Public Information Officer

The City of Richmond Office of Strategic Communications is currently seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Public Information Officer. The selected individual will be responsible for supporting the department’s mission to provide timely and accurate information to the public and internal audiences on community services, programs, projects and consumer responsibilities. Efforts will include creating and developing content for and managing internal and external communications and other collateral materials for dissemination to the department’s stakeholder groups.

The selected candidate will work to enhance the department’s education and outreach activities with a focus on event planning and coordination as well as digital communications such as website management and social media.

• Providing communications support within the department.
• Planning and coordinating education and outreach activities.
• Managing the department’s website.
• Providing content for the department’s social media accounts.
• Developing and managing collateral material (e.g. brochures, inserts, newsletters).
• Designing and editing documents, page layouts, and graphical elements.
• Preparing PowerPoint and video presentations.
• Providing photography and videography services.
• Writing scripts and talking points.
• Designing and implementing internal communications campaigns.
• Providing crisis/emergency public information and professional communications support to the department by performing journey-level public information, public affairs, and marketing work.
• Participating in meetings and events, as assigned.
• Attending and participating in conferences, meetings and industry groups

Class description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the business needs of the department. The employee may perform other duties of a similar nature or level subject to the needs of the department.

• Project management experience to include developing effective relationships to enhance success.
• Knowledge of social media platforms, including creating, developing, and posting content as well as Drupal or basic HTML for entering content on the website and Intranet is required. Using the English language and the AP Stylebook in writing content for newsletters, web, social media and other platforms is required.
• Must possess the ability to think strategically, manage time effectively, multi-task and problem solve.
• Adept at learning new industries/companies, products, or technical knowledge and effectively conveying that knowledge.
• Must write and communicate effectively with internal and external clients at all levels and react and adapt to situations related to developments and changes in business/market influences. Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Bachelor's Degree in public relations, journalism, communications, marketing, public affairs, English, or directly related field.
• Two years of public communications experience such as education and outreach event planning, writing, editing, graphic design and layout.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger,…