Placer County

District Attorney's Communications Manager (#11854)

$64.87-$81.03 Hourly / $11,244.13-$14,045.20 Monthly / $134,929.60-$168,542.40 Yearly

DEFINITION

To direct, manage, supervise, and coordinate the public and media relations activities, operations, and programs within the District Attorney’s Office; to serve as spokesperson and public affairs representative for the District Attorney’s Office; to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the executive staff; to provide accurate and time sensitive public safety and public affairs information to the community through the media and other means; to identify, strategize and introduce policy and legislative proposals and oversee strategic planning and policy development in the areas of communications, public relations, and media relations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This classification functions at the manager level and as such recognizes a position that exercises full line and functional management responsibility for employees for a program area and assumes substantive and significant responsibility for District Attorney’s Office communications and public relations. This classification is distinguished from the Public Information Officer I/II in that the latter assists with a wide variety of countywide or department-specific communication initiatives and projects, as well as marketing department-specific programs. In contrast, the District Attorney’s Communications Manager is a specialized classification responsible for crisis communication, media and government relations on a national level, legislative proposals, strategic initiatives, and national information campaigns related to criminal justice matters in Placer County. This classification is further distinguished from the County Communications and Public Information Director and the County Public Information Manager in that the latter primarily plan, organize, direct, and manage the preparation and dissemination of information concerning the activities of Placer County as a whole and its respective departments.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the District Attorney or their designee. 
Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Plan, organize, and manage the communications, public relations, and media relations activities in support of the District Attorney’s Office; oversee and coordinate the allocation of designated resources; administer record keeping and reporting functions related to marketing, communications, and public relations on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office. 
  • Advise executive management in the formulation, strategic development, implementation, and evaluation of the District Attorney’s Office communications, community and government relations, crisis management, public policy, and media relations programs, projects, and activities. 
  • Develop communication response plans to criminal justice policy issues, state legislation, and public affairs topics; work with executive management, the District Attorney, or their designee to identify and develop internal and external communication strategies and responses; develop talking points to respond to criminal justice related topics. 
  • Develop District Attorney’s Office marketing, communications, and public relations policies, procedures, and protocols for responding to and addressing issues relating to communication, public opinion, governmental and interagency relations, and legislative issues. 
  • Work with the Victim Services Unit of the District Attorney’s Office to provide media services to victims and survivors who wish to share their experiences in support of efforts to promote legislative change and conduct community and national outreach. 
  • Collaborate with the Placer County Office of Emergency Services to develop a coordinated communication strategy and to engage the public in preparedness activities and disseminate critical and time-sensitive information to the public during mass casualty incidents as defined by the office’s Mass Casualty Program. This includes the evaluation of information for public release to ensure compliance with security requirements and professional journalism standards; serve as mutual aid to the County Office of Emergency Services during emergencies as needed. 
  • Work in partnership with local, state, and federal stakeholders on criminal justice issues affecting the County, including but not limited to associations, officials, advocacy groups, non-profits, and law enforcement agencies; serve as a legislative liaison on local, regional, and statewide criminal justice forums and groups. 
  • Serve as a spokesperson/representative to disseminate information to the public and to promote Placer County District Attorney’s Office programs; analyze and evaluate the public's interest and extent of understanding of the District Attorney’s Office programs and services through focus groups, surveys, and other methods. 
  • Strategically develop and deliver public communication and stakeholder coordination related to post-conviction decisions, including the sexually violent predator program, parole considerations, and resentencing information. 
  • Develop and implement communication plans and strategies that support the District Attorney’s Office priorities, objectives, and strategic plan to build trust with and ensure shared communication and flow of information with key stakeholders and the public. 
  • Oversee the District Attorney’s Office media relations program; review and produce news releases; direct the creation of media opportunities and develop story ideas; maintain personal contact with key media staff; develop talking points and advise the District Attorney and the executive management on media related or public relations issues. 
  • Coordinate with the County Executive’s Office and executive management on unified messaging related to criminal justice issues; partner with the County Communications and Public Information Director and departmental public information staff to ensure all public and media communications are consistent; gather public sentiment and provide guidance on how to address issues as they arise. 
  • Assist the county in strategic reporting on criminal justice issues; obtain information through contact with countywide crime analysts, state reporting, and collecting relevant information from city, county, state, and federal law enforcement. 
  • Build and maintain positive working relationships with the media, the County Communications and Public Information Director, other County employees, and the public using principles of high-quality customer service. 
  • Oversee development of print and web communications; promote internal and external information sharing. 
  • Represent the District Attorney’s Office and County to elected officials, other government agencies, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, and the public; interpret and explain District Attorney’s Office programs, policies, and activities. 
  • Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public information, media relations, and other services as they relate to the area of assignment. 
  • Forecast budget needs for staff, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor and control expenditures for unit; assist management with budget development and monitoring.  
  • Prepare, review, and present staff reports, various management and information updates, and reports on criminal justice issues as assigned by the District Attorney or their designee. 
  • Maintain effective press and media relations; respond to difficult and sensitive public inquiries and complaints; recommend resolutions and alternative solutions. 
  • Participate as a member of the management team; select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff; provide or coordinate staff training. 
  • Respond to and provide on-site media coverage for high profile cases which may require working prolonged or unusual hours. 
  • Perform related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed in both an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and in the field requiring travel to various locations throughout the County in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. Incumbents will be assigned to work odd or unusual hours during emergency or disaster situations, critical incidents, or for special events requiring public information services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Training

