PUBLIC INFORMATION SUPERVISOR

Thurston County; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Plan For Your Future

Paid Leave

Robust Training Program

Flexible Work Schedules

Deferred Compensation

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

Thurston County is seeking a Public Information Supervisