General DescriptionIrvine Ranch Water District is accepting applications for a Visual Communications Analyst in our Communications Department.
This position is open until filled, with a first applications review date of August 12, 2024. The District Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) is a progressive, values-driven agency, with an international reputation for its leading-edge financial management practices, water recycling program, water use efficiency practices, water banking, urban runoff treatment, and energy generation and storage. Established in 1961 as a California Water District under the provisions of the California Water Code, IRWD is an independent special district serving central Orange County. IRWD provides high-quality drinking water, reliable sewage collection and treatment, ground-breaking recycled water programs, and environmentally sound urban runoff treatment to its customers. As an independent, not-for-profit public agency, IRWD is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the District's policies and decision-making. Day-to-day operations are supervised by the General Manager. Additional information can be found at the District's website: www.IRWD.com.
IRWD offers excellent benefits and a 9/80 work schedule - with alternate Fridays off.
The Position Under general supervision, this position will employ a variety of visual, written, and verbal communication skills to transform ideas and concepts into engaging customer outreach.
The position is responsible for creating marketing and public outreach materials including creative and innovative visual communications which will include use of strong layout, design, graphic animation, art direction, and video production skills. The position will also write and edit for District publications, documents and notifications.
Ideal Candidate Irvine Ranch Water District is looking for a versatile communicator who has a rare mix of skills and enjoys using all of them. The ideal candidate will possess a balance of verbal and visual skills — including writing, messaging, video editing, and graphic design. He or she will be experienced in public outreach and passionate about engaging with the community. The person hired for this position will be part of a small, close-knit team of communications professionals, including outreach strategists, writers, a digital communications expert, and a graphic designer/photographer. If you love to wrap your head around the details of complex projects and translate them into easy-to-understand outreach materials and presentations, you might be the visual communications analyst IRWD is looking for.
Summary of DutiesVisuals, Design, Layout and Visual Content Creation: Translate complicated concepts into engaging, easy-to-understand visual communications. Employ creativity and innovation to create a variety of captivating graphic, art and visual components for print and digital outreach and marketing materials on a variety of communication channels. Such materials will include videos, digital animation, social media content , newsletters, signs, postcards, brochures, posters, fliers, charts, displays, maps, presentations, and marketing products. Conceive and interpret ideas and concepts, convert them into visual communications in draft form, present them for review; make revisions and develop a final product. Prepare files for web production, press or other production.
Branding and Outreach: Execute or lead the visual branding for District outreach campaigns — using a variety of media and collaborating with staff, consultants, and vendors.
Content Development and Distribution : Serve as a writer, content creator and editor for external and internal outreach materials such websites, intranet, presentations, press releases, and other collateral as needed. Write, develop, and coordinate content for District newsletters, and coordinate their production. Collaborate with producers of targeted websites, newsletters, and other publications in the community and in the water industry to maximize the reach and effectiveness of District information content.
Message Development, Media Outreach, and Crisis Communication: Develop and distribute effective communications that build brand awareness and customer satisfaction. Craft and deliver emergency communications, news releases, and talking points as needed. Contribute to the development of media and crisis communications content and messages. Monitor and compile relevant daily news reports for distribution. Respond to media inquiries as directed.
Community Outreach Events and Engagement: Coordinate and execute events as needed. Research and recommend opportunities for events and community partnerships. Develop marketing materials and manage advertisements. Anticipate and respond to customer questions and concerns. Organize, set up, and staff community events and tours, which often will occur outside of normal business hours, such as evenings, mornings, and weekends. Organize events as needed. Create or order event materials as needed.
Emergency Response and Crisis Communication: Respond with prompt communication and other public outreach when local emergencies occur. Serve as a backup to the Public Information Officer and Deputy Public Information Officer as a media spokesperson when required, conducting press briefings, and responding with media inquiries.
Other Responsibilities: The Visual Communications Analyst is part of a small, multi-talented communications department and will pitch in as needed on a variety of tasks and projects. Lead or assist with outreach to students and schools. Serve as a department representative on inter-departmental teams.
Participate in tours, trips and other tasks and attend meetings and functions on behalf of the District outside of the normal workday, including occasionally on evenings, early mornings, and weekends as necessary.
The person hired for this position may occasionally work late hours, early hours, weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays as required for events, emergencies, and other District needs.
Inspire excellence as a participant or leader of team projects.
Comply with District safety practices and attend relevant safety training.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge and Abilities:- Knowledge of: Public relations and communication practices; principles, methods and techniques of graphic design, illustration, and art/copy layout; video production and editing; computer graphics programs and software, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.); social media and digital marketing (programs, image sizing, best practices, etc.); photo editing; contemporary graphic design trends and practices; standard customer service techniques and practices; crisis-communications techniques; project management; and effective oral presentation.
- Ability to: Create, develop, produce, and evaluate graphic designs, brochures, displays and other publications; write and edit materials of varying technical complexity; transform complex concepts into practical, easy-to-understand formats; create inspiring slogans and engaging headlines; evaluate work to be done and recommend strategies to accomplish project tasks; use time efficiently, including multi-tasking and prioritizing diverse projects and requests.
- Must be: Creative, productive, proactive, and enthusiastic about new ideas, with a passion for public service and environmental stewardship.
QualificationsEducation:- A combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, graphic design, communications, marketing, or related field. Work experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis. For degrees obtained outside the U.S., an official equivalency evaluation is required.
Experience:- Five (5) years of experience in a communications or related position where written, verbal, visual and design skills were used daily, including strong video editing, digital animation, layout, design, and social media outreach skills. A familiarity with copy editing is needed.