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:  

Experience:    
Four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional level communications, media, and/or public information experience including spokesperson responsibilities and/or developing and implementing public relations programs. Experience in public policy or criminal justice is preferred. 
Training:
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in English, journalism, marketing, communications, public relations, political science, criminal justice, or a related field. 

Required License or Certificate: 
  • May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. 
  • Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: 

  • Principles and practices of public relations, communications, media relations social media campaigns, and community outreach and program development. 
  • Communication, and legislative public affairs strategies; criminal justice policy response roles. 
  • Methods and techniques for the development of press releases, talking points, newsletters, presentations, business correspondence, and information dissemination. 
  • Social media, web design, and graphic/visual presentation methods. 
  • Principles and techniques of establishing and maintaining good relations with news media and other public groups. 
  • Principles of good customer service. 
  • Pertinent local, state, and federal rules, regulations, and laws. 
  • Legislative process and policy analysis relating to the criminal justice system. 
  • Principles and practices used within a public information and public affairs function. 
  • Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluations. 
  • Techniques used in preparing and delivering effective verbal and written presentations. 
  • Photography, videography, and audio production equipment and software. 
  • Principles, techniques, and practices of journalism, expository prose, and editing; preparation, composition, layout, production, and dissemination of educational, informational, and promotional materials. 
  • Principles and practices of budget monitoring and forecasting. 
  • Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
Ability to: 
  • On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; read, , observe, identify, interpret, understand, analyze, apply, recall, and explain complex and technical policies and procedures, numerical information, analytical and statistical information, work papers, technical reports, special projects, and pertinent laws, rules, and regulations; observe and analyze situations and determine proper course of action; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time. 
  • On a continuous basis, sit a at desk or in meetings for long periods of time; Intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, or twist to reach equipment surrounding desk or when in the field; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate or to enter or retrieve data from a computer; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight. 
  • Operate modern office equipment including computers, copiers, document scanners, fax machines, cell phones, and/or other electronic devices. 
  • Plan, develop, implement, and review comprehensive media and public relations programs. 
  • Prepare written analysis, evaluation, summaries, recommendations, correspondence, and reports.  
  • Perform moderately complex mathematical and statistical calculations accurately. 
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate staff. 
  • Perform independent research; analyze and explain detailed information in a meaningful way. 
  • Effectively use photography, videography, and other audio-visual tools. 
  • Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality. 
  • Work odd or unusual hours as needed; be subject to emergency call out and unusual and prolonged work schedule during emergency or crisis situations. 
  • Make effective public presentations in routine and emergency situations. 
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with reporters, news media, other agencies, the public, county employees, and those contacted in the course of work. 
  • Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner. 
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Length of Probation:

This classification serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority and has no specific term and no right to continuous employment.

Bargaining Unit:

Management

FLSA Status:

Exempt

CLASS: 11854; EST: 8/23/2025;