PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

Open Competitive Job Opportunity

EXAM NUMBER
Y1608A

FILING DATES

October 15, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. PT -

Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without notice.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES:
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. DHS operates as an integrated health system, operating 25 health centers and four acute care hospitals, in addition to providing health care to youth in the juvenile justice system and inmates in the LA County jails. Across the network of DHS' directly operated clinical sites and through partnerships with community-based clinics, DHS cares for about 600,000 unique patients each year, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual operating budget of 6.9 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov .

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings to supportive housing.

MISSION:
To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

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

Essential Job Functions

• 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.
• Serves as a supervisor to public information staff engaged in public information and engagement program, if needed.
• Manages a photo archive of key word-searchable photos, if needed.
• Assist in creating public relations strategies, if needed.
• Responds to emergencies, newsworthy events, and media inquiries, if needed.
• Assigns public information booth staff and makes presentations to community groups, if needed.
• Drive to different sites, as necessary.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIRMENT:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
OPTION I: A bachelor's degree or higher * from an accredited college or university with a major in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, English or a closely-related field -AND- Three (3) years of experience assisting in the development, maintenance, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of a public information program or professional experience ** as a journalist within a media organization.

OPTION II: Seven (7) years of experience assisting in the development, maintenance, evaluation, implementation, and coordination of a public information program or professional experience as a journalist ** within a media organization.

* In order to receive credit for the completion of any type of college degree or course work, you must attach a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization at the time of filing, or via email to ahsu3@dhs.lacounty.gov within 7 calendar days of filing your application online. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst

** Professional experience as a journalist is defined as collecting, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing news on behalf of a news organization.



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. Some positions may require a valid California Class C Driver License to perform job-related functions.
Physical Class II - 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 ending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Additional credit will be given to applicants who possess the following desirable qualifications:

• Experience performing public information work for a government or healthcare agency.
• Experience using various marketing software and social media platforms to communicate internally and externally.
• Experience in computer graphics editing and digital design (videography, photo editing, graphic design) or designing and creating the user interface (UI) or user experience (UX) of an organization's website.
• Experience writing scripts for news media, radio broadcasts, townhall presentations, press conferences or other broadcast media.
  

OUT OF CLASS AND WITHHOLD INFORMATION:
No withholds are allowed for this examination. Applicants must meet the Selection Requirements at the time of filing. County employees who wish to meet the requirements using out-of-class experience will be considered for this examination. Those claiming out-of-class experience should describe their out-of-class duties in detail in the Work Experience and Supplemental Questions sections of their application. Applicants are also encouraged to submit any supporting documentation such as out of class/additional responsibility bonuses, verification of experience documents, and performance evaluations in order to assist staff’s review of applicants' qualifications.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of an evaluation of experience and education based upon application information, desirable qualifications and supplemental questionnaire, weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on this examination to be added to the eligible register.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an "as received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on the examination will be placed on the eligible register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.

SPECIAL INFORMATION:

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The resulting eligible register for this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Health Services (DHS) as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
Applications must be submitted online only. Applications submitted by U.S Mail, Fax, or in person will not be accepted.

Apply online by clicking on the green "APPLY" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. (PT) deadline on the last day of filing, 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 www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , 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.

Applications electronically received after 5:00 p.m., PT, on the last day of filing will not be accepted.

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time with or without advance notice.

For the foreseeable future, all notices including result letters and notices of non-acceptance will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that applicants provide a valid email address. Please add ahsu3@dhs.lacounty.gov as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as SPAM/JUNK mail. Please note, if you opt out of receiving emails, you can visit governmentjobs.com, log into your profile and check your inbox. The inbox retains a copy of all emails sent, for your records.
IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please access the following link for important Employment Information. http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/247636_EmploymentInformation.pdf (Download PDF reader)
• All information and documents provided by applicants is subject to verification.
• We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made.
• Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.
• Utilizing verbiage from Class Specification and/or Minimum/Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties will not be sufficient to demonstrate that you meet the Requirements. Comments such as "See Resumé" or referencing other unsolicited materials/documents will not be considered as a response; in doing so, your application will be rejected.
• The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Requirements. Fill out your application completely and correctly to receive full credit for related education, and/or experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the position. Please do not group your experience. For each position held, give the name and address of your employer, your position title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

NOTE: If you are unable to attach required documents, you must email the documents to the exam analyst, Annie Hsu Ahsu3@dhs.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing online. Please include the exam number and the exam title.

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 Candidates 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.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL, AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application 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.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
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.

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. The Department of Human Resources is 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.

ADA COORDINATOR PHONE: (323) 914-7111
CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE: (800) 735-2922

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:Annie Hsu, Exam Analyst
Telephone Number: (213) 288-7000
Ahsu3@dhs.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

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