Communications Officer

State of Oregon; Salem (OR); Hybrid; USD 67,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent health, vision & dental

PERS/OPSRP retirement

Paid time off & holidays

Hybrid/remote work

Job summary

Oregon Health Authority in Portland-based Oregon is seeking a Communications Officer to serve as a public information officer on health policy and Medicaid topics. You will engage with reporters, draft media responses, and develop shareable content across newsletters and social media, collaborating with experts from multiple departments.

This hybrid/remote role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and several years in public relations, with a salary range of $5,988–$9,191 per month

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Communications or related field.
• Five years experience directly related to the position; two of the five years at the professional level.

Responsibilities

• Work with reporters and respond to media inquiries.
• Draft and route media responses for approval to ensure accurate, timely information.
• Identify and relay public interest stories and information.
• Develop shareable content for newsletters and social media.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts from multiple departments.
• Help manage crisis communications work.
• Occasional in-person event support (1–2 times per month).

Skills

Media relations

Drafting statements

Crisis communications

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Public Admin/PR/Marketing/Journalism/Communications

Job description

Job Description

Initial Posting Date: 10/26/2026
Application Deadline: 11/08/2026
Agency: Oregon Health Authority
Salary Range: $5,988 - $9,191
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Communications Officer

Role

This position involves being a public information officer (PIO) on topics related to health policy and Medicaid. On a day-to-day basis, your role would be to:

• Work with reporters and respond to media inquiries.
• Draft and route media responses for approval to ensure accurate, timely information.
• Identify and relay public interest stories and information.
• Develop shareable content, including for newsletters and social media.
• Work in close collaboration with subject matter experts from a variety of departments.
• Help manage crisis communications work.
• Provide occasional in-person event support (scoped as possible for 1 – 2 times per month per month within normal work hours).

What We Are Looking For

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Communications the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs.
• Five years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Desired Attributes

• Serving as a public information officer or spokesperson for an organization.
• Media, media relations or communications work.
• Drafting talking points, statements or speeches.
• Condensing complex policies into plain language.
• Developing social media, web content or public-facing documents.
• Crisis communications work.
• A fast-paced work environment with deadlines.
• Demonstrating resourcefulness, sound judgment, excellent time management skills and the ability to work on multiple initiatives.

Preference Statement

• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual.
• Experience in or knowledge of Medicaid or health policy.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity.

Benefits

We offer a workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment; promote an atmosphere of mutural respect, dedication, and ethusiasm. You will collaborate with a team of bright individuals to work with and learn from.

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Additional Details

This announcement is for one vacancy, fulltime, permanent, SEIU represented, Public affairs Specialist 2 position (Classification: Public Affairs Specialist 2 based in Portland, Oregon.

This is a hybrid/remote position. “Review Section 4: Working Conditions” in the position description (linked above) for more information.

Employment is contingent upon a criminal records check that meets OHA criteria at the time of hire and throughout employment.

The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying range. If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range will increase by 6.95%. For more information, see the Classification and Compensation page.

The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. OHA will use E-Verify to verify work authorization. If your employment eligibility depends on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet the requirements for this position.

We evaluate candidates based on their own skills and experience. Unless explicitly approved, outside resources – including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – are not permitted during assessments or interviews. Use of unauthorized resources will disqualify a candidate from further consideration.

Contact Information

Recruiter: Barry Lein

Email: [e-mail]

Phone (text friendly): 503-440-6484

The Oregon Health Authority is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer, committed to fair employment practices and pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate based on protected class including race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation and does not screen applicants based on current or past compensation. Salary is determined through a fair review of your education, experience, and training as it relates to the position. OHA is an anti-racist organization working to eliminate health inequities and dismantle structural barriers that impact underserved communities. Join us in advancing our Strategic Plan and building a more equitable Oregon.