Communications Aide/Bilingual

City-of-Rochester,-Ny; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Rochester is seeking a staff member for the Bureau of Communications to monitor and respond to Freedom of Information requests, and to assist in preparing public information materials in English and Spanish.

Reporting to the Director, the role involves data collection, coordination with city departments, processing FOIL requests, editing, budgeting assistance, and maintaining confidential records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in English, Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or closely related field.
• Bachelor’s degree and one year full-time public contact experience with written information.
• Associate’s degree and two years of experience as described in B) above.
• High school diploma or GED and four years of experience as described in B) above.

Responsibilities

• Collects and organizes data for Records Access Requests, status reports, and public information formats.
• Gathers information from Bureau staff, City departments, and the general public.
• Processes applications for records access under FOIL.
• May prepare written material in English and Spanish for monthly reports, speeches, or website pages.
• May assist in preparing the Bureau's operating budget and budget estimates.
• May edit and proofread written copy.
• Maintains and updates computer files for various purposes.
• May coordinate projects and supervise clerical/technical personnel.
• Maintains confidentiality of records as part of the Records Access process.

Skills

Public relations

Written communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Data collection

Education

Bachelor's degree in English

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations

Bachelor's degree in Communications

Associate's degree

High school diploma or GED

Job description

This is a staff position in the Bureau of Communications responsible for monitoring and/or researching Freedom of Information requests submitted to the City. Employees of this class may also assist in coordinating, preparing or editing public information materials both in English and Spanish. The employee works under the general supervision of the Director. Supervision of others is not a responsibility of employees in this class. Performs related work as required.

Under the NY HELPS Program, the Civil Service Exam for this title has been waived. For additional information regarding the NY HELPS Program, please visit: https://www.cs.ny.gov/help/faq.cfm

CITY RESIDENCY WILL BE REQUIRED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF HIRE.

Responsibilities

• Collects and organizes data for a variety of purposes, such as responding to Records Access Requests, preparation of status reports, new releases, briefing papers and speeches, website pages or other public information formats;
• Gathers information from and provides information to Bureau staff, City departments, and the general public, as needed;
• Processes applications for records access, under the Freedom of Information Law, from the general public;
• May prepare a variety of written material, both in English and Spanish, for the Bureau, such as monthly reports on status of Records Access Requests, new releases, briefing papers and speeches, website pages or other public information formats;
• May assist in the preparation of the Bureau's operating budget (e.g., making budget estimates based on Bureau performance indicators of the previous year);
• May edit and proofread written copy;
• Maintains and updates computer files for a variety of purposes;
• May coordinate projects and work produced by clerical and/or technical personnel;
• Maintains confidentiality of records when needed as part of the Records Access process.

Qualifications

• A. Bachelor's degree in English, Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or closely related field; OR
• B. Bachelor's degree AND one (1) year full-time experience or its part-time equivalent of public contact work which involved providing written information; OR
• C. Associate's degree AND two (2) years of experience as described in B) above; OR
• D. High school diploma or G.E.D. AND four (4) years of experience as described in B) above.