Public Information Officer / Administrative Services Manager

18th Judicial Circuit State Court System of Florida; Viera (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave & holidays

Health benefits

Supplemental insurance

No-cost basic life insurance

Deferred compensation

FRS benefits

Tuition waiver

Job summary

The 18th Judicial Circuit State Court System of Florida is seeking a Public Information Officer/Administrative Services Manager to lead the circuit's digital communications and public relations efforts. You will manage social media, issue press materials, coordinate events, and respond to public records requests while collaborating with judges, court staff and community partners.

Responsibilities include guiding media relations, developing informational content, and overseeing the Probate and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; five+ years in public information or PR; supervisory experience.
• Experience writing, editing, and publishing content for publication.
• Ability to manage social media strategy and digital communications.
• Familiarity with BECA and ICMS public records systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the circuit's social media presence.
• Prepare and issue press releases and advisories.
• Coordinate public outreach, events and tours of courthouses.
• Respond to public records requests and inquiries.
• Oversee Probate and Guardianship division liaison and expert witnesses list.

Skills

Public relations

Digital communications

Writing & editing

Media relations

Public records handling

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/public administration or related field

Master's degree may substitute two years of experience

Juris Doctor may substitute for three years of experience

Tools

BECA/ICMS

AI tools

Desktop publishing software

Social media management tools

Job description

Job Description

Application Deadline - September 28, 2026, 5:00 p.m.

General Statement of Job

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit's Public Information Officer (PIO) serves as the circuit's designated spokesperson and primary media contact, including emergency communications and cybersecurity breaches. This is an executive level position supporting the Eighteenth Circuit by promoting public awareness, issuing press releases and advisories, identifying and responding to information needs, managing media relations, and providing leadership, counsel, and assistance on public affairs as related to the court.

This is a highly responsible position focusing on digital communications for the circuit's internet and social media needs in a fast-paced public relations environment. Responsibilities range from developing and managing the court's social media presence, offering group educational tours of the courthouses, leading public outreach and civil engagement programming for the circuit, producing informational materials, coordinating special court events, preparing news releases, and responding to public records requests.

This position also oversees the Probate and Guardianship (P&G) division for the Brevard Courts, manages the court-appointed attorney registry and serves as liaison with the Justice Administrative Commission (JAC), and recruits and maintains the court's list of approved expert witnesses.

The Public Information Officer/Administrative Services Manager works closely with the judiciary, senior court management, court staff, and maintains ongoing relationships with media, government entities, and community partners, building partnerships to enhance the court's relationship with the legal community as well as the general public.

Education/Experience Guidelines

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a major in business administration, public administration or management, English, digital communications, public relations, communications, journalism, or a closely related field. Five (5) or more years of related work experience, including two (2) years in a supervisory or managerial capacity. A master's degree in an area cited above may substitute for two (2) years of the recommended non-management experience. A Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school may substitute for three (3) years of the recommended non-management experience.

Progressively responsible experience in public information, public relations, communication, or journalism may substitute for the recommended college education on a year for year basis.

Desirable Qualifications

• Highly skilled and experienced in writing, editing and publishing written content for publication.
• Experience crafting unique digital content (text, images, video, etc.).
• Experience with desktop publishing software and AI tools.
• Experience working with social media tools and developing and implementing digital communication strategies to achieve an organization's goals and maintain a positive public image across all social media platforms, including but not limited to: Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Linkedin and YouTube.
• Experience with the Clerk of Court's Public Records System BECA and ICMS

Benefit Details

• Paid Leave & Holidays
• State of Florida Health Benefits
• Supplemental Insurance (Dental, Vision, Disability, Optional Life, Cancer, etc.)
• No Cost Basic Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation

(457b Pre-Tax & 457b Roth)

• Florida Retirement System (FRS) Benefits
• Tax-Favored Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Support
• State Employee Tuition Waiver

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit is an equal opportunity employer that actively pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of nor manifest by words or conduct, bias or prejudice based on race, color, religion, age (40 or older), sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), national origin, language, marital status, socioeconomic status, or disability or genetic information, which does not preclude performance of essential job functions, and reasonable accommodation(s) is provided, as necessary and judicious.

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in the application/selection process, you are entitled, at no cost to you, the provision of certain assistance. Please notify Court Administration at 321-633-2171 #3 prior to the application deadline. If you are hearing or voice impaired, please call through the Florida Relay Service (TDD) 1-800-955-8771.

Background Check

• Employment is provisional pending the results of a successful background investigation and fingerprinting.

E-Verify

• Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. The Eighteenth Judicial Circuit participates in the U.S. Government’s Electronic Employment Verification Program (E-Verify) to assist in this required verification process for all state-funded positions. E-Verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States after completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) upon hire within the first 3 days of employment.

Drug-Free Workplace

• It is an objective of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit to achieve a drug-free workplace. Any applicant for employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing court service for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, and the trust placed in our organization by the public.

At-Will Employment

• Pursuant to 110.205(2)(c) of the Florida Statutes, employment with the State Courts System is not covered under the Career Service System and all employees of the State Systems serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and do not attain tenure rights, i.e., employees can be terminated with or without cause by the Court.