Public Information Specialist II (Digital Communications)

West Basin Municipal Water District; Carson (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Vacation 10–20 days

Job summary

West Basin Municipal Water District seeks an experienced Public Information Specialist II to craft strategic digital content across LinkedIn, Instagram and the District website. You will engage audiences, shape the District’s brand, and support the Public Information and Education Department with outreach campaigns and materials.

The role requires at least five years of PR/digital communications experience, familiarity with water industry issues, and strong storytelling skills for non-technical

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations or communications; five years of professional experience overseeing PR projects.
• Experience communicating scientific or technical information to broad audiences across digital channels.
• Knowledge of California water issues and local government is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements content strategies for print, digital, website and social media.
• Translates technical information into clear narratives for non-technical audiences.
• Tracks KPIs and optimizes digital campaigns based on results.

Skills

Public relations

Digital communications

Content creation

Audience engagement

Communication strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations or Communications

Tools

CMS

Web optimization

Analytics/KPIs

Job description

Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute for a fully completed District Online Application. However, a resume is required; this will provide valuable information for the evaluation process. The most qualified candidates will be invited to proceed to the next stage, which includes a panel interview. West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a global leader in the water industry in water recycling, conservation, water resource management, and youth and adult education. West Basin provides drinking water and recycled water to eight local retail water agencies including four cities, three private water companies, and one county water agency. The District serves a population of nearly one million residents in 17 cities and unincorporated areas along the coastal corridor from Palos Verdes to Malibu. The District is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors and is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. West Basin operates the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility and three satellite locations. It is the largest treatment and water purification facility of its type providing nearly 40 million gallons of water each day to over 300 sites. West Basin utilizes various advanced treatment processes to produce five types of "fit-for-purpose" waters used for commercial, industrial, and landscape purposes, including three ultra-pure waters. West Basin owns and operates over 100 miles of recycled water pipelines and supplies recycled water to customers for non-potable use. To expand the use of recycled water, the District assists customers with the process of converting their sites to utilize recycled water. In addition, the District conducts site inspections to ensure compliance for the safe use of recycled water. West Basin is an equal-opportunity employer, promoting diversity in its recruitment process and programs. The District is committed to customer service and seeks to provide its customers with the most qualified and exceptional professional services through those they employ while offering an excellent benefits package to its employees.

The Position

West Basin is seeking an experienced social media and digital communications professional who, under general supervision, will develop strategic content, handle digital communications and interact with audiences across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram and the District website with a focus on audience engagement, campaign tracking and shaping the District’s brand identity. This position provides general support for the Public Information and Education Department and will perform other related duties as assigned. The District is seeking an individual with five years of experience or more whose skills and abilities best reflect the qualifications for the position.

Public Information Specialist II Classification

Public Information Specialist II is the journey-level classification in the District's three-level Public Information series. Incumbents perform a broad range of professional communications, public information, media relations, community outreach, and marketing activities with a degree of independence and responsibility. Responsibilities include developing and implementing communication strategies; creating content for print, digital, website, and social media platforms; coordinating public outreach and educational programs; and serving as a liaison with internal departments, community organizations, water retailers, agency partners, elected officials, members of the media, and the public.

Distinction from Public Information Specialist III

The Public Information Specialist II is distinguished from the Public Information Specialist III by the latter's advanced level of expertise, greater independent judgment, leadership of complex communication initiatives, additional education and/or professional certifications, and supervisory or lead responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Researches, writes, and edits high-quality content for website, social media, and digital platforms, ensuring narrative consistency across all channels.
• Transforms complex scientific concepts, construction project milestones and water management goals into clear, engaging narratives for non-technical public audiences.
• Develops both long-form evergreen thematic stories and/or marketing campaigns and time-sensitive water management news and community event updates under tight deadlines.
• Partners with water policy, facility operations and engineer staff to translate technical information and verify the scientific accuracy of all communication products.
• Creates graphics and reels and oversees the production of additional digital assets by collaborating with staff and vendors to ensure a cohesive visual and narrative flow.
• Tracks key performance indicators to optimize digital strategies and report on campaign results.
• Formats and polishes content for specific digital platforms, ensuring all information is clear, concise, and optimized for audience engagement.
• Monitors and refresh existing web and digital content to ensure accuracy and relevance as District goals and strategic plans evolve.
• Develop materials and presentations in support of the District’s Board of Directors, senior management team, outreach, conservation, and educational programs; may also conduct presentations and facility tours to internal and external audiences as needed.
• Conducts day-to-day department administrative tasks including filing, copying, managing calendars, entering purchase orders, and all other related tasks assigned.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public relations or communications; AND at least five (5) years of professional experience, with roles overseeing public relations projects and programs. Experience in the water industry, a public agency, and/or a public relations firm is desirable.
• Knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and principles and the demonstrated ability to communicate these to a wide range of audiences through various digital communications tactics
• Proven skills in research and interview techniques to gather relevant information from subject matter experts.
• Knowledge of California water issues and/or experience in local government.
• Proficiency in digital content management systems and a functional understanding of web optimization, including readability and engagement metrics.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate files and records.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in groups effectively.
• Strong interpersonal ability to work cooperatively and maintain effective relationships with the District Board of Directors, managers and staff, vendors, consultants, employees, representatives of other governmental agencies, and others encountered in the course of work.
• Ability to be creative, energetic, and self-motivated, and to take initiative where appropriate.
• Required to operate standard business equipment; reach with hands and arms; and is frequently required to stand and walk, kneel, crouch or twist, and occasionally lift or carry materials up to 25 pounds.
• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License, proof of insurance, and an acceptable driving record are required at the time of appointment and as a condition of continued employment. The employee is required to use their vehicle with mileage reimbursed at the standard IRS rate.

Supplemental Information

There is one vacancy available for this position. The salary range is $94,250 - $129,594 annually, depending on qualifications. The position is eligible for District benefits.

The most qualified applicants will be invited to participate further in the screening process, which will include a panel interview.

California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)

An employee who becomes a "new" member of CalPERS for the first time on or after January 1, 2013 (and who was not a member of another California public retirement system prior to that date) will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 62 benefit formula (with Social Security) with three year final compensation in accordance with the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). New members will be required to pay at least 50% of the normal retirement cost [Govt. Code Section. 7522.30(c)].

An employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or an agency with CalPERS reciprocity, or who have less than a six month break in service between employment in a CalPERS (or reciprocal) agency and employment with West Basin, will be enrolled in the 3% @ 60 benefit formula with Social Security.

• Health Insurance -- Fully paid employee/family coverage with expense reimbursement.
• Disability Insurance -- Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance plans.
• Life Insurance -- Up to $150,000 based upon salary.
• Vacation -- 10-20 days annually
• Holidays -- 14 paid holidays annually.
• Sick Leave -- 12 days accrued annually.
• Employee Development Program -- Tuition reimbursement of a maximum of $9,000 per fiscal year for job-related coursework. Job related license and certification renewals fully reimbursed.
• Deferred Compensation -- CalPERS 457 plan by employee contribution.
• Supplemental Insurance -- Plans include cancer protection, accident, disability and critical illness insurance by employee contribution.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) -- Fully paid EAP.
• Hybrid/9-80 schedule

1. Describe a specific social media campaign you developed. What was the objective, which platforms did you use, and how did you measure the results?
2. Which Key Performance Indicators do you track most closely and how do you use such analytics data to adjust your content strategy mid-month?
3. How do you manage an editorial calendar that needs to balance long-term marketing strategies and time-sensitive community outreach updates?
4. What social media scheduling tools and design/editing tools are you most comfortable using? Required Question