Public Information Coordinator I - 60018599

State of South Carolina; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Paid holidays

Job summary

State of South Carolina seeks a Communications Coordinator to manage public information and media relations for the SC Opioid Recovery Fund. You will craft materials, oversee digital channels, and ensure transparency in fund allocations and outcomes.

Strong writing, media savvy, and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders across government and community partners are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field and 2+ years in public information or media relations.
• Ability to translate complex funding and program details into clear, accessible language.
• Experience working with diverse stakeholders and media across local, state, and national levels.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate media relations and prepare press materials for SCORF-related announcements.
• Develop rapid-response communications to address sensitive inquiries or misinformation.
• Translate data and program results into public-facing reports, infographics and dashboards.
• Maintain transparency messaging about expenditures and settlement parameters.
• Oversee digital channels and FOIA processes, ensuring timely, accurate information.

Skills

Media relations

Public communications

Crisis communications

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, Public Health, or English

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Job description

The Communications Coordinator will coordinate all public relations, community engagement, and media communication regarding the distribution, progress and impact of the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund. The Communications Coordinator helps the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund Board ensure transparency by preparing, editing and disseminating informational, educational and marketing material on behalf of the Board—highlighting how allocations support abatement, treatment, and prevention programs.

Duties:

Media Relations

• SCORF Liaison: Coordinate all information for SCORF communicated to local, state, and national media outlets.
• Press Strategy:
  • Write and distribute press releases, such as human-interest impact stories, information regarding fund distributions and awardee spotlight pieces.
• Assists with writing and editing press releases talking points and other communications for release to the media.
• Monitors news media and social media on behalf of the agency.

Crisis & Response:

• Manage rapid-response communications to address sensitive inquiries, dispel misinformation, and handle public or media scrutiny regarding funding choices.

Transparency and Public Reporting

• Impact Tracking: Collaborate with data analysts and program manager to translate data into public-facing reports, infographics, and transparency dashboards.
• Compliance Messaging:
  • Communicate how expenditures align with settlement parameters for "allowable spending" and evidence-based strategies.
• Conducts interviews, researches topics and gathers information for use in various agency communications.

Digital Management:

• Maintain and update the official website and social media channels with settlement fund updates, application openings, Board news and other time sensitive information.
• Plans, coordinates and promotes agency programs and activities through traditional and visual/digital media communications.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA):

• Cross-trains to develop an understanding of the agency's media response and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) response processes.

Board Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Policy, Public Health, or English and a minimum of 2 years of professional experience in public information, media relations, or corporate communications, or an acceptable equivalent.

• Prior experience working within public health, government administration, or non-profit sectors managing multi-stakeholder messaging is highly preferred.
• Clear Communication: Proven ability to communicate funding procedures, processes and metrics into clear, universally understandable language. Ability to write, edit and produce publications for various formats and mediums.
• Multimedia Proficiency: Knowledge of basic journalistic principles and practices for information dissemination. Knowledge of social media platforms and how to use those platforms to disseminate information.
• Compassionate Communication: Ability to engage respectfully with a diverse group of agency stakeholders. Ability to communicate knowledge to a wide audience.
• Media and public relations. Knowledge of how to establish and maintain relationships with local, state and national media. Knowledge of principles and methods to execute large-scale public relations programs.

• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs