Placer County

(Unclassified)

To plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the activities and operations of the Communications and Public Information Division of the County Executive Office, including civic engagement, media communications, issues management, special events, and neighborhood outreach services; to coordinate communications and advocacy activities with other departments and outside agencies to engage community stakeholders; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the County Executive Officer.      

Receives administrative direction from the County Executive Officer.  

Exercises direct supervision over assigned management, supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plan, organize, and direct the County’s communications, civic engagement, media relations, neighborhood outreach services, special events, and public information activities, including, developing and implementing internal and external communications, facilitating meetings, utilization of the internet and intranet, and government relations strategic plans.
• Initiate and implement strategic communication plans and support County departments in developing communication strategies to address emerging issues.
• Coordinate with elected officials, department heads, management staff, and employees in developing consistent messaging and strengthening the County's image. 
• Direct, plan and support departmental social media strategies to enhance effective communication with stakeholders. 
• Conduct analysis and evaluation of the public's interest and extent of understanding of County programs and services through focus groups, surveys, and other methods. 
• Advise management regarding program and service understanding, acceptance, and effectiveness and potential strategies for enhancing same. 
• Support development of e-government strategies and utilization of technology to create accessible, transparent, inexpensive, and effective interaction between government and stakeholders.   
• Coordinate activities and special events with those of other departments, outside agencies and organizations, public and private sector officials, and representatives of industry and businesses; provide staff assistance to the Board of Supervisors and County Executive Office in preparation of presentations, written materials, and media communications.
• Oversee editorial operations for county-wide news products, ensuring consistency with news style, messaging, and upholding professional standards.
• Prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence; train and coach staff on effective practices and media communications.
• Develop, plan, and implement division goals and objectives; recommend and administer policies and procedures; direct, oversee, and participate in the development of the division’s work plan; assign work activities, projects, and programs; monitor work-flow; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures. 
• Participate in the development of funding requirements and administration of community engagement/Public Information resources; provide forecasts of programmatic needs and funding strategies for public information and civic engagement functions; direct and monitor use of funds dedicated to public information and community engagement functions to ensure appropriate use of funds.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate staff; provide and/or coordinate staff training; conduct performance evaluations; implement discipline procedures, and maintain high standards necessary for the efficient and professional operation of the department.
• Direct communication content in newsletters, news releases, County website and electronic communications; prepare speeches, scripts, responses, and related materials for public information purposes to strengthen and promote the County’s identity.
• Serve as public information contact in emergencies and other critical events and develop communication strategies to ensure consistent, accurate messaging to the public. Provide support to regional emergency operations.
• Represent the CEO, and Board of Supervisors, and County to outside agencies and organizations; participate in outside community and professional groups and committees; provide technical assistance as necessary.
• Research and prepare technical and administrative reports; prepare written correspondence.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of high-quality customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training:

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: 

Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in communications or public relations, including three (3) years of administrative and management responsibility. 

Training: 

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, journalism, marketing, business or public administration, or a related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of an Accredited Public Relations (APR) Certificate issued by the Public Relations Society of America is desirable.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of communications methods, marketing techniques, community engagement, and public affairs.
• Principles and practices of leadership, motivation, team building and conflict resolution.
• Effective public presentation methods to attract and inform a variety of audiences.
• Pertinent local, state and federal rules, regulations, and laws. 
• Social media, web design, and graphic/visual presentation methods. 
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and practices of organizational analysis, administration, and management.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; read, identify, interpret, understand, analyze, apply, recall, and explain complex and technical policies and procedures, numerical information, work papers, technical reports, special projects, and pertinent laws, rules, and regulations; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; analyze situations and determine proper course of action; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, or twist to reach equipment or when in the field; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight.
• Make effective public presentations in routine and emergency situations.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Gain cooperation through discussion, persuasion, and group facilitation.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Prepare and administer a division budget.
• Assist with budget preparation and administration.
• Operate modern office equipment including computers, copiers, document scanners, fax machines, cell phones and/or other electronic devices.
• Interpret and apply County and department policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work off or unusual hours during emergency or disaster situations requiring public information services.