Public Relations Specialist III - External Affairs

Public Relations Specialist III - External Affairs

Location:

25 - HINDS COUNTY, MS

Employer:

State of Mississippi

Salary: $66,944.47 - $ Annually

Location:

25 - HINDS COUNTY, MS

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: H

Department: 0681 - CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

Opening Date: 08/21/2026

Closing Date: 8/28/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Agency Minimum Salary $66,944.47

Agency Maximum Salary $

Preferred Qualifications Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 3-4 years of experience.

The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services has a position available within the Division Unit of Administration located at the State Office. The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) is committed to protecting and nurturing Mississippi's at-risk children and families. MDCPS offers a variety of positions statewide, including social work positions providing case management services and working with potential foster families, supervisor positions providing clinical and administrative support, and agency support positions such as policy development, human resources, information technology, program management, training, and budgeting/finance.

Working with MDCPS will give you the chance to make a life-changing difference for Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families.

If you have any additional questions, you can contact Touya Harrington of Workforce Development at  or touya.harrington.gov

This is a time limited position. This Public Relations position will ensure the execution of and coordinate various communications and public relations plans, programs and projects including complex research and communication strategies in providing agency information to the press, legislature, and the public. This position will be responsible for conducting media relations and providing assistance to the agency in building awareness of agency mission and vision among the general public and key stakeholder groups.

This position will require decisions to be made using overarching guidelines rather than clearly defined procedures. The position will act as an agency liaison, disseminating information to the legislature, newspapers, radio, television, communication networks, and internet-based media. This position will work with the Legislative and Communications team to write copy, public service announcements, scripts, speeches, news releases and other marketing communication.

What you'll need to be Successful Professional commitment to and caring about clients and the larger profession of child welfare. Ability to triage calls of an emergency nature. Efficient organizational and time management skills. Good oral and written communication skills. Positive work morale. Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem solving. Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work.

Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment

• Health/Prescription Insurance Eligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state’s health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits .
• Wellness Benefits Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program.
  
  This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
• Life Insurance All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee’s annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices .
• Optional Insurances Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts.
  
  These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.
• Paid Personal Leave and Sick Leave Full-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave.
  
  Leave begins accruing after one month…