Public Information Associate - Emergency Appointment

The application filing period will begin on Friday, January 31, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) with a deadline of Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time).

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Justice Care and Opportunities is seeking qualified candidates to fill an emergency Public Information Associate vacancy related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Public Information Associate.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS: 

Under general direction, positions allocable to this class report to a higher-level supervisor or higher-level Public Information class and are responsible for advising and assisting in the overall administration of public information programs, services, or activities, utilizing various media channels. Incumbents participate in writing and editing releases and articles, researching departmental programs and identifying opportunities for potential media coverage or content development, and coordinating relations with the media. Positions in this class must possess good verbal and written communication skills applying communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques to engage local media and to convey information to the public through various media channels.  Incumbents must demonstrate awareness of current events, especially those involving the County, and have a working knowledge of local media outlets, social media platforms, and the Public Records Act.  This class may serve as the sole public information representative for a small department. Incumbents must seek professional development opportunities and continually update their skills.  

Develops digital media content for web and social media platforms.

 

Develops and maintains contact lists for various media outlets, including hyperlocal and ethnic media outlets. 

 

Coordinates and assists with public information-related special projects, research, events, and programs requiring knowledge of community and/or department concerns and issues.

 

Researches and reviews new and emerging media as an avenue for use in community outreach and public communications. 

 

Establishes, develops, and maintains interactions with the media, community groups, and department managers to proactively provide information on departmental affairs. 

 

Receives and responds to public information inquiries from the public regarding available services; prepares correspondence in response to inquiries, general complaints, and recommendations relative to the County's various programs and activities; and consults with appropriate staff members to secure pertinent facts and information.

 

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. 

Assists in analyzing and evaluating data to develop appropriate communications recommendations for management.

Assists in developing and marinating internal communication projects.

Prepares releases, web and social media posts, and related materials that may be delivered through press conferences or other communication channels.

 

Serves as liaison between the department and media representatives.

 

Monitors and tracks issues affecting the department, monitors media channels, and informs management accordingly.

 

Assists in assessing effectiveness of communication efforts. 

 

Assists in maintaining departmental website’s public information content.

 

Manage a photo archive of key word-searchable photos as needed.

 

Staff public information booth and make presentations to community groups as needed.

 

Assists with emergency and crisis communications as needed.

 

Drives to different sites, as needed.  

Requirements to Qualify:

A Bachelor's degree* from an accredited college** or university with a major in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, English or a closely-related field (Marketing, Advertising, Media Studies, Digital Media, Broadcasting, Graphic Arts, etc.) -AND- Two years in a staff capacity*** in public relations administering a public information program or professional experience as a journalist within a media organization. One additional year of the required experience will be accepted for each year of college.

*In order to receive credit for a Bachelor's Degree or higher degree, you MUST attach a legible copy of your "official" diploma, "official" transcripts, or "official" letter from an accredited institution which shows the area of specialization at the time of filing (preferred), or within seven (7) calendar days from application submission. If you are unable to attach the required documents at the time of filing, you must email to creola@jcod.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days from the application submission. Please ensure to indicate the examination title and number on the subject of your email. We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

**Accredited institutions are those listed in the publications of regional, national, or international accrediting agencies, which are accepted by the Department of Human Resources (DHR). Publications such as American Universities and Colleges and International Handbook of Universities are acceptable references. Also acceptable, if appropriate, are degrees that have been evaluated and deemed to be equivalent to degrees from United States accredited institutions by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services or the Association of International Credential Evaluators. Inc.

***Staff capacity is defined as working in an advisory to line managers to provide program and administrative support.

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: 

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 bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved. 

Examination Content:

Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Public Information Associate. Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Background Process:

Applications must be filed online only.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add creola@jcod.acounty.gov as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application on Friday, January 31, 2025, through Tuesday, February 4, 2025, before 5:00 p.m. deadline 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.

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.

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.

Salary : $75,861 - $91,717