadership.
Attend Director speaking engagements, City Council meetings, public sessions, town halls, community meetings, project site visits, and HPW events as needed to gather information, coordinate with subject matter experts, and support communications.
Assist with preparing information for City Council inquiries, Requests for Council Action, and other departmental requests as assigned.