Senior Public Information Specialist

Position/Program Information

EXAM TITLE: Senior Public Information Specialist

EXAM NUMBER: EW1609A-EA

JOB TYPE: PERMANENT

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

FILING DATES:
Applications will be accepted starting at 8:00 a.m. (PT) on September 4, 2024, until the needs of the service are met. The application filing period is subject to closure without notice.

ABOUT THIS EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT:
The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Department of Economic Opportunity is seeking qualified candidates to fill a Senior Public Information Specialist vacancy.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment. Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance.

This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Senior Public Information Specialist.

WORK LOCATION:
Economic Opportunity Headquarters
510 S Vermont Ave 11th Fl
Los Angeles CA 90020

Economic Opportunity offers a hybrid telework schedule subject to the needs of the department.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is LA County’s central economic and workforce development hub helping residents connect to new career pathways, start and certify a business, and access life-changing opportunities. We’re working to advance equity and inclusive, sustainable growth through all DEO programs and services by targeting economic benefits to the most vulnerable and marginalized communities, small businesses and residents in LA County.

Our Vision: An equitable economy with thriving communities, inclusive and sustainable growth, and opportunity and mobility for all.

Our Mission: DEO creates quality jobs, helps small businesses and high-road employers start and grow, and builds vibrant local communities and spaces.

Essential Job Functions

• Serves as a key resource to executive management, advising on media relations, strategic communications, procedures, and processes.
• Provides technical guidance or supervises a team of lower-level public information staff.
• Establishes the objectives of the department’s public information program and develops strategies and tactics to accomplish these objectives.
• Organizes and assigns work (as needed), sets priorities, and follows-up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work.
• Participates in or supervises (as needed) the development and execution of communication strategies, tactics and deliverables, through various communication channels such as web and social media content, email newsletters, and print collateral such as brochures, annual reports, and other content.
• Oversees the coordination and execution of videography, photography, and graphic design services, as needed.
• Researches and oversees research of departmental projects for proactive media outreach.
• Develops procedures, standards, and guidelines for the collection, review, and presentation of information to be communicated to the public through the various media channels and platforms.
• Coordinates releases and distribution to the media; organizes and arranges public information campaigns and press conferences.
• Identifies, develops, and maintains key communication channels, adapting and improving them in line with external trends and business needs.
• Manages and responds to media requests for information under the California Public Records Act, in coordination with departmental management, County Counsel, and the department’s Public Records Act coordinator.
• Attends and participates in meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations related to the field of public information and media relations.
• Serves as liaison between the department and media representatives and develops effective relationships with media outlets.
• Monitors and tracks issues affecting the department, monitors media channels and informs management accordingly.
• Works with department representatives to develop communications such as an annual report, annual budget, mission and vision, and other critical documents.
• Serves as an information conduit to Board staff and Board Deputies and alerts them of inquiries regarding high-profile or controversial issues affecting the department and provides opportunities to generate accurate media coverage to highlight departmental activities to the public.
• Responds to newsworthy events and media inquiries, which may include emergencies as a result of an epidemic or following the occurrence of natural or other disaster by providing contacts and immediate responsiveness to inquiries including receiving and assessing information, tailoring releases to the audience, cooperating with the Board Office, Chief Executive Office, communications media, and advising appropriate personnel.
• Develops and maintains internal communication projects.
• Assesses effectiveness of digital content using online metrics.
• Maintains departmental website’s public information content.
• Manages a photo archive of key word-searchable photos as needed.
• Staffs public information booth and makes presentations to community groups as needed.
• Develops and manages annual operating budget and provides fiscal direction to the unit(s) supervised as needed.
• Attends off-site events, as needed.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, English or a *closely related field,

-AND-

Four years of experience at the level of Los Angeles County’s class of **Public Information Specialist initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating a public information program,

-OR-

Four years of professional experience as a journalist within a media organization.

Each additional year of such experience may be substituted for one year of college, to a maximum of four years.

*A closely related field is defined as a degree that has a direct correlation to the Senior Public Information Specialist job functions.

**The P ublic Information Specialist a ssists in the initiation, planning, development, maintenance, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of a public information and engagement program for a County department.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
To receive credit for the required education, a legible copy of the diploma or official transcript for each degree that displays the degree awarded and date conferred must be submitted as proof of meeting the educational requirement. The official diploma or transcript can be attached to the application or emailed to DEORecruitment@opportunity.lacounty.gov. Please reference exam number EW1609A-EA in the subject line. International degrees in a foreign language must be translated to English and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards.

LICENSE:
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS II - LIGHT:
This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:

Performance Evaluation weighted 100%. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only.

Apply online by clicking on the "APPLY" button for this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website. All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements.

Provide all relevant training and experience in the spaces provided to assist in evaluating your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed.

Applicants must provide a legible copy of the diploma or official transcript from an accredited institution (the transcript must display the degree awarded and date conferred). If you are not able to submit the required copy of your diploma or official transcript with your application at the time of filing, you may email a copy to DEORecruitment@opportunity.lacounty.gov. Please reference exam number EW1609A-EA in the subject line.

If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important to provide a valid email address. Please add DEORecruitment@opportunity.lacounty.gov as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail. You may opt out of emails from LA County. However, if you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County.

You may be required to verify your email address so plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline. This is only required once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty, you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):
The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION:
For any questions regarding this examination, please send an email to DEORecruitment@opportunity.lacounty.gov. Please reference exam number EW1609A-EA in the subject line.

California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2992

Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099

ADA Coordinator Phone: (213) 300-4966

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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