Communications Specialist III

Orange County Public Relations Society of America; Irvine, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Irvine Unified School District is seeking an experienced communications professional to join our Public Information Office. The role leads major projects across district storytelling, social media, website communications and strategic campaigns.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in communications or public affairs, excellent writing and editing skills, and deep knowledge of digital channels. Bachelor's degree preferred; you will work on a small, collaborative team serving a large school

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations or public affairs.
• Exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills.
• Social Media Expertise: knowledge of platforms, trends and best practices for public organizations.
• Experience managing websites and digital communications.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects.
• A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, political science or a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead editorial planning for District news and feature stories, IUSD’s monthly publication and other communications for compelling storytelling.
• Manage day-to-day IUSD social media channels: planning, writing, content development, engagement and performance tracking.
• Develop and execute strategic communications plans for programs, initiatives and events with measurable outcomes.
• Develop monthly school-site communications resources including social media and newsletter templates.
• Track news, social media and community conversations to inform District messaging.
• Support content strategy and continuous improvement for the District website and ~45 school sites.
• Assist with media relations and provide backup to the Public Affairs and Information Officer as needed.

Skills

Communications experience

Public relations

Public affairs

Writing & editing

Social media management

Website management

Project management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree required

Job description

Looking for the Best Public Relations Jobs in Orange County? Seeking the finest Communications Professionals in Orange County?
This is Where You Want to Be…

The OCPRSA Job Bank places employment opportunities in the hands of job seekers and provided employers a vehicle to reach public relations professionals with opportunities. For a nominal fee, employment opportunities are e-mailed to OCPRSA members after employers approve the insertion order, provide the job information and submit payment. One week later, the listing is placed on the website where it remains for the duration of the three month listing period.

Rates:

Location: Irvine, CA
Work Model: Full-time, on-site
Position: Communications Specialist III
Salary: $7,640 - $9,520 Monthly

About the Opportunity

Irvine Unified School District is looking for an experienced communications professional to join our Public Information Office.

This is a highly visible role that helps shape how IUSD communicates with more than 37,000 students and their families, staff and the broader Irvine community. The Communications Specialist III leads major communications projects and platforms, including District social media, news and feature content, website communications, multimedia storytelling and strategic communication campaigns.

We’re looking for someone with excellent writing, judgment and interpersonal skills, along with strong experience in social media, digital communications and public affairs. Equally important, the successful candidate will be highly collaborative and team-oriented and enjoy working on a small, fast-paced team where we support one another, share credit and put the success of the team first.

Lead District News and Storytelling: Manage editorial planning and content development for District news, feature stories, IUSD’s monthly publication and other communications, identifying compelling stories and translating complex information into clear, engaging content.

Manage Social Media: Lead day-to-day management of IUSD’s social media channels, including editorial planning, writing, content development, community engagement and performance monitoring.

Develop Strategic Communications: Partner with District departments and cross-functional teams to develop and execute communications plans for programs, initiatives and events, including identifying audiences, developing key messages, establishing measurable communications outcomes and coordinating high-quality, consistent communications across news, social media, web, email and other District channels.

School Communications Support: Develop monthly communications resources, including social media and newsletter templates for school sites.

Social Media and Media Monitoring: Track news, social media and community conversations to identify emerging issues, communication needs and opportunities, and help inform District messaging.

Support Website Communications: Help oversee content strategy and continuous improvement for the District website and approximately 45 school websites.

Support Media Relations: Assist with research, background information and responses to media inquiries and provide backup support to the Public Affairs and Information Officer as needed.

What You Bring

Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public relations or public affairs.

Exceptional writing, editing and verbal communication skills.

Social Media Expertise: Deep knowledge of social platforms, emerging trends and evolving best practices, with the creativity and judgment to know what will resonate with audiences and what is appropriate for a public organization.

Experience managing websites and digital communications.

Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects.

Sound judgment, creativity and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach.

A bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, public relations, political science or a related field is preferred.

Why IUSD?

At IUSD, communications is about more than sharing information. It’s about connecting students, families, staff and our community with the people, programs and opportunities that make a difference for students.

You’ll join a collaborative team and an organization widely recognized for educational excellence, innovation and a strong commitment to serving students and families.