Asst To The Commissioner, Public Information - Anticipated Vacancy

Department of Public Safety; United States; On-site; USD 69,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maine Department of Public Safety seeks an Assistant to the Commissioner, Public Information, serving as the Public Information Officer (PIO). This role handles media inquiries, writes and edits news releases and reports, and oversees the department’s public relations program and social media presence.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, media relations experience, and familiarity with the state budget and legislative process.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or a related field, with at least eight (8) years of experience in media and/or public relations.
• Public speaking experience, proven media relations, and knowledge of the legislative process are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates, directs, and provides responses to news media inquiries on sensitive and important issues in Maine law enforcement, including homicides and major investigations.
• Gathers and coordinates information from expert sources within the department and other state entities.
• Manages the DPS public relations program, including public outreach and updating social media platforms.
• Provides media training throughout the state.
• Writes and edits news releases, department reports, speeches, and other informational material.
• Confers with media representatives, photographers, and the public to raise awareness of agency activities.
• Compiles and edits the state’s official homicide list.
• Advises departmental managers on public communication strategy trends.
• Provides media support for entities within DPS.

Skills

Media relations

Public speaking

Public information

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field

Job description

If you are a current State of Maine employee, please submit your application through the internal application process using the Find Jobs report in PRISM. Seasonal employees who do not have PRISM access should apply through the State’s career page and indicate on the application that they have previously worked for the State.

Department of Public Safety Opening Date: October 16, 2026 Closing Date: November 6, 2026 Job Class: HC03/Confidential SALARY RANGE: Grade 28 $69,472.00 - $105,248.00/Annually POSITION LOCATION: Augusta

The Maine Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking a dynamic individual to serve as the Assistant to the Commissioner, Public Information. This position serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for DPS and is responsible for providing responses to media inquiries on some of the most important issues in Maine law enforcement. The position manages the social media platforms of the Department as well as writing and edits news releases, departmental reports, and other informational materials. The position manages the DPS public relations program. This involves public outreach, coordination with media representatives throughout the state, and keeping the DPS social media sites up to date. The position also provides media training throughout the state and will develop a process to facilitate the flow of information between DPS and the media. The PIO provides media support for the various entities throughout DPS such as the Maine State Police, the Bureau of Highway Safety, the Fire Marshal’s Office and Maine Drug Enforcement. In this role, the PIO maintains the state’s official homicide list, which assists investigators, prosecutors and the public on the most serious crimes in Maine, including whether the homicides were domestic violence and/or drug related. The PIO also advises department managers of public communication strategy trends that affect how DPS responds to crime, media relations, and legislative oversight.

Due to the nature of the position, hours worked are often outside of the regular business day.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional communication and relationship building skills, training development and implementation experience, be familiar with the State’s budgetary and legislative process, can work and plan beyond the immediate pressures, have the ability to adapt to changing priorities and accept new challenges; and, have a strong commitment to effectiveness and efficiency. The ability to communicate effectively, both in a public speaking forum and through written communication, is essential.

This position reports to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates, directs, and provides responses to news media inquiries on some of the most sensitive and important issues in Maine law enforcement, including homicides and major criminal investigations, as well as the programs and activities of the department.
• This involves the gathering and coordination of such information from expert sources throughout the department, as well as other entities in and out of state government.
• Manages the DPS public relations program. This involves public outreach, coordination with media representatives throughout the state, and updating the department’s social media platforms.
• Provides media training throughout the state.
• Write and edit news releases, department reports, speeches, and other informational material to disseminate information.
• Confers with media representatives, photographers, and the public to create awareness of agency activities.
• Compiles and edits the state’s official homicide list.
• Advises departmental managers of public communication strategy trends.
• Provides media support for the various entities within DPS.

Minimum Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or a related field, with at least eight (8) years of experience in media and/or public relations.
• Related professional experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Public speaking experience, proven media relations, and knowledge of the legislative process are preferred.

Competencies

• Leadership: effective communication, adaptability, and relationship building.
• Strong organizational skills: to include exercising time-management skills to meet expectations and follow through on commitments.
• Strong written and oral communications skills.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 18.86% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense.
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre‑tax to help pay for out‑of‑pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses.
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office.
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program.
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty‑two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre‑tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions.
• State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.
• Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

Equal Opportunity Statement

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Contact Information

Dottie Perry, Human Resources, at [phone] or [e-mail]

Application Process

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

If you’re looking for a fulfilling career that allows you to serve the public and make a difference, consider working with Maine State Government! Our departments boast an array of professions, including attorneys, biologists, correctional officers, equipment operators, engineers, human resources professionals, information technology experts, law enforcement officers, nurses, park rangers, social workers, and transportation workers. With more than 100 agencies, boards, and offices, Maine State Government is the perfect place to explore various industries and interests. Whether you're interested in finance or forestry, there's an opportunity for you to help make Maine an even better place to live.