Public Information Officer

City of Pasco • City of Pasco, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The City of Pasco is seeking a bilingual storyteller, marketer, and community builder to develop and deliver public information, communication plans, media relations, digital content, and outreach efforts. This role aims to inform residents, promote City programs and services, strengthen public trust, and increase meaningful community engagement. The position involves a fast-paced, demanding, and constantly changing environment where the officer will juggle multiple priorities, solve unexpected problems, and sometimes be the public face of difficult conversations. The ideal candidate is fluent in both English and Spanish, thrives on variety, enjoys creative problem solving, communicates with empathy, and believes in the importance of great local government communication. The Public Information Officer will collaborate with City departments, elected officials, media representatives, residents, businesses, community organizations, partner agencies, and other stakeholders to develop clear, accurate, timely, accessible, and culturally appropriate communications across multiple platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public information, journalism, public relations, marketing, media relations, community engagement, or a related field.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, including reading, writing, speaking, translation, and interpretation.
• Ability to travel to various work locations as needed to perform assigned duties.
• Professionalism, resilience, and the ability to stay focused on serving the community.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving as a public spokesperson or coordinating media relations.
• Experience preparing news releases, media advisories, public statements, talking points, background materials, and other public information materials.
• Experience creating multimedia content, including photography, videography, graphics, podcasts, scripts, presentations, or social media content.
• Experience managing digital communications, social media platforms, website content, newsletters, email marketing, or public information campaigns.
• Experience supporting public engagement, community outreach, public meetings, or community events.
• Experience assisting with emergency, crisis, or high-profile communications.
• Knowledge of public records, open public meetings, accessibility, copyright, and public communication best practices.
• Strong customer service, organization, project management, writing, editing, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver public information, communication plans, media relations, digital content, and outreach efforts.
• Inform residents and promote City programs and services.
• Strengthen public trust and increase meaningful community engagement.
• Create social media campaigns.
• Film stand-ups.
• Respond to media requests.
• Translate materials into Spanish.
• Support public engagement initiatives.
• Assist with communications during emergencies.
• Collaborate with City departments, elected officials, media representatives, residents, businesses, community organizations, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Develop clear, accurate, timely, accessible, and culturally appropriate communications across multiple platforms.

Benefits

• Medical coverage is available at tiered monthly rates based on plan selection and coverage level.
• Dental coverage at $11.59/month.
• Vision coverage at $6.54/month.
• Basic life insurance paid for by the City.
• Employee sponsored supplemental life insurance.
• 12 days of vacation during the 1st year of employment.
• 12 days of sick leave which are available for use upon accrual.
• 10 holidays, plus each employee receives 1 floating holiday each year.
• Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) pension.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan with a pre-tax contribution of 4% from the City.
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program.
• Tuition Assistance.
• Flexible Spending Plan.
• Long-Term Disability.
• Aflac.
• Flexible Schedule, per department approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level