Public Information Specialist

County of Santa Barbara•Santa Barbara, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join our team and use your creativity, communication expertise, and strategic thinking to connect our community with the programs, services, and initiatives that make a difference every day. As a Public Information Specialist, you’ll help shape public understanding, promote transparency, and highlight the important work being done in service to our community. We are currently accepting applications to fill one full-time Public Information Specialist position. The current vacancy is in the County Executive Office. The position will be home-based in Santa Barbara with the ability for the incumbent to discuss a long-term hybrid telework schedule contingent upon the needs of the department. We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list that may be used to fill current and future vacancies in the County Health Department and Fire Department. Please check all department and location preferences on the application.

Requirements

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communication, journalism or closely related field and three (3) years of professional experience developing and conducting public information or marketing campaigns; OR , Possession of an associate’s degree in marketing, communication, journalism or closely related field and five (5) years of professional experience developing and conducting public information or marketing campaigns; OR , A combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to one of the employment standards listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
International degrees must include documentation from an evaluation service that shows the U.S. equivalency along with unofficial transcripts at the time of application submittal.
Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license may be required at the time of appointment.
The position may require candidates to travel throughout the County or report to multiple locations.
Knowledge of: principles and practices of marketing business services, including advertising, graphic design, and establishing brands; media production, communication, and dissemination techniques via written, oral, and visual media; principles and practices of public relations, including client-media relations; customer service standards and techniques, including needs assessment techniques, quality service standards, and customer satisfaction evaluation techniques; English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax; statistics; research methods; and presentation and desktop publishing software programs.
Ability to: communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; make presentations to large and small groups; work effectively with a variety of individuals and groups; gather and analyze data, draw conclusions, and make recommendations; work independently; learn and apply principles and practices of supervision; prepare written correspondence and reports; compile and prepare statistical reports; establish, balance, and adjust priorities; read and learn department-specific policies, procedures, and related laws and regulations; identify consequences of actions; listen effectively; influence and promote change; persuade others to approach issues and ideas differently; motivate and train staff; maintain confidentiality of information; effectively handle political and sensitive issues; represent the department accurately to the media; use a personal computer and standard software applications; and learn and use programming languages such as Java and HTML.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English/Spanish to support accessibility and community engagement is preferred.
Experience in outreach initiatives, forming partnerships, and conducting events to promote departmental services effectively is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements department-wide public information programs and campaigns related to the department’s mission, including marketing, outreach, and/or customer service activities.
May act as departmental spokesperson.
May supervise staff.
Performs related duties in the absence of the PIO or as required.
Serves as a supporting role to the County Public Information Officer with a primary focus on content creation, social media management, digital newsletters and communications, and public/community outreach.
Assists with coordinating messaging across departments to support consistent and effective public communication.
May serve as a County spokesperson as assigned.
May provide backup support to the County Public Information Officer.
Plans and directs the development and implementation of media programs or campaigns designed to keep the County internal staff and external public informed of departmental services, accomplishments, or agendas.
Studies departmental mandates, objectives, and policies in order to promote the department’s services, missions, and goals.
Designs departmental or program logos.
Establishes departmental or program brands.
Designs, procures, and distributes promotional items to convey the department or program’s goals, message, presence, image, and/or effectiveness.
Establishes research methodologies and designs formats for data gathering, such as surveys, opinion polls, or questionnaires.
Collects and analyzes data to measure public opinion and determine whether customers’ needs and expectations are being met.
Translates complex numerical/statistical data into non-technical, written text.
Prepares reports and graphic illustrations of findings.
Makes recommendations to management to establish new or modify existing programs or services.
Prepares related grant applications.
Prepares and distributes fact sheets, news releases, and public announcements to media representatives and others.
Selects promotional media to most efficiently and effectively reach target market.
Purchases advertising space and time in various media.
Participates in television, radio, and print interviews.
Designs, writes, edits, and produces public information materials such as display advertising, brochures, flyers, direct mail materials, newsletters, and videos.
Develops, designs, and updates departmental Website.
Prepares and edits in-house materials and publications.
Plans and conducts event marketing activities.
Represents department at public and business gatherings.
Selects and arranges for guest speakers for staff events, training, seminars, and conferences.
Hosts lectures, exhibits, workshops, and informational exchange forums.
Develops and conducts community outreach campaigns, including establishing partnerships with local government and non-profit agencies to educate the public about the existence and availability of departmental services and to increase program participation among groups that have shown a hesitance to utilize the department’s services.
Makes presentations to government bodies, schools, employer groups, and community organizations.
Represents department on local boards, commissions, and committees.
Develops, conducts, and arranges for customer service and other training for departmental staff based upon market research.
Evaluates the effectiveness of existing training programs and makes recommendations to management for training modifications.
Makes recommendations to management for modifications to departmental policies and procedures to improve communications and messaging as needed.
Counsels staff in effective ways of communicating with the public.
Interviews, selects, and trains clerical and/or paraprofessional staff.
Assigns and reviews work.
Evaluates staff performance.
Participates in disciplinary action.