Multilingual Public Information Officer

Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the Director of the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs and in collaboration with SomerViva’s Community Engagement Specialists team (CES), the Multilingual Public Information Officer (PIO) will develop and manage SomerViva’s Public Information strategy to meet the non-English Proficient (NEP) and immigrant residents where they are. The Public Information strategy will include the use of analogue and digital, traditional and creative outreach methods, and culturally relevant and appropriate dissemination mechanisms. The Multilingual PIC will manage, track, and analyze the intra-departmental requests for dissemination of information while also curating announcements and information for the linguistically and culturally diverse populations represented in the City of Somerville. This individual is responsible for developing and designing content and materials and disseminating the information through culturally appropriate channels including material drops at community partner locations, bulletin boards at schools, informational kiosks, podcasts, CityTV, recorded phone lines, communication applications (such as WhatsApp), and word of mouth strategies, among many other sources of information. The PIC will also create simplified English materials and manage and update the SomerViva web presence. This position will be subject to frequent interruptions and changing priorities and may require evening and weekend work, as necessary.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Works closely with SomerViva’s CES to understand the different information needs for each the six major linguistic groups in Somerville (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Kreyol, Nepali, and Mandarin)
• Works closely with SomerViva’s CES to understand the different platforms that can most effectively reach the six major linguistic groups in Somerville.
• Acts as a liaison between the Office of Communication and Community Engagement and SomerViva to curate information, media releases, and events to make these available in the appropriate languages in a timely manner.
• Develops and manages content for SomerViva’s website and social media outlets in coordination with the Office of Communications and Community Engagement and SomerViva’s CES
• Shares content translated by SomerViva’s CES
• Contributes to the development of strategic communications plans and assists with organizing and implementing cultural events.
• Works closely with the Deputy Director and Language Justice Coordinator to contribute to and support in the management of a repository of translations to maintain consistency in messaging and reduce translation needs.
• Develops clear processes and guidelines for event planning and communications.
• Designs for all SomerViva languages flyers, posters, videos, web posts, fact sheets, and other promotional and Public Information materials under the guidance of CES and with great sensitivity to the cultural diversity of the City
• In collaboration with the Legal Services Coordinator and Immigration Policy Analyst, develops and distributes information regarding immigration policy changes and calls to action.
• Gathers data, identifies trends, provides analysis and prepares reports that track social media engagement with SomerViva content.
• Prepares clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other material for the public, community groups, and other stakeholders, including newsletters, budget narratives, policies, and guidelines, in collaboration with the SomerViva team.
• Supports the Director and Deputy Director in recruiting and managing volunteers.
• Under the supervision of the Director, writes and edits a variety of written materials including media releases/advisories, blog articles, media briefings, social media, text messages (sms), applications communications, and website content among other tasks.
• Promotes an equitable workplace that demonstrates an environment respectful of living and working in a multicultural society.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in communications, journalism, public relations, community engagement, or related field and three to five (3-5) years’ professional communications and/or community engagement experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Experience working in the immigration/refugee service field highly preferred.
• Written and oral fluency in both English and a second language relevant to the Somerville community required (Spanish, Portuguese, Kreyol, Nepali, Mandarin, etc.).

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

• Excellent knowledge of grammar and usage
• Good knowledge of and strong interest in local government
• Strong facility with outreach and communication strategies
• Thorough understanding of the components of quality constituent service
• Ability to work effectively and maintain good relationships with the public, coworkers, department heads, media contacts, City officials, and community partners; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively and diplomatically; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to juggle multiple assignments and to meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Superior social media, web content, digital communication skills. Good graphic design skills suitable for quick turn-around of communications materials such as fliers, posters, social media graphics, info sheets, etc.
• Appropriate software application skills such as but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet, basic mapping, social media tools, basic HTML, PowerPoint, Prezi, PhotoShop, Publisher, Canva.

Work Environment

This is an office-based position in a professional setting. The work environment involves everyday comforts and discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally pleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, support emergency needs, or complete urgent work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills
Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs).

Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, setting up presentation equipment, operating a personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading print and digital documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-time
Salary: $70,385.09 annualized, plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: March 13, 2023

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.

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