Public Information Officer - Fire Rescue

This is an opportunity for an experienced communicator to join Pasco County's Media Relations & Communications team as our dedicated Pasco County Public Information Officer (PIO) Fire Rescue. Pasco is becoming a Premier County through innovative strategies, continuous process improvement and a focus on performance excellence. If 'business as usual' is just not good enough for you, this may be the opportunity you've been looking for.
The PIO Fire Rescue is a critical role in further developing and executing Pasco Fire Rescue's strategic communications initiatives to inform and engage our customers - everyone who lives, works and plays in Pasco County. Works alongside a team of communications experts dedicated to telling Pasco's story in innovative ways.
This is a highly responsible position working under the direction of the Media Relations & Communications Manager to provide deadline-driven communications support to Pasco County Fire Rescue. This position helps promote programs, special projects and accomplishments by gathering, writing, shooting and editing a variety of material to be pushed out on several platforms. Job duties can vary daily, as our internal and external customers guide our marketing, communications and production activities. Serving customers: Focus on the needs of our internal and external Fire Rescue customers, while anticipating how those needs might change and how our service offerings can adapt accordingly.
Crisis Communications: Respond quickly during times of crisis and emergencies, providing consistent, vetted messaging to our media partners and community members. Requires you be on-call to respond to media after hours, in breaking news situations.
Strategizing Communications: Help develop and implement effective communication plans that include multimedia content creation, digital and print communications, social media marketing, media relations and event logistics.
Building Relationships: Form and maintain close, courteous working relationships with county officials, team members, customers, partner agencies and media.
Writing: Research, write and edit news releases, story pitches, articles, video scripts, speeches, newsletters, website and social media content in active, conversational style.
Researching: Must be aware of industry trends, offer new ideas and recommend changes to the county's communications plans accordingly.
Acting as a Spokesperson: Be comfortable speaking on behalf of Pasco County Fire Rescue while interacting with local, regional, national and international media; community stakeholders, and the general public.
Measurables: Collect data to monitor performance and further improve and refine messaging strategies.
Other job duties: Assist with special projects and other duties that will benefit from the input of a communications expert. Performs other related duties as required.

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills (friendly & approachable).
• Ability to present complicated issues clearly and concisely, whether speaking or writing.
• Mastery of public relations, media relations and journalistic principles and practices.
• Multi-tasking and analytical skills.
• Expertise in engaging text, photo, video and digital media techniques.
• Highly motivated, organized, self-starter who needs little supervision.
• Ability to work just as effectively as part of a team as you do independently.
• Ability to remain detail-oriented while working under tight deadlines.
• Skilled at making good, independent judgment calls based on working knowledge of Fire Rescue operations.
• Familiarity of National Incident Management System (NIMS) procedures.
• A portfolio of written and multimedia work.
• Skilled in the use of Adobe Creative Suite and capable of developing and editing graphics highly preferred.
• Able to produce quality video and photo content.
• Aware of the principles of the Governor's Sterling Award process, Baldrige or other high-performance organizational theories/systems.

PHYSICAL SKILLS: Ability to communicate effectively using verbal, written and visual communication.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or related field and five (5) years of professional level experience in communications or public relations work, including writing, marketing, social media management, website development and general knowledge of communications technologies, OR any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job specific competencies noted required. Bilingual in written and spoken Spanish preferred.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATIONS: Must possess a valid Florida driver's license. Basic FEMA PIO Training.

ADA STATEMENT: A qualified employee or applicant with a disability may be afforded a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential job functions of a position in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pasco County BOCC is a drug-free workplace in accordance with Federal and Florida law.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES: All employees will be required to work before, during, or after an emergency. During an emergency, employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE: Under Section 295.07, F.S., Chapter SSA-7, Pasco County BCC provides to Veterans, that preference in appointment will be given to preference-eligible applicants.

Employment Type: Full Time