Public Information Officer

State of Oregon•Salem, OR

46d•Hybrid

About The Position

ESD is seeking a highly experienced strategic communicator, with excellent writing and editing skills, and proven record of successful media relations to join us as our next Public Information Officer. The position is based in Salem, Oregon, with the possibility of hybrid (in person and remote) work. In this role, you will be the primary media spokesperson and key communications leader for the judicial branch. You will foster collaborative working relationships with the media, community partners, judges, OJD staff and senior leadership, and other key partners. At the direction of the OJD leadership or Government Relations Team, you also may be asked to communicate with legislative offices and representatives from other state agencies. You will develop a deep understanding of the OJD mission, vision, goals, programs, and operations, as well as the justice and legal systems and how the judicial branch fits in state government. You will respond to media inquiries and research, write, edit, and distribute media releases, alerts, public service announcements, FAQs, talking points, speeches, web content, and presentations. You will effectively plan and participate in media interviews, either as the spokesperson or in support of subject-matter experts. You will monitor news and media activity relevant to judicial interests and share your findings. You will also track OJD court cases that are likely to attract media and public interest and help facilitate appropriate responses to inquiries. Additionally, you will supervise, mentor, and motivate the OJD communications team to support consistent messaging in the judicial branch's internal and external communications. You will help lead OJD's editorial strategy, ensure consistent messaging and branding, and advise and confer with senior leadership, judges, and staff to help resolve communications-related issues. You will strategize, develop, implement, and evaluate improved communication methods to reach key audiences. You will also conduct statewide, regional, and localized communications needs assessments through written surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other methods, analyze the results, and recommend future actions. Under the direction of the State Court Administrator and in collaboration with our government relations and communications teams, senior leadership, and subject-matter experts, you will support the institutional, internal, external, and government relations communications, including strategy, messaging, presentation, outreach, and response. You will provide strategic advice and responses to resolve sensitive and complex issues, and advise on content and presentation approaches for public-facing web content. Although OJD currently has a limited social media presence, you will help evaluate and recommend future social media outreach opportunities, develop plans and guidelines, provide editorial direction, and support daily activities as required. You will spend part of your time coordinating community outreach events and analyzing information received during public, legislative, and community group meetings. You will collaborate with the Oregon State Bar media liaison to provide materials, workshops, and roundtable discussions for the media about our courts. You will also coordinate with local, state, and federal public information officers as needed. Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.

Requirements

The qualified candidate must have a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field.
At least five (5) years of increasingly responsible public relations experience that supports the duties, knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
OR
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to nine (9) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.
Exceptional writing and editing skills for a range of purposes (as noted above).
Experience building and maintaining trusted relationships with leadership, staff, reporters and editors, and other internal and external partners.
Experience using technology and software related to design, publication, communication, and social media to create and deliver written and visual content to inform, respond, explain, and persuade.
Experience training, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating the work of others.
Experience and skill with media relations, including public speaking, responding to requests, and serving as a spokesperson with media outlets on behalf of an employer.
Knowledge of how to effectively communicate with government officials and the media.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the Oregon Judicial Department or another court or court-connected entity is preferred.

Responsibilities

Be the primary media spokesperson and key communications leader for the judicial branch.
Foster collaborative working relationships with the media, community partners, judges, OJD staff and senior leadership, and other key partners.
Communicate with legislative offices and representatives from other state agencies at the direction of the OJD leadership or Government Relations Team.
Develop a deep understanding of the OJD mission, vision, goals, programs, and operations, as well as the justice and legal systems and how the judicial branch fits in state government.
Respond to media inquiries and research, write, edit, and distribute media releases, alerts, public service announcements, FAQs, talking points, speeches, web content, and presentations.
Effectively plan and participate in media interviews, either as the spokesperson or in support of subject-matter experts.
Monitor news and media activity relevant to judicial interests and share your findings.
Track OJD court cases that are likely to attract media and public interest and help facilitate appropriate responses to inquiries.
Supervise, mentor, and motivate the OJD communications team to support consistent messaging in the judicial branch's internal and external communications.
Help lead OJD's editorial strategy, ensure consistent messaging and branding, and advise and confer with senior leadership, judges, and staff to help resolve communications-related issues.
Strategize, develop, implement, and evaluate improved communication methods to reach key audiences.
Conduct statewide, regional, and localized communications needs assessments through written surveys, focus groups, interviews, and other methods, analyze the results, and recommend future actions.
Support the institutional, internal, external, and government relations communications, including strategy, messaging, presentation, outreach, and response.
Provide strategic advice and responses to resolve sensitive and complex issues, and advise on content and presentation approaches for public-facing web content.
Help evaluate and recommend future social media outreach opportunities, develop plans and guidelines, provide editorial direction, and support daily activities as required.
Coordinate community outreach events and analyzing information received during public, legislative, and community group meetings.
Collaborate with the Oregon State Bar media liaison to provide materials, workshops, and roundtable discussions for the media about our courts.
Coordinate with local, state, and federal public information officers as needed.

Benefits

We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate's education and experience.
OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

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