Sr. Public Information Specialist

The City of Austin's Office of Sustainability’s mission is to protect and improve Austin’s quality of life now and for future generations by leading efforts to achieve net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions, a healthy and just local food system, and a climate resilient and adaptive city.

The Office of Sustainability is a small, highly collaborative team that works on issues related to climate change, climate resilience, and food access. We are looking for someone who is creative, social-savvy and knowledgeable about sustainability issues (or willing to learn!) Graphics and visual design experience a plus.

Position Overview

This Senior Public Information Specialist position provides information to the general public, City staff, and the media regarding Office of Sustainability programs and initiatives. This position will lead on digital communications, managing our social media presence, website, and newsletter. 

These duties include, but are not limited to: 1) strategic planning and content development for digital communications, including web sites, social media, blog posts, and e-newsletters, 2) managing and executing graphic design assignments, and 3) responding to inquiries from community members and the media. This position works collaboratively with personnel from other City departments to achieve consistency in sustainability messaging and to cross-promote sustainability initiatives.

Strong candidates will demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge about sustainability issues and concepts or strong desire to learn
• Knack for storytelling and writing feature stories about people and sustainability-related topics
• Skill in understanding user experience when navigating websites, and managing web content accordingly
• Desire and ability to keep up with current and emerging social media practices, standards, tools, and trends
• Ability to thrive on a small team and work independently as well as with other City of Austin departments

Location: To be determined, currently working remotely.

Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions:

• Works on assignments that are complex in nature where considerable judgment and initiative are required in resolving problems and making recommendations. Primary responsibility for larger individual projects or act as an account representative for client departments and programs.
• Develops long-range strategic plans.
• Writes plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and edits articles for publication in a variety of forms, including electronic publication.
• Coordinates all aspects of production of marketing materials.
• Performs media relations duties to include: media buying, news releases, and fielding questions from media.
• Coordinates public relations duties to include: public and school education, presentations, tours of public facilities, and requests for information from the general public.
• Designs, researches, writes and edits newsletters and releases for internal or external use.
• Produces public service announcements and videos for promotional use.

Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May train and lead others.

Note: These duties are pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Other related duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Marketing, Public Relations, Journalism, Advertising or related field plus four (4) years of progressive experience in developing and implementing programs of public information, one (1) of which was in a team leader/coordinator capacity.
• Experience may substitute for the education up to the maximum of four (4) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of conservation, climate protection, and sustainability trends and communication strategies.
• Skill in designing and implementing successful social media campaigns and promotions, as well as advertising approaches.
• Experience in working positively with the media.
• Strong customer service mindset; listens and responds to public inquiries in a poised, respectful manner.
• Experience with Drupal web content management system, and skill in developing effective web content.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and skill in executing graphic design for marketing and communications initiatives.
• Experience developing and implementing innovative and equitable engagement strategies to involve community groups, organizations and members of the public.
• Fluent in Spanish, in both written and oral communications.

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of public information, marketing, public relations, media relations programs.
• Knowledge of the functions and organization of municipal government, to include the relationships between departments, divisions and agencies.
• Knowledge of the principles associated with the role of meeting the necessary standards of customer service.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Skill in planning and organizing.
• Ability to interpret policies and guidelines.
• Ability to write articles for publication.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to lead and train others.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other City employees and the public.

Compensation

• Pay range is $28.01 – $36.41.

EOE & ADA

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or TTY (512) 974-2445.