Communications Specialist

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR BERKELEY

Berkeley, California is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.

As an employer, the City of Berkeley offers all the benefits of a career in the public sector while fostering diversity, creativity, and innovation. Join a team of high-caliber, experienced staff with a shared mission of serving the Berkeley community and promoting an accessible, safe, healthy, environmentally-sound and culturally-rich city.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Communications Specialist where the current vacant position is in the Library Department! In this role, you will perform professional public communication duties to facilitate Library initiatives that include the coordination and dissemination of information to the public and media; develops methods and techniques for accomplishing improved communication between the general community, special targeted audiences, the media and the City.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:

Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field and four years of responsible professional public communications, media relations, public relations or content-development experience including the development and implementation of communication programs.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.

APPLICATION PROCESS

EXAM PROCESS

The examination process will include, but may not be limited to:

• Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents
• Competitive review and assessment of supplemental questionnaire, education/training, and experience
• Oral Board Exam and Writing Exercise (tentative week of June 2, 2025)
  • Oral Board Exam (60%)
  • Written Exercise (40%)

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background/reference check that may include, but is not limited to: employment history, confirmation of educational credentials and degrees, licenses including driver's license, registrations, certificates, other credentials, credit check, criminal history check, and Live Scan fingerprinting.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans’ status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.