What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communications Specialist position at Orange County Water District?
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
The Communications Specialist is the first level in a three-level communications series. Incumbents are responsible for providing a variety of information to internal departments and externally to the community and media. The Communications Specialist is distinguished from the Senior Communications Specialist, which has more years of experience, more education/certification, and requires less supervision.
The following essential job functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed job functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different job functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices. Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.
- Communicates with the public, which includes giving public presentations and/or tours; responding to requests for information via telephone, e-mail, and in person; and/or performing other related activities.
- Writes, edits, proofreads, and produces a variety of public relations materials, which may include brochures, letters, reports, press releases, annual reports, newspaper articles, newsletters, website and social media content, and other related materials and/or documents. May review daily newspaper for articles referencing the District and/or relevant issues.
- Researches a variety of topics, which may include legislative issues, water conservation issues, groundwater replenishment issues, and/or other related issues.
- Plans, coordinates, implements, and/or guides tours, visits, events, and water education classes.
- Assists in developing public relations plans for projects and/or crises; advises departments and employees on public relations protocol.
- Participates in/on a variety of meetings, Boards, committees, foundations, and/or events.
- Develops and maintains media, community, and legislative contact listings.
- Handles job stress.
- Interacts effectively with others in the workplace.
- Follows all workplace and job safety rules and policies.
- Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as required.
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.
Knowledge of:
- Public relations principles, planning, strategies, and activities.
- Water/environmental issues.
- Media protocol.
- Research techniques.
- Effective presentation principles.
Ability and Skills in:
- Speaking in public.
- Preparing public relations materials.
- Using computers and related software applications.
- Providing customer service.
- Conducting research.
- Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education/Training: Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field.
Experience: One year of related public relations experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.
License: Valid California Class “C” Driver’s License.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Standard office setting.
Physical: Positions in this class typically require grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion. Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met. Incumbents may be subjected to travel. Incumbents require sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; push, pull, lift, and/or carry light amounts of weight; verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
DISASTER SERVICE WORKERS
All Orange County Water District employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employees are required to complete all related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
Schedule: 9/80 work schedule with alternating Fridays off, with work hours from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM on scheduled workdays. Please note that occasional nights and weekends may be required to support District operations and special events.Additional Information: Please attach or provide links to samples of written materials you have produced and edited, such as press releases, newsletters, reports, or other relevant documents.
Salary : $83,242 - $104,062
