Community Safety Public Information Officer

The purpose of this position is to provide marketing and communications support to the Town’s community safety divisions. This position exists in an internal agency/client framework, reporting to the Town’s Communications Manager and serving Police, Fire, and Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management as primary clients.

The position is required to work on-call on a rotating basis, with on-call pay provided.

Applicants must answer two supplemental questions, submit a cover letter no longer than one page, and submit no more than three samples of their work.

Serve as primary media contact for Police, Fire, and Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management

• Receive media inquiries, coordinate media responses, and respond in an accurate, appropriate, and timely manner.
• Develop and distribute clear and effective news releases, media briefings, public statements, and media pitches.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets.

Coordinate crisis communications during emergencies

• Collaborate with community safety, strategic communications, and other Town departments to ensure accurate and timely information sharing during emergencies.
• Serve as Public Information Officer in the Town's Emergency Operations Center and contribute to emergency planning prior to events and after-action debriefs and reporting.
• Maintain awareness of current trends and best practices for crisis communications and translate those into practices and procedures.

Create and curate content for community safety functions

• Write and edit a variety of communication materials, including news releases, short videos, and website content.
• Develop and manage social media presence to engage with the community and provide timely updates.
• Develop and implement materials for public awareness campaigns and recruitment initiatives.

Positively contribute to the success of the organization

• Assist with the creation of communications plans for a variety of community safety projects and initiatives.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with staff across Police, Fire, and Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management Departments.
• Develop and maintain relationships with marketing, communications, and engagement staff in other Town departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in public relations, communications, journalism, or a related field.
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and compelling content.
• Ability to communicate complex information in a way that is easily understood by the community.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms and digital communication tools.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in crisis communication and media relations.
• Knowledge of community safety issues.
• Experience working in a government or law enforcement agency.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills, particularly in languages spoken in the community.

Additional Requirements

• This classification has been designated as Safety Sensitive and is subject to the Town’s Drug and Alcohol Policy, procedures, and random drug and alcohol testing.
• The position is driving essential and must conform to the Town's Safe Driving and Accident Policy and procedures.

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