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.

Class Descriptions 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.

Class Descriptions provide information about the Nature of Work, Examples of Work, General Requirements and Acknowledgements.  The Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; Minimum Education and Experience Requirements; Special Requirements; and recruitment and testing procedures are set by the using agency.

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 not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded 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.