Public Information Officer

Position Description Summary:

Public Information Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies for communicating with the public, the media, and other external audiences. The PIO will provide timely, factual, and easy-to-understand information to employees, the public, area journalists and Township stakeholders to build awareness about Township events and initiatives, promote full transparency, and build trust in and support for the Township. The PIO will coordinate and prepare the preparation and release of Public Information, including news releases, media relations, social media outreach, and other communications to inform, engage, listen to, assess, and motivate external and internal audiences in Independence Township consistently and effectively. The PIO will maintain and expand relationships with residents, Township partners, and government officials. May act as a spokesperson for the Township while working closely with the Elected Officials and Department leaders to consistently promote and define Township messaging. As needed and along with the Supervisor, the PIO will handle urgent and emergency-response communications.

Essential Function(s) of the Position:

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types 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 level and/or class of this position.

· Develop and implement Township communication plan and align with the departmental organizational strategy.

· Develop protocols and policy to help align social media and other public communications in all Township departments with Township messaging.

· Write, edit, and distribute content across multiple channels including social media, website, media inquiries, press releases, and newsletters.

· Serve as a liaison between the organization and media, responding to inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

· Represent Township and/or prepare talking points for Township staff to use in written, radio, and on-camera interviews.

· Proactively promote Township happenings and initiatives to media outlets to generate positive coverage.

· Plan and execute events such as press conferences, media briefings, and community outreach initiatives (both virtually and in-person), sometimes in partnership with community leaders and partners, as needed.

· Coordinate with all departments and Township officials to help provide information about city events and initiatives.

· Research topics and information for press releases, social media posts, media appearances or other topics for their role in emergency response situations.

· Utilize and stay abreast of best practices for using social media to communicate with the public, answer questions, share information, and provide updates on current events, and seek feedback on projects or ideas, which can help them to better serve the community.

· Monitor news cycles and identify opportunities for the organization to insert itself into relevant conversations and events.

· Assist in response to Public Information requests, as directed.

· Develop relationships with key stakeholders including Township officials/leaders/employees, community leaders, and members of the media.

· Track and report on methods used to promote and advance communication with residents and stakeholders and make recommendations on how the organization can improve its communications.

· Support funding and sponsorship initiatives by supporting grant writing efforts.

· Manage crisis communications, developing and executing plans to mitigate negative publicity.

· Evaluate the effectiveness of communication campaigns and strategies, making adjustments as necessary.

· Supervise and provide guidance to junior staff members.

· Interact regularly with the Township and the public such as attend meetings, respond to emails and phone calls, etc.

· Direct communication efforts during major emergencies such as fires, floods, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.

Experience and Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree from an accredited university of college with a major in communications, public relations, English, political science, journalism, marketing or a closely related field.

· Master’s Degree program in Public Information relations, preferred.

· Direct experience working with the news media.

· 3-5 years progressively more responsible experience.

· Prefer municipal experience.

· Must possess a valid Michigan Driver’s License

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

· Communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms with other members of their organization, including law enforcement, emergency response teams and other public officials.

· Strong organizational skills to coordinate across departments.

· Effective time management skills to ensure timely responses and preparation.

· Ability to locate internal information and utilize internal resources.

· Knowledge of laws related to Public Information such as free speech, partisan politics restrictions, Open Meetings Act, FOIA, conflict of interest, etc.

· Ability to effectively and professionally address non-factual information such as rumors and misinformation.

· Ability to maintain composure and respond in stressful situations.

· Highly familiar with the most popular social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

· Specialized knowledge of public employer restrictions in use of social media in a manner that will lead to increased trust and support.

· Ability to review and synthesize high volumes of information.

· A Strong command of public speaking, using prepared statements and responding on the fly.

· Ability to think quickly and effectively under pressure and have a proven track record of successful media relations.

· Strict attention to detail and ability to produce error-free publications.

· Expert computer skills with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, Teams, etc.)

· Extremely adaptable and flexible in work communication and styles.

· Able to work irregular hours and travel to different places within the Township to make public statements, facilitate interviews, or fulfill media requests.

Hours:

Monday- Thursday (7am- 5:30pm, or as otherwise needed)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,000.00 - $77,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift

Work Location: In person