Job Description

The Position

Persons appointed to limited term positions will be designated as limited duration employees whose appointment shall not exceed two (2) years except for the extension of grants or funding from outside sources.


The City of Portland\xe2\x80\x99s Community Safety Division (CSD) is recruiting for a Public Information Officer (PIO) to oversee all public-facing communication around the City of Portland\xe2\x80\x99s Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites and other houseless-related initiatives in the city.


The PIO will work in collaboration with the Community Safety Division, the Mayor\xe2\x80\x99s Office, a variety of city bureaus, and city commissioners to communicate compassionate solutions and efforts to solve chronic homelessness. This individual will have an understanding around the myriad of complex, societal issues that can lead to homelessness, as well as an understanding of local and national media.


The PIO will work within the City of Portland\xe2\x80\x99s Community Safety Division. CSD works with City Council and public safety bureaus to develop equitable and accountable emergency response innovations and a holistic plan to modernize community safety.


What you\xe2\x80\x99ll get to do:

• Research, recommend, and implement public information regarding Temporary Alternative Shelter Sites
• Assist with communications planning, implementation, and content development
• Write press releases, blogs, talking points, newsletters, and social media posts
• Provide press outreach and media relations support; respond to information requests from members of the media and the public
• Coordinate with CSD staff, the Mayor\xe2\x80\x99s Office and the City Attorney\xe2\x80\x99s Office to provide timely responses to public records requests in accordance with public records law
• Assist in planning and coordinating press conferences and events, including media outreach and preparing materials.
• Create visual communications and graphic design for print and web, such as:
  • Graphics for social media and presentations
  • Layout and design for fact sheets and print materials

Special requirements: may require travel to shelter sites or other locations and occasional weekend and evening work.


Who you are:

• Curious: You are not afraid to ask questions, and you\xe2\x80\x99ll ideally enter this position with a willingness to learn.
• An Excellent Communicator: You are a strong communicator and you can distill hard to understand or technical language into easily digestible information for all audiences.
• Relationship Builder: You\xe2\x80\x99ll work alongside various groups with competing viewpoints, but will remain open to new ideas while remaining professional and solutions-oriented.
• Organized: This position requires providing information to public and media sources on tight deadlines. You should be capable of prioritizing these requests on a daily or weekly basis, and have a stellar ability to communicate under pressure.
• Solutions oriented: From daily media requests to finding solutions to some of Portland\xe2\x80\x99s most complex problems, you must be solutions oriented, never willing to settle for the status quo.

Preferred Qualifications
Although not required, please state in your cover letter and resume if you have any of these desired qualifications:

• At least 4 years of experience working in the public communications sector for example media, government, non-profits, marketing firms, etc.
• Understanding of local and national media.
• Knowledge and understanding of the myriad of complex, societal issues that can lead to homelessness.
• Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy, and discretion in dealing with highly sensitive, complex, and controversial issues and situations.

City of Portland Core Values:
Anti-racism | Communication | Collaboration | Equity | Transparency | Fiscal Responsibility
These values guide our actions as we serve the community and engage our workforce. To learn more about the City\'s core values, please click here .

Why work at the City of Portland?
The City of Portland workforce serves a population of over 650,000. We are culture- and solutions-driven, viewing every challenge as an opportunity to learn, improve, and share our expertise. We are committed to removing systemic barriers to resources, access, and opportunity. The City is a believer in ALL people and continues to actively recruit and retain diverse top talent every day. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, healthcare flexible and/or dependent care spending accounts, Carrot Fertility, basic life, short- and long-term disability coverage to eligible employees and their families. If you are open-minded, motivated, community-focused, and self-aware, please apply yourself at the City of Portland today.

The City of Portland also participates in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). For more information on the City of Portland\'s benefits please click here.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
As of October 18, 2021, all City employees must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This is required for all positions at the City of Portland. Proof of being fully vaccinated is required by date of hire. You may request an exception, for health or religious reasons, from getting the COVID-19 vaccine at the time a position is offered.

