Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Public Information Specialist

Recruitment #18-0320-01

Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted online.



Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted online. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.



ONLINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

DESCRIPTION

THE AGENCY

The mission of Public Works is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Alameda County by providing a safe, well-maintained, and lasting public works infrastructure through accessible, responsive and effective services.

Public services provided by the Alameda County Public Works Agency include flood and storm water pollution control, transportation planning and design, roadway and flood control maintenance and inspection, and construction and building inspections.

The goals of the Agency are to keep roads safe and well maintained, provide the highest level of flood protection, provide service levels that optimize infrastructure life cycles, minimize deferred maintenance, ensure that development and construction adhere to applicable State and County rules, optimize disaster preparedness, response and recover, ensure that the Agency’s operations and services minimize negative impacts on the environment, and sustain and advance County and Agency programs through a vital business and administrative support system.

For more information about the Alameda County Public Works Agency, please visit their website at www.acgov.org/pwa.

THE POSITION 
Under general direction, to develop, maintain, and coordinate a public information program for a large County department or agency; to advise and assist management in public information/relations activities.  This position will be highly visible, serving as the primary media contact for the Public Works Agency and for executive management. This position requires individuals to possess excellent presentation skills and the ability to effectively represent the organization as a spokesperson both with the media, and the community. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will encompass the following attributes, and have demonstrated a successful track record in:

  • Effective time management by balancing competing priorities and ensuring work is completed efficiently.
  • Planning, developing and implementing marketing strategies, marketing communications, and public relations activities, both external and internal. 
  • Overseeing development and implementation of support materials and services in the area of marketing, communications, and public relations. 
  • Researching prospective content to share on the internet and social media accounts; identifying emerging trends and best practices.
  • Developing long-term interactive marketing plans to guide content creation.
  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to plan and execute communication and outreach strategies.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Proactively seeks and participates in public relations opportunities to promote the department and related programs.  Strategizes with department director, branch managers and program managers to execute the overall internal and external communication strategy for the department, to include internal and external stakeholders.  Produces/coordinates production and dissemination of informational publications, audio-visual material, media releases, displays, exhibits, and/or speeches.

This includes development of purpose, copy, design, visuals, and layout so that it will reach and be understood by the target audience.  Provides targeted assistance to department divisions/programs in public engagement or education activities. Posts news and announcements to  social media outlets, writes articles for newsletters, writes news releases, requests for coverage, and speaking points, coordinates news conferences and performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, public relations, advertising or a related field,

AND

Experience:

Two years of full-time experience in journalism or public relations which included the development and editing of publications and/or new releases and the exposure of working with media representatives in the coordination of a public information program. (Additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

· Understanding of the working media.
· Departmental/agency programs and activities.
· Information dissemination techniques and methods.
· Marketing strategies and techniques.
· Media Relations and Outreach.
· Risk Communications.
· Computer applications.
· Web-based communications.

Ability to:

· Determine potential public information items.
· Develop a public information program.
· Speak and writing effectively.
· Develop effective working relationships with media representatives.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

The examination will consist of the following steps:

  1. A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements.
  2. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process; review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process.
  3. Those candidates selected as best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work. 

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

 

 

TENTATIVE TIMELINE  

Deadline for Filing:

5:00 p.m. Monday, June 4, 2018

Review for Minimum Qualifications:

Week of June 18, 2018

Review of Supplemental Questionnaires for Best Qualified:

Week of July 9, 2018

Oral Interviews*:

Week of July 23, 2018

September 4-5, 2018**

 

*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

**Updated 8/23/18

 

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing.   Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

 

 

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

  • Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance 
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

  • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Employee Mortgage Loan Program
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Jordan Grow, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-208-3954; Jordan.Grow2@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs

ALAMEDA COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER