State of Maryland

A Public Affairs Officer II is the responsible administrative and supervisory staff level of work heading a highly complex and diverse public relations and public information program.  Employees in this classification are responsible for evaluating and assessing the informational, publicity and public relations needs of an agency and for planning, developing and directing a comprehensive program designed to fulfill those needs.   Employees in this classification direct the gathering of data, assembly of information, preparation of news articles and the development of informational materials for the agency.  Employees in this classification are also responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the internal control and release of news articles, feature stories and radio and television presentations.  The work of this classification often requires the preparation, arrangement for and delivery of speeches, formal and informal talks and lectures to various civic and community groups and members of the general public interested in agency operations and services.  Employees in this classification have considerable personal contacts with representatives of the various communications media.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level professional, technical and clerical personnel engaged in the agency’s public relations and public information program.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision and direction from the agency head or designated management official.  Work effectiveness is evaluated in terms of the timeliness, quality and effectiveness of promotional and informational activities.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work Sections of the class specification.

The Public Affairs Officer II is differentiated from the Public Affairs Officer I in that the Public Affairs Officer II heads a highly complex and diverse public relations and public information program and supervise lower-level professional, technical and clerical personnel while the Public Affairs Officer I performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Plans and develops the public relations and public information program of a large State agency;

Supervises a staff of Writers, Publications Specialists and other promotional and publicity personnel;

Supervises the preparation of a variety of promotional and publicity material such as pamphlets, booklets, bulletins, news releases, radio and television scripts, posters, exhibits, charts, articles, and film strips;

Gives technical advice and guidance to heads of agencies, divisions and programs on public information and public relations matters;

Prepares, and may also deliver speeches to business and civic organizations explaining the agency’s programs and activities;

Attends meetings and conferences with representatives of communications media, on behalf of the agency;

Serves as official host for visitors to the agency and arranges or conducts tours for them;

Explains and interprets the agency’s programs and policies to interested persons;

May plan, prepare, compose, edit and publish a magazine or other periodical of the agency;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices applicable to the planning, development and implementation of a large public information and public relations program;

Knowledge of the methods, procedures, techniques and media of communications available for the dissemination of news, information and other similar material;

Knowledge of English usage and grammar;

Knowledge of the factors applied in assessing and evaluating the public information and publicity needs of a large agency;

Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures;

Knowledge of the methods, procedures and techniques applied in the preparation, composition, editing, and presentation of speeches, pamphlets, reports, visual material, news and feature articles and a variety of other promotional and publicity information;

Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices;

Knowledge of effective methods of obtaining adequate publicity for an agency’s program and activities;

Ability to plan, develop, organize and supervise a comprehensive and coordinated public information and public relations program;

Ability to prepare and administer a program budget;

Ability to supervise professional, technical and clerical personnel engaged in various aspects of a public information and public relations program;

Ability to assess and evaluate the public information and public relations needs of an agency;

Ability to make effective use of all available communications media in recommending publicity programs;

Ability to prepare, compose, edit and present speeches, pamphlets, reports, visual material, and other promotional and publicity information;

Ability to develop and implement efficient and effective methods for the distribution of a variety of material relating to an agency’s program and services;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of the communications media, business and civic organizations, the agency, and the general public;

Ability to analyze the effectiveness of an agency’s public information and public relations program and recommend improvements;

Ability to effectively communicate;

Ability to address large audiences;

Ability to plan, design and direct construction of exhibits, posters, pamphlets and other promotional and publicity material.

Experience: Seven years of experience in public information, public relations, journalism or other related experience in publicity or promotional work.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least 30 semester credit hours in one or more of the following subjects: English, journalism, public relations, writing or other similar and related areas of study and three years of experience in public information, public relations, journalism or other related experience in publicity or promotional work for the required experience. 

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in public affairs specialist classification or public affairs specialty codes in the information and arts field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G- Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.