Work Location
Many positions within the City are designated as hybrid and currently the City requires you to work in-person one day per week. Beginning in May 2023, most hybrid employees will be expected to perform at least half of their work in-person. City Council approved a human resources administrative rule in January 2023, HRAR \xe2\x80\x93 4.045, requiring employees, including those who are fully remote and hybrid, to perform work within Oregon or Washington. Employees have until May 4, 2023, to be in compliance with the new rule. For more information, click here.
To Qualify
Applicants must meet each of the following minimum qualifications. Describe in their cover letter and resume how their education, training and/or experience, meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

• 
  Experience communicating effectively and presenting information clearly, concisely, and persuasively through a variety of different media formats, including TV, social media, print, and web.
• Experience managing websites and creating content such as fact sheets, print materials, and graphics for social media.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic communications for a variety of diverse audiences and stakeholders, including a commitment to applying a racial equity lens in communication planning.
• Ability to work effectively in a deadline driven environment and ability to remain flexible in urgent situations while maintaining a calm demeanor.
• Ability to build relationships across city bureaus, non-profit organizations, media professionals, and other stakeholders outside of government.

Applicants must also possess:

• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 per City/State mandate or have an approved exception by date of hire.
• A valid state driver\xe2\x80\x99s license and acceptable driving record.
• Ability to pass a comprehensive police background investigation.

The Recruitment Process

An evaluation of each applicant\xe2\x80\x99s training and experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter and resume, are weighted 100%. Do not attach materials not requested. Only candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list. You have 14 days from the notice of the examination results to let us know if you disagree with your results. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.


Some positions may require those placed on the eligible list to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.
** PLEASE NOTE : The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies**

Recruitment Timeline:

• Job Posting Closes: 5/1/23
• Applications Reviewed: week of 5/1/23
• Eligible List Created: week of 5/8/23
• First Round Interview: Tentatively mid-May 2023
• Job Offer: Tentatively mid-June 2023

**Timeline is approximate and subject to change without notice**

Application Instructions Applicants must submit a cover letter, a professional resume, and three (3) work samples online, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the \xe2\x80\x9cTo Qualify\xe2\x80\x9d section of this announcement in accordance with the following Application Instructions:

• Your r\xc3\xa9sum\xc3\xa9 and cover letter will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• Your cover letter should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the \xe2\x80\x9cTo Qualify\xe2\x80\x9d section of this announcement.
• Your resume should support the details described in the cover letter.
• Your work samples can include articles, press releases, statements, websites or social media posts (links or PDFs).
• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• If you are requesting Veteran\xe2\x80\x99s Preference, as identified below, please describe in your cover letter any transferrable skills obtained during your military service and how they relate to each of the required minimum qualifications under the \xe2\x80\x9cTo Qualify\xe2\x80\x9d section above.

In addition to your cover letter and r\xc3\xa9sum\xc3\xa9 you also must submit 3 links (or PDFs) to work samples such as articles, press releases, statements, websites or social media posts.

All completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted .
Additional Information
Work Status: Non-citizen applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of application.

Veterans\' Preference: If you are requesting Veterans\' Preference, attach a copy of your DD214/DD215 and/or Veterans Administration letter stating your disability to your profile, as well as checking the box identifying yourself as a Veteran. You must request Veterans\' Preference AND include a copy of your documentation for each recruitment to which you apply. Veterans\' Preference documentation must be submitted no later than the closing date and time of this recruitment.

ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations: If you identify as a person with a disability, are pregnant or nursing, or observe a religious practice(s), and would like to request a reasonable accommodation when applying for this job, please contact the Recruiter below for assistance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: It is the policy of the City of Portland that no person shall be discriminated against based on race, religion, color, sex, marital status, family status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or source of income. The City values diversity and encourages everyone who is interested in employment with the City to apply.

Language Pay Differential
City of Portland employees who speak one or more languages in addition to English, may be eligible to receive a \xe2\x80\x9clanguage pay differential.\xe2\x80\x9d This is compensation for qualifying multilingual City employees who use their language skill to assist the community. More about the language pay differential can be found here.

Did you know? The City of Portland has How to Apply Videos and offers How to Apply Classes. If you have questions after watching the videos you are invited to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement or starting in April 2023 you are invited to attend the Question and Answers session. If you prefer to attend a virtual class, they are also available once a month.

Questions?
Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer