Public Information Officer

Job Appointment:
Regular, Full-time

Work Schedule:

Monday
- Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Alternate schedules may be available.

Work Location:

Hybrid. This position reports to 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information.

Union Representation:
Professional Technical Employees, Local 17 (PROTEC
17). To view current labor agreements.

Starting Pay:
Applicants start at the entry rate. The City of Portland follows the Oregon Equal Pay Act. Your salary is determined based on the experience listed in your resume that is directly related and equivalent to the position for which you are applying.

Position Summary:

The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads media relations across Portland’s integrated water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The PIO serves as a key media strategist, adviser, and liaison. This role takes the lead in crafting compelling stories about Portland's critical drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public works projects. The position also contributes to public relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts.

Additionally, the PIO is a member of a city-wide team that responds during city emergencies.

• Lead media strategy and engagement: create and implement proactive media engagement plans and strategies to promote projects, services, and programs in alignment with the Utilities’ priorities; develop relationships with local reporters, producers, and media outlets, including culturally specific media.
• Serve as the lead spokesperson for the Utilities: respond to media inquiries in a timely manner, develop responsive media strategies and messages, identify opportunities for storytelling that strengthen public awareness and interest in the Utilities’ work, and improve participation in and access to services provided by the utility bureaus.
• Collaborate with the Utilities leadership, Communications, Public Involvement, and Management teams: develop media plans and communications strategies that advance priorities and address community needs; provide strategic communications advice for complex community and media issues.
• Write, edit, and produce timely and informative content: including news and feature stories, media guides, press releases, talking points, and other content for distribution in a variety of formats for diverse external and internal audiences, centering plain language and accessibility.
• Serve as a lead emergency communications planner and responder: implement crisis communications strategies and tactics, including developing and implementing proactive and responsive crisis communications using both Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Incident Management System (NIMS) protocols for public information officers as well as using public involvement/public relations best practices. Serve as a lead communications strategist and spokesperson during emergencies and significant events and participates in bureau and City emergency operations efforts during emergencies.
• Serve as communications consultant and coach for bureau leadership and subject matter experts: provide public speaking and media training, coaching, and guidance for bureau employees and develop talking points and key messages for staff.
• Collaborate: on messaging and storytelling in partnership with the Public Works Service Area communications team.

• Creative: Always thinking of new ways to connect with diverse audiences and finding new angles and approaches to evergreen content.
• Strategic: Anticipates organizational and team needs; prepares for known and unknown risks; maximizes opportunities to promote informative news that resonates with audiences.
• Organized and self-directed: Initiates and drives projects from conception to completion, often with little guidance.
• Interpersonal and political acumen: Understands the political, community, and organizational context surrounding issues; anticipates perspectives and potential sensitivities; and uses sound judgment when navigating complex internal and external dynamics.
• Responsive and level-headed: Maintain…