PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST - EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT

Position/Program Information

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Exam Number: A1608A-FR

Recruitment Type: Open Competitive - Emergency

APPLICATION FILING PERIOD

Applications will be accepted beginning March 4, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) until March 10, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (PT)


The LA County Board of Supervisors has unanimously ratified a Proclamation of Local Emergency in response to the windstorms and wildfires (Download PDF reader) , including the Palisades and Eaton Fires that have devastated communities across the County. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to assist the County in mobilizing resources and support needed to help our residents recover and rebuild. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (LADA) is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Public Information Specialist vacancies related to this unprecedented natural disaster.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the minimum 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 at 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Public Information Specialist.

Essential Job Functions

DEFINITION:

Initiates, plans, develops, maintains, evaluates, implements, and coordinates a public information and engagement program for a County department.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Under general direction, positions allocable to this class report to a higher-level supervisor or a higher-level Public Information class and are responsible for initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating department-wide public information programs, services, and activities, disseminating information to the public through various media channels. Positions in this class must possess strong verbal and written communication skills applying communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques to engage local media and to convey information to the public through various media channels. Incumbents must demonstrate an understanding of the importance of communicating with the County’s diverse communities. Incumbents utilize their knowledge of various media outlets and social media platforms and must have working knowledge of the Public Records Act. This class may serve as a supervisor or the highest-level public information representative in a medium-sized department providing technical guidance to lower-level public information staff and/or support staff assigned to public information activities. Incumbents must seek professional development opportunities and continually update their skills.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

Develops internal and community relations publicity campaigns designed to provide the public with accurate and timely information about the department, its programs and people.

Develops content for various communication channels, including websites and social media platforms; drafts newsletters, brochures, articles, speeches and talking points for department executives; oversees layout, design and translation of materials for printing.

Provides direct and proactive advice, consultation, and assistance to management regarding public information matters, including direct assistance in researching, providing information to the public and developing messages.

Writes social media posts and creates basic social media graphics and media releases regarding departmental activities, services, programs, and functions; prepares pamphlets and brochures for distribution.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with communications staff at other agencies, both public and private, and media representatives; responds promptly to media inquiries and directs questions to appropriate staff.

Arranges press conferences and notifies media representatives of newsworthy events, programs and initiatives.

Coordinates external communications channels, including social media and website, preparing written and visual contents such as web articles, brochures, newsletters, and reports for distribution to the various communication channels; coordinates videography and photography, as needed.

Researches departmental projects for proactive media outreach (story pitches).

Analyzes and evaluates data to make appropriate communications recommendations for management.

Coordinates and oversees a wide variety of information and communication activities for the department such as press conferences, media events, tours, outreach events, and related activities.

Handles intake and response 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.

Evaluates effectiveness of communications programs and implements changes, as needed.

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 internal communications such as 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 controversial or high-profile issues involving the department; provides opportunities to generate accurate media coverage to highlight departmental activities to the public.

Participates in responding to newsworthy events and media inquiries, including emergency and crisis communications.

Develops and maintains internal communication projects.

Assesses effectiveness of digital content using online metrics.

Maintains departmental website’s public information content.

May serve as a supervisor to public information staff engaged in public information and engagement program.

May manage a photo archive of key word-searchable photos.

May assist in creating public relations strategies.

May respond to emergencies, newsworthy events, and media inquiries.

May staff public information booth and make presentations to community groups.

May drive to different sites, as necessary.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

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- Three years of experience at the level of Los Angeles County’s class of Public Information Associate*** assisting in the development, maintenance, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of a public information program or professional experience as a journalist within a media organization. One additional year of the required experience will be accepted for each year of college.

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:

2 - 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.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

NO WITHOLD OR OUT-OF-CLASS EXPEREINCE WILL BE ACCEPTED.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:
*In order to receive credit for a Bachelor's Degree or higher degree, you MUST attach a legible copy of your "official" diploma, "official" transcripts, or "official" letter from an accredited institution which shows the area of specialization at the time of filing (preferred), or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission. If you are unable to attach the required documents at the time of filing, you must email to exams@da.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from the application submission. Please ensure to indicate the examination title and number on the subject of your email. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.
**Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. Inc.

***Experience at the level of Los Angeles County class of Public Information Associate : assisting in the initiation, planning, development, maintenance, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of a public information program or professional experience as a journalist within a media organization.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT :
Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.
APPLICATION & FILING INFORMATION:

Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING ONLINE:
Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add exams@da.lacounty.gov , info@governmentjobs.com , and no-reply@governmentjobs.com to your list of safe senders to ensure communication is not filtered as span/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance, as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty.gov 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE:
The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements. Please fill out your application and supplemental questionnaire completely and correctly to receive full credit for any related education, training, and job experience. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your actual job title, beginning and ending dates, description of work performed, total number of hours worked (full or part time). Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for this job. Your application will be rejected if it is incomplete. We may reject your application at any time during the selection process.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Any shift - Appointees must be willing to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

BACKGROUND CHECK:
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. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with County Fair Chance Policies and the Fair Chance Act (Gov. Code Section 12952).

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 applicants 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. Refer to their website for more information : http://lacountylibrary.org

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's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

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. We are 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.

FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER: 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.

Questions? Please contact us:

Department Contact Name: Exams Unit
Exam Number: A1608A-FR
Department Contact Phone: (213) 257-2700
Department Contact Email: exams@da.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Phone: (213) 257-2700
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2929
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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