License: - Valid California Class 'C' driver's license is required.
Additional Information IRWD Corporate Values Irvine Ranch Water District believes that its values drive the character, culture, and capacity of our organization. IRWD was built on values, and we weave them into the fabric of everything we do. Values are the ingredients in our recipe for both institutional and individual success. They are a code of conduct to promote positive outcomes for others and ourselves. They are more than words on a wall or a website. We live by them every day. We pledge to keep them relevant in an ever-changing world.
IRWD's employees enjoy working in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where they form strong bonds with fellow employees. To ensure effective communication and promote a collaborative team environment, employees report to work each day in the office or in the field, depending on their positions.
The physical and mental demands described below are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication : Excellent verbal, written, and public speaking communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse internal and external audiences and age groups. Effectively and professionally represent the District with outside professionals and the public. Writing, detail-oriented editing, and proofreading ability. Ability to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics. Organized with the ability to multi-task and make decisions independently. Ability to write and/or speak Mandarin Chinese or Korean is a strong plus.
Mathematical Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate percentages, decimals, and fractions.
Technology Ability : Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.); intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiarity with social media outreach programs, photo editing, website management and graphic programs; ability to use the internet to conduct research. Digital animation skills, multimedia graphic design skills, and familiarity with content management systems (CMS) are strong plusses.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability : Ability to use good personal judgment and discretion in all job functions and remain calm in crisis and emergency situations. Ability to use discretion when handling and disseminating sensitive information. Ability to independently manage and organize projects effectively.
Physical Requirements : Regularly required to sit, bend, stoop, and stand. Regularly required to lift up to 25 pounds, such as when setting up and taking down displays for special events, or when moving supplies onto and off of storage shelves. Ability to walk up to three (3) miles when conducting tours and events.
Environmental Adaptability : Noise level is generally equivalent to a typical office environment. Ability to work in an environment which may expose employee to hazardous materials and environments when conducting tours or responding to emergencies in the field. Occasional visits to construction sites where noise level may be higher than typical office environment.
Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, Irvine Ranch Water District employees, in the event of a disaster, are considered disaster service workers and may be asked to respond accordingly.
IRWD offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. These benefits include the following: retirement benefits; medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; anda variety of other benefits. Benefits may vary based on employment status. This benefits overview is intended to be a summary, is not intended to be all-inclusive,and may not be applicable to all employees.
Retirement Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013:
The District, in compliance with the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2012 (PEPRA), implemented a third tier for new employees hired on or after January 1, 2013. New employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who have not been in PERS membership or in membership with a reciprocal retirement system within 6 months of hire date will receive benefits under the California Public Employees Retirement System at a 2 percent at age 62 formula. This formula gradually increases to a maximum benefits of 2.5 percent at age 67. Final compensation calculations will be based on the highest three-year average of regular recurring pay. The District pays the employer's share of these costs. The employee share of the pension cost of 7.50% is paid in full by the employees hired under this formula.
Employees hired on or after September 29, 2012 or "Classic" PERS members hired on or after January 1, 2013:
On September 24, 2012, the IRWD Board of Directors approved the addition of a second tier to the CalPERS retirement benefits. New employees hired on or after September 29th through December 31, 2012, and employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who have been in PERS membership or in membership with a reciprocal retirement system, will receive benefits under the California Public Employees Retirement System at 2 percent at age 60 formula. This formula gradually increases to a maximum benefit of 2.418% at age 63. The District pays the employer share of these costs and the employee share of the pension cost of 7% is paid in full by the employees hired under this formula. Final retirement compensation calculations are based on the highest three-year average of regular, recurring pay.
IRWDdoes not participate or pay into Social Security except for the Medicare portion.
Medical InsuranceIRWD contracts with CalPERS for medical insurance coverage. Employees may elect coverage from a variety of PPO and HMO plans. The employee and District contribution for health insurance varies by plan.Coverage is effective the first day of the month following the date of hire.
Dental InsuranceIRWD contracts with Delta Dental for dental coverage.IRWD pays 100% of the premium for dental coverage for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Coverage is effective the first day of the month following the date of hire.
Vision InsuranceIRWD contracts with the EyeMed for vision coverage. IRWD pays 100% of the premium for vision coverage for eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Coverage is effective the first day of the month following the date of hire.
Life InsuranceElgible employees are provided with life insurance coverage equal to three or four times their annual salary, depending on their level of compensation. Eligible dependents are also covered for a flat benefit amount. Coverage is effective the first day of the month following the date of hire.
Deferred CompensationParticipation in adeferred compensation plan is available through Empower Retirement. Enrollment is voluntary and contributions are employee-paid and subject to IRS limits. The District matches employee contributions up to 3% of base pay after 1 year of employment.
Paid VacationEligible employees begin accruing vacation benefits at the rate of 80 hours per year for the first 5 years of employment and are eligible to use paid vacation time after 6 months of employment. Employees accrue 120 hours per year after 5 years of employment and 160 hours per year after 10 years of employment.
Paid HolidaysThe District offers 11 scheduled paid holidaysplus one personal holiday per year.
Sick LeaveEligible employees accrue 96 hours of sick leave annually.
Flexible Spending AccountsEligible employees may elect to participate in the District's Flex Advantage program. This program allows employees to deposit pre-tax dollars into special accounts to be used for a variety of purposes, including paying for qualified miscellaneous health care expenses and dependent care expenses. IRWD contracts with a third party administer to process payments from employee accounts using claim forms or a Flex Spending debit card.
Educational AssistanceThe District will share in the pre-approved educational costs of tuition and books for employees who wish to attend college or take certification classes.
