TEMPORARY PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County.

Description

THIS POSITION IS TEMPORARY (UP TO 40 HOURS) WITH LIMITED BENEFITS. (Please see the Benefits tab for additional information.) NO QCP WILL BE ESTABLISHED. You will only be contacted if there is an interest from the hiring department.

Performs journey-level professional work in support of the agency's public activities, events, projects, and/or programs, such as planning and coordinating media content for Public Relations, Rail Operations, and the intranet site, assisting with special events and tour planning, or organizing employee appreciation activities. The Public Communications Officer will be responsible for updating Metro's social media with service information, responding to customer inquiries regarding Metro services, projects, and programs, and coordinating with relevant departments to address issues raised by customers. This role will also assist in content creation for Metro's social media channels and compiling reports on rider sentiment and trends. The position may require working irregular hours and/or weekend shifts.

Examples of Duties

• Disseminates press releases, speeches, information and promotion packages, articles, and letters

• Writes announcements for use during service disruptions and manages service alerts/advisories on Metro's website and social media channels

• Utilizes social media channels to promote Metro services and advertise Metro partnerships

• Responds to media requests for information or calls from reporters and news agencies

• Contributes to the development of articles for the agency's internal and external blog sites

• Coordinates production and distribution of press kits and promotional materials

• Confers with internal and external personnel to coordinate the production of television special features and on-air promotions

• May perform video photography and production of short videos for internal or promotional purposes

• Assembles and distributes media clips to senior management and designated staff

• Coordinates technical aspects and content for intranet site

• Organizes employee information and appreciation activities

• Collects and analyzes information from other departments for inclusion in final products

• May be required to translate material into other languages

• Contributes to ensuring that the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies and programs of Metro are carried out
  
  May be required to perform other related job duties
  

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Additional experience, as outlined below, may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis. A typical combination includes:

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, English, or a related field

Experience

• One year of relevant experience performing media relations, communications, journalism, or marketing work

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements

• 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
• Ability to read, write, and translate in Spanish may be required depending on assignment

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications (PQs) are used to identify relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) as determined by business necessity. These criteria are considered preferred qualifications and are not intended to serve as minimum requirements for the position. PQs will help support selection decisions throughout the recruitment. In addition, applicants who possess these PQs will not automatically be selected.

The following are the preferred qualifications:

• Experience delivering information to customers through social media, websites, and other online platforms.
• Experience responding to customer inquiries promptly with clear, concise, and helpful information.
• Experience utilizing social media management tools to schedule posts, respond to customer interactions, compile reports, and analyze customer sentiment and trends.
• Experience creating online content for an organization or agency related to products and/or services.

Essential Knowledge

Knowledge of(defined as a learned body of information that is required for and applied in the performance of job tasks)

• Theories, principles, practices and emerging trends of public relations, including sub-categories of media relations, public information, internal communications, print and social media, etc.
• Laws, rules, and regulations governing the disclosure of information by a public agency
• Applicable business software applications

Skill in(defined as the proficient manual, verbal, or mental utilization of data, people, or things)

• Performing media relations work
• Gathering, assessing, and summarizing information for public distribution
• Analyzing situations, identifying problems, and recommending solutions
• Exercising sound judgement and creativity in making decisions
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Interacting professionally with various levels of Metro employees and outside representatives

Ability to(defined as a present competence to perform an observable behavior or produce an observable result)

• Prepare comprehensive reports, correspondence, press releases, speeches, information and promotion packages, and articles
• Compile and analyze data
• Meet tight time constraints and deadlines
• Determine strategies to achieve goals
• Think and act independently
• Represent Metro before the public
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Read, write, speak, and understand English
  Special ConditionsThe physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  

Working Conditions

• Typical office situation
• Close exposure to computer monitors and video screen
• Work irregular hours, split shifts, weekends, holidays, or 24-hour-a-day on-call assignments

Physical Effort Required

• Sitting at a desk or table
• Operate a telephone or other telecommunications device and communicate through the medium
• Type and use a keyboard and mouse to perform necessary computer-based functions
• Standing
• Communicating through speech in the English language required
• Good distance vision and/or depth perception to judge distances

AHM

Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability. Learn more about Metro’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program . Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

Selection Procedure

Applicants who best meet job-related qualifications will be invited to participate in the examination process that may consist of any combination of written, performance, or oral appraisal to further evaluate job-related experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Application Procedure

To apply, visit Metro's website at www.metro.net and complete an online Employment Application.

Computers are available to complete online Employment Applications at the following Metro location:

METRO Headquarters, Employment Office
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Telephone: (213) 922-6217 or persons with hearing or speech impairments can use California Relay Service 711 to contact Metro.

All completed online Employment Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date. Late applications will not be considered.

*Open to the public and all Metro employees

This job bulletin is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other related job duties.

Closing Date/Time: 1/10/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

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• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - LA Metro

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