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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Public Information Specialist Senior
FLSA: Standard/Non-Exempt EEO Category: (50) Para-Prof
Class Code: 17372 Salary Grade: QD3
Approved: August 01, 2006 Last Revised: September 11, 2017

Purpose:
  Under general supervision, responsible for the dissemination of news and information to the general public, City employees and the media regarding departmental and/or Citywide programs. These duties may contribute to any or all of the following areas: marketing, public relations, media relations, and publication of documents for internal and external education and communication.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
1. 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.
2. Develops long-range strategic plans.
3. Writes plans, organizes, directs, coordinates and edits articles for publication in a variety of forms, including electronic publication.
4. Coordinates all aspects of production of marketing materials.
5. Performs media relations duties to include: media buying, news releases, and fielding questions from media.
6. Coordinates public relations duties to include: public and school education, presentations, tours of public facilities, and requests for information from the general public.
7. Designs, researches, writes and edits newsletters and releases for internal or external use.
8. Produces public service announcements and videos for promotional use.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  May train and lead others.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  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.
Minimum Qualifications:
  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.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
  None

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.