Public Information Officer

City of Portland•1120 SW 5th Ave, OR

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads media relations across Portland’s integrated water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The PIO serves as a key media strategist, adviser, and liaison. This role takes the lead in crafting compelling stories about Portland's critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public works projects. The position also contributes to public relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. Additionally, the PIO is a member of a city-wide team that responds during city emergencies.

Requirements

Experience engaging with reporters, producers, editors, and other members of the media to proactively and responsively share critical information, set organizational narratives, and promote storytelling that resonates with the community.
Experience developing and implementing media engagement strategies and emergency response/crisis communications plans designed to navigate complex, difficult, or contentious issues with a high level of public scrutiny.
Experience serving as a lead spokesperson and coaching leadership, subject matter experts (SMEs), and key staff on interview skills and strategies.
Experience writing, producing and/or editing clear, concise, and engaging digital content, talking points, reports, news releases, features, editorial content, and other communications collateral for diverse audiences, centering accessibility and translating complex technical information into plain language.
Ability to develop intentional and trusting relationships with culturally diverse and non-traditional media.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Emergency response and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) Public Information Officer standards and protocols.
Familiarity with Public health and environmental regulations and/or regulatory agencies; utility operations; large infrastructure or construction projects.
Familiarity with AP Style or the Chicago Manual of Style
Bilingual/Multilingual skills

Responsibilities

Lead media strategy and engagement: create and implement proactive media engagement plans and strategies to promote projects, services, and programs in alignment with the Utilities’ priorities; develop relationships with local reporters, producers, and media outlets, including culturally specific media.
Serve as the lead spokesperson for the Utilities: respond to media inquiries in a timely manner, develop responsive media strategies and messages, identify opportunities for storytelling that strengthen public awareness and interest in the Utilities’ work, and improve participation in and access to services provided by the utility bureaus.
Collaborate with the Utilities leadership, Communications, Public Involvement, and Management teams: develop media plans and communications strategies that advance priorities and address community needs; provide strategic communications advice for complex community and media issues.
Write, edit, and produce timely and informative content: including news and feature stories, media guides, press releases, talking points, and other content for distribution in a variety of formats for diverse external and internal audiences, centering plain language and accessibility.
Serve as a lead emergency communications planner and responder: implement crisis communications strategies and tactics, including developing and implementing proactive and responsive crisis communications using both Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols for public information officers as well as using public involvement/public relations best practices.
Serve as a lead communications strategist and spokesperson during emergencies and significant events and participates in bureau and City emergency operations efforts during emergencies.
Serve as communications consultant and coach for bureau leadership and subject matter experts: provide public speaking and media training, coaching, and guidance for bureau employees and develop talking points and key messages for staff.
Collaborate: on messaging and storytelling in partnership with the Public Works Service Area communications team.