Public Information Officer

City of Redlands; Redlands (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Redlands is seeking a strategic Public Information Officer (PIO) to lead its communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. This role collaborates with the City Manager’s Office and departments to deliver timely, accurate messaging.

The ideal candidate has strong writing and verbal skills, at least three years of public information experience, and a bachelor’s degree in a related field. A California Class C driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or related field.
• Three years of professional experience in public information, media relations, or related work.
• Experience with public agencies or governmental organizations is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead city-wide public information, media relations, marketing, and community engagement.
• Manage media inquiries, press releases, and digital/social content.
• Advise leadership on effective communication strategies during emergencies.
• Coordinate messaging across platforms to ensure accuracy and timeliness.

Skills

Public information

Media relations

Strategic communications

Content development

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications or related field

Job description

“Shape the City’s Voice. Strengthen Community Connections. Lead Strategic Communications.”

The City of Redlands is seeking a strategic, creative, and highly skilled communications professional to serve as its Public Information Officer (PIO). This is an opportunity to play a key role in how the city communicates with its community, employees, media, and regional partners.

The PIO will lead and coordinate the City’s public information and communications efforts, working closely with the City Manager’s Office, City departments, and executive leadership to ensure information is timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent. The position will help tell the City’s story by highlighting programs, services, accomplishments, community initiatives, and important issues affecting Redlands.

The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator who can translate complex municipal information into clear and engaging messages for diverse audiences. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced public-sector environment, responding to press inquiries, managing communications during emergencies or high-profile events, developing content across multiple platforms, and advising City leadership on effective communication strategies.

This position offers an opportunity for an experienced communications professional to help shape and strengthen a coordinated, modern, and responsive communications program for the City of Redlands.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads and coordinates the City’s communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. Key responsibilities include developing strategic communication initiatives, managing media inquiries and press releases, overseeing digital and social media content, coordinating public information during emergencies, and promoting City programs, services, and accomplishments. The PIO also advises City leadership on communication strategies, oversees multimedia productions and publications, supports community events, and ensures consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all platforms.

Please see brochure: Digital Brochure

A combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Three (3) years professional experience performing increasingly responsible public information, communications, media relations, public relations, journalism, community engagement, or related work.

• Experience developing communications for a public agency, governmental organization, or similarly complex organization is highly desirable.

License or Certificate

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Class C California driver's license at the time of appointment.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

• Candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills;

• Experience developing content for websites, social media, press releases, presentations, and other communication platforms;

• The ability to establish productive relationships with media representatives, community stakeholders, employees, and executive leadership;

• The ability to communicate effectively during sensitive, rapidly changing, or emergency situations;

• The ability to attend meetings, community events, emergency incidents, or other assignments outside of normal business hours may be required depending upon assignment;

• Employees work in a standard office environment with the ability to travel to different sites and locations;

• While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand, talk or hear, both in person and by telephone, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist, climb, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 60 pounds; and

• May work a variety of hours including response to applicable incidents and special events.