Public Information Officer

City of Redlands•Redlands, CA

About The Position

The City of Redlands is seeking a strategic, creative, and highly skilled communications professional to lead and coordinate the City’s public information and communications efforts. Working closely with the City Manager’s Office, City departments, and executive leadership, the Public Information Officer ensures information is timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent for the community, employees, media, and regional partners. The role helps tell the City’s story by highlighting programs, services, accomplishments, community initiatives, and important issues affecting Redlands. The PIO leads communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement. The position develops strategic communication initiatives, manages media inquiries and press releases, oversees digital and social media content, coordinates public information during emergencies, and promotes City programs and services. The PIO also advises City leadership on communication strategies, oversees multimedia productions and publications, supports community events, and ensures consistent messaging across platforms. The successful candidate will communicate complex municipal information clearly to diverse audiences, respond to press inquiries, manage communications during emergencies or high-profile events, and develop content across multiple platforms. The position works in a standard office environment and may require travel to different sites and assignments outside normal business hours, including meetings, community events, and emergency incidents.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a closely related field.
Three years of professional experience performing increasingly responsible public information, communications, media relations, public relations, journalism, community engagement, or related work.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience developing content for websites, social media, press releases, presentations, and other communication platforms.
Ability to establish productive relationships with media representatives, community stakeholders, employees, and executive leadership.
Ability to communicate effectively during sensitive, rapidly changing, or emergency situations.
Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid Class C California driver’s license at the time of appointment.
Ability to perform physical duties that include sitting, walking, standing, talking or hearing in person and by telephone, kneeling, crouching, stooping, squatting, twisting, climbing, reaching, and lifting up to 60 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing communications for a public agency, governmental organization, or similarly complex organization is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate the City’s communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts.
Develop strategic communication initiatives and advise City leadership on communication strategies.
Manage media inquiries and prepare press releases.
Oversee digital and social media content and communications across multiple platforms.
Coordinate public information during emergencies and communicate during sensitive or rapidly changing situations.
Promote City programs, services, accomplishments, and community initiatives.
Oversee multimedia productions and publications.
Support community events.
Ensure messaging is consistent, accurate, timely, and accessible.
Attend meetings, community events, emergency incidents, or other assignments outside normal business hours when required.