Public Information & Media Relations Lead

Hall County; Gainesville (GA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Hall County Sheriff's Office in Gainesville, GA, seeks a Public Information Officer to develop and communicate information about operations, investigations, and public programs while promoting transparency to residents. The role requires strong media relations, interview skills, press material creation, and coordination with the Sheriff and staff to craft timely, accurate messages across outlets.

The ideal candidate will manage communications campaigns, respond to inquiries, and build

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Relations or related field with two years of public relations experience.
• Must possess a valid driver's license.
• Knowledge of public relations principles, practices and techniques.
• Knowledge of journalism theories, principles and practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively by written and oral means with a wide variety of people, organizations and the media in a variety of settings.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate a variety of activities, programs, and special projects within the government to promote employee and community relations.
• Respond to crime scenes, disaster scenes and other critical law enforcement operational scenes to assist with the dissemination of information to the media.
• Conduct on-camera interviews and respond to specific questions from the media during press releases and critical events.
• Publicize, promote, and market the varied programs, events, and incidents of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office using a variety of outlets such as news releases, newsletters, social media, departmental website, brochures, speeches, consumer publications, radio and television appearances, in-house videos, news conferences, community presentations, and slide shows.
• Interact with professional and technical staff, community groups, other government agencies, businesses, and other sources to keep the public informed of pertinent incidents, situations or events; prepares and distributes statements; conducts in-person television, radio, or newspaper interviews as requested; provides media coaching to staff as needed.
• Coordinate with the Sheriff, Command Staff, and other appropriate agency personnel to develop news releases related to events of public interest.
• Organize public appearances for the Sheriff and other command level officers; coordinates all pre-appearance preparations to include public announcements through the media.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Hall County officials, representatives of various media, employees and the public.
• Coordinate the development of comprehensive strategies and approaches for marketing the Hall County Sheriff’s Office locally, regionally and nationally.
• Assesses marketing needs and conceptualizes, develops, implements and manages strategic communications campaigns and projects that reach, inform and involve residents and/or targeted audiences.
• Performs other related duties as required.
• Performs other relevant work as assigned.
• Regular and predictable attendance required.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Journalism

Written communication

Oral communication

Public presentations

Project management

News writing

Social media

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations or related field

Job description

Hall County Sheriff's Office in Gainesville, GA, seeks a Public Information Officer to develop and communicate information about operations, investigations, and public programs while promoting transparency to residents. The role requires strong media relations, interview skills, press material creation, and coordination with the Sheriff and staff to craft timely, accurate messages across outlets.

The ideal candidate will manage communications campaigns, respond to inquiries, and build