Minimum 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.
Licenses or Certifications:None
Notes to Applicants
Austin Energy seeks a creative, multi-talented and innovative Public Information Specialist Senior to work on internal and external communications initiatives. This position will support initiatives related to employee communications, language access, media relations, emergency communications and public education. Working with technical/executive staff and other members of the Public Information Office team, this position will serve rotations as part of Austin Energy’s Incident Management Team during emergency events. We’re looking for a strong writer to help tell Austin Energy’s story and to help keep customers safe before, during and after emergencies. They will also help respond to media inquiries, write talking points, and coordinate and provide interviews with the media periodically. This position will work on competing priorities/assignments that are complex in nature requiring self-direction and the initiative to advise management and resolve challenges.
This position has been designated as a Critical Employee position. Critical Employees are considered necessary and vital and supports activities that impact City or department operations. This work can be done while at a designated work site or while working at an alternate work location. Critical employees who are able to work at an alternative work location are required to do so. Schedules may be modified, and employees may be reassigned to another area during extraordinary situations or emergency conditions to provide essential services.
Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information. IMPORTANT INFORMATION : WHEN COMPLETING THE CITY OF AUSTIN APPLICATION : The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered. Please be sure that your application is a reflection of your entire work history. A detailed and complete employment application is required to help us better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Describe your specific experience for each position. Include all job duties, responsibilities, and employment dates. Please be sure that your application is a reflection of your entire work history.
This position does not allow for a resume or cover letter to be included. Only information on your employment application will be considered. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your employment application. Supplemental information or changes to your application will not be accepted after the job posting closes.
The responses to the supplemental questions must reference the employment history listed in the employment history section. Once the requisition has closed, the application cannot be changed to update work history, supplemental questions, or any other information.
We reserve the right to verify high school and college education for the top candidate(s).
If you have any questions regarding your City of Austin employment application, please use the official website of the City of Austin as reference. www.austintexas.gov
Travel: If you are selected for this position, and meet the
Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin
Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.
VETERAN INTERVIEW PREFERENCE :Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 verifying honorable discharge, at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.
CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK :The top candidate will be subject to a minimum 7-year criminal history background check.
Pay Range
$31.81 - $39.76
Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Work outside of regular days/hours may be required due to business needs.
Job Close Date 09/18/2024 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin TX 78723; Hybrid Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience: - Experience communicating with diverse demographics and historically under-served communities.
- Ability to fluently communicate (reading, writing, speaking) in English and Spanish or other secondary language.
- Experience coordinating internal communications, particularly employee newsletters, emails and other communications.
- Experience with emergency response communications and/or serving as a Public Information Officer in an emergency or department operations center ( EOC or DOC ).
- Incident Command System Certification ( ICS 100/200/300/400/700/800), or the ability to earn certification within six (6) months of employment.
- Public speaking experience on-camera and/or at community meetings/public presentations.
- Experience writing press releases, responding to media inquiries, compiling talking points and/or written responses, and coordinating and providing interviews.
- Experience with distilling complex or technical information into clear, easily understood talking points and written information.
- Ability to travel to more than one work location.
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- Supervision 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.
Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with 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 Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk
Supplemental QuestionsRequired fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifications for this position are 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. Do you meet these requirements?
* Please describe how you meet the minimum qualifications referenced above. Detail how you meet the educational requirements (if applicable), account for the years of related experience (if applicable), and explain any substitutions of experience for education, or vice-versa (if applicable).
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience communicating with diverse demographics and historically under-served communities. If you do not have this experience state "None" or "N/A".
(Open Ended Question)
* Are you fluently bilingual (reading, writing, speaking) in English and Spanish or other secondary language? If yes, briefly describe.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience and strategies in making employee communications compelling and informative.
(Open Ended Question)
* Describe your experience with emergency communications in a utility or similar setting.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your media relations experience.
(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have the ability to travel to multiple sites as part of the regular job duties?
* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.
Optional & Required DocumentsRequired Documents Optional Documents
