Temporary Communications Assistant - (Part Time)

The Orange County Water District is seeking a part-time, temporary Communications Assistant to support communications projects in the Public Affairs Department.

Responsibilities include writing articles, press releases, letters, and talking points; contributing to social media content creation and special events; maintaining and updating contact lists and databases; generating reports; supporting community outreach initiatives, including OCWD’s tour and speaker’s bureau programs; and performing various administrative tasks.

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 right 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 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, 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.
  
  

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 and 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, Public Affairs, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: 1-3 years experience in communications and/or public relations. Public sector experience is a plus. The ideal candidate possesses strong writing skills, is detail-oriented, and has experience with public outreach or communications. Experience with MS Office required. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, Constant Contact, and/or social media platforms is strongly preferred. Candidate should attach examples of work to their application.

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 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 the 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: 25 hours per week from March 2025 through October 2025. Candidates should be flexible and open to working occasional nights and weekends to support District operations and special events.

Work Location: 18700 Ward Street, Fountain Valley, CA

Salary : $45