Job Description

POSITION:   Public Information Officer
OFFICE:       Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA)
OPEN: December 6, 2023
CLOSE: Open Until Filled
GRADE: Excepted Service ES5
SALARY:     $72,586.32

 

This is an Excepted Service position. Selected candidate must be a District resident or establish residency within 180 days of hire.

Current District of Columbia residents will receive priority and advanced preference for screening and interviews.

 

BACKGROUND

The Bowser Administration seeks an energetic and qualified candidate to serve as the Public Information Officer of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) in the Executive Office of the Mayor. The mission of MOLA is to improve the quality of life of the District's Latino residents by addressing a broad range of social and economic needs through strategic management of public and private partnerships, expertise on policy, community relations, civic engagement and community-based grants.

The Public Information Officer is responsible for managing the creation and implementation of strategic communications for the Mayor, MOLA, and the District of Columbia to engage, empower, and improve the quality of life for Latino constituents. Working with the Executive Office of the Mayor Communications team and with MOLA leadership, the Public Information Officer will use a variety of tools and strategies to ensures the presentation of a strong and positive message to the public regarding the Administration’s policies and programs.

 

MAJOR DUTIES

• Establishes and maintains excellent relationships with local and regional media outlets, including print and broadcast journalists, and bloggers; responds to media inquiries; proactively engages with local and regional media to pitch stories.
• Plans, directs and executes a comprehensive public information strategy on the initiatives and functions of the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs collaborates with senior leadership to plan and develop goals and objectives for implementing long and short­-term communications.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with District government and community agencies.
• Analyzes communications issues, and advises the Director and Deputy Director public perceptions to the agencies’ programs and activities.
• Develop and manage send of the weekly MOLA newsletter in English and Spanish.
• Develops and utilizes a variety of communication outlets to inform, involve, and engage employees in the agencies’ mission, values and programs.
• Evaluates communications efforts and achievements, and recommends appropriate modifications.
• Creates briefing memos, talking points, articles, websites, social media postings, and other communications on a wide variety of issues.
• Uses feedback and evaluation systems to evaluate effectiveness of communications activities.
• Participates in senior staff meetings and serves on committees, as appropriate. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Mastery of the principles, methods and techniques of effective communications.
• Mastery of the methods, practices and procedures used in public relations, marketing and research, mass media, advertising, special interest groups, community relations, and government relations, as they relate to large organized projects and initiatives.
• Strong analytical, strategic and creative skills to develop and implement public outreach programs; and skill in developing strategies to disseminate information.
• Superior ability to manage multiple priorities and fast-paced work.
• Ability to effectively develop, organize, and present ideas and concepts to diverse groups, including government officials, journalists, analysts, and District residents.
• Superior writing, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong, persuasive, compelling and engaging writing skills, in order to convey information concerning complex programs and functions to public individuals having diverse levels of understanding of the agency's programs and activities.
• Superior skill in responding orally to criticism of the agency’s functions or performance; and to logically and effectively explain programs, functions and activities, in order for the public to gain an understanding of the agency's efforts.
• Superior skill and ability to formulate, articulate, and coordinate an overall communications program that integrates departmental issues, and conveys complex information regarding policies, programs, and decisions.
• Superior interpersonal relationship skills to serve as the principal advisor and authority on communication issues for the agency; and to work with the senior leaders to address problem solving through communications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in public relations, communications, public policy or a related field.
• Demonstrated connections to and past interactions with members of the local and regional press corps.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is performed in-person in an office setting and in the field when there are related events.

SPECIAL NOTE - SECURITY SENSITIVE

This position is deemed security sensitive. The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive.
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RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted or Executive Service either:

1. be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment; or
2. become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.

The law also requires that Excepted Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment. Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.

If you are interested in this role, please upload your resume and answer the questionnaire. Only the candidates deemed most suited for the position based on resume will receive a call to schedule further discussion.

Job Tags

Full time, Temporary work, Local area,

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