Senior Public Information Specialist

County of Los Angeles•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Public Information Specialist initiates, plans, develops, maintains, evaluates, implements, and coordinates a more complex and sensitive public information and engagement program; serves in a lead capacity or may serve as a supervisor to public information staff engaged in the planning and dissemination of information through various media channels. This role serves as the principal communications advisor to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center executive leadership, advising on media relations, crucial communications, procedures, and processes. The specialist develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies supporting organizational priorities, operational initiatives, regulatory requirements, and enterprise-wide change management. They also research, draft, edit, and coordinate executive speeches, presentations, talking points, briefing materials, correspondence and leadership messaging for internal and external audiences. Additionally, the role leads the development and implementation of external communications, including integrated branding, marketing, and reputation management strategy to strengthen public awareness, patient engagement, workforce recruitment, and organizational retention. Collaboration with Central Office of Communications is key for developing creative storytelling and marketing materials, including videos, social media and website content, and overseeing brand governance, messaging standards, creative direction, and marketing initiatives. The position provides technical guidance or supervises a team of lower-level public information staff and develops procedures, standards, and guidelines for information collection, review, and presentation. The Senior Public Information Specialist also serves as the executive communication liaison with the Central Communications Office and collaborates with various stakeholders on crucial communication initiatives. A critical aspect of the role involves providing strategic crisis and emergency preparedness communications during emergencies, incidents, operational disruptions, patient safety events, and other sensitive matters.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, or English.
Four (4) years of experience in either: Initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating a public information program at the level of Los Angeles County's class of Public Information Specialist.
OR Professional experience as a journalist within a media organization.
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Nice To Haves

Experience performing public information work initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating a public information program for a government or healthcare agency, beyond the requirement.
Experience using various social media platforms, digital marketing programs, and computer software to communicate internally and externally and create multimedia content for an organization's website.
Experience providing technical guidance and supervision over other public information staff.
Experience working with the community, news media, press, or other broadcast media to write scripts and communicate an organization’s message to the public in support of its goals and purpose.

Responsibilities

Serves as the principal communications advisor to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center executive leadership, advising on media relations, crucial communications, procedures, and processes.
Develops and implements comprehensive communication strategies supporting organizational priorities, operational initiatives, regulatory requirements, and enterprise-wide change management.
Researches, drafts, edits, and coordinates executive speeches, presentations, talking points, briefing materials, correspondence and leadership messaging for internal and external audiences.
Leads the development and implementation of external communications, including integrated branding, marketing, and reputation management strategy to strengthen public awareness, patient engagement, workforce recruitment, and organizational retention.
Coordinates messaging among executive leadership, clinical departments, employees, community collaborators, academic partners, and County leadership to support organizational readiness, operational continuity, and successful implementation of critical initiatives.
Collaborates with Central Office of Communications to develop creative storytelling and marketing materials - including videos, social media and website content and oversea brand governance, messaging standards, creative direction, and marketing initiatives supporting hospital service lines, community outreach, recruitment campaigns, and major institutional initiatives while ensuring alignment with enterprise branding and communication standards.
Provides technical guidance or supervises a team of lower-level public information staff by organizing and assigning work, setting priorities, and following-up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work.
Develops procedures, standards, and guidelines for collection, review, and presentation of information intended for communication across various media channels and platforms.
Serves as Harbor-UCLA Medical Center's executive communication liaison with the Central Communications Office and collaborates with County leadership, UCLA, community organizations, elected officials, healthcare partners and executive collaborators on crucial communication initiatives.
Provides strategic crisis and emergency preparedness communications during LA County emergencies, hospital incidents, operational disruptions, patient safety events, regulatory issues, and other sensitive matters requiring executive level communications planning and coordination with hospital incident command, and executive leadership.