Public Information Officer - Team Lead

Overview

Make an impact: The City of Salem is seeking a dynamic and skilled Public Information Officer (PIO) to serve as a working PIO and Communications Team Lead in the City Manager's Office. This pivotal position manages the City’s communications, media relations, and public engagement efforts, ensuring transparency and effective outreach across multiple platforms. The PIO/Team Lead will play a critical role in navigating the complexities of governmental interactions.

Learn and grow: The City Manager’s Office values employees and their professional development. The department offers opportunities to attend conferences, as well as support for ongoing education and certifications.

What you will do: At the City of Salem, our PIO/Team Lead will lead the City’s communications and public engagement efforts, ensuring clear, consistent messaging across all platforms. This role provides strategic direction, supports collaboration across departments, represents the City in public and media-facing settings, and helps guide communication efforts during both routine operations and emergency situations.

Learn more about the City Manager's Office at:

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the activities of the communications team to ensure clear, consistent, and effective messaging across various platforms.
• Serve in Emergency Operations Center or Joint Information Center during emergencies, delivering timely and accurate information to the public and managing crisis communication strategies.
• Foster open dialogue with the community, to enhance public trust and encourage participation in City governance through strategic outreach initiatives.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with media representatives, conduct on-camera interviews, and serve as the primary spokesperson for the City.
• Create and oversee the production of multimedia content for integration across various platforms, including social media, the City website, and media releases.
• Develop and execute communication strategies aligned with the City’s goals and priorities to ensure cohesive and impactful messaging.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of communication efforts using metrics such as community engagement, media coverage, and public sentiment.
• Serve as a liaison among City departments to support coordinated outreach efforts and strengthen collaboration on community engagement initiatives.
• Provide training, guidance, and support to communications staff to promote professional growth and enhance team effectiveness.
• Performing other related duties as assigned.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer-paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre-tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long-term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with some evening and weekends required.
• Hybrid work structure with remote or office work as needed, based on task demands and manager approval. This is subject to change based on business needs.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay:

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre-employment background check.
• Must have reliable transportation (e.g., carpool, rideshare, public transit, walking, biking) to report to and from work sites, events, trainings, and meetings.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in journalism or communications, business or public administration, emergency management, engineering, human resources, finance or accounting, public relations, digital media, urban and regional planning, or a related field, and five years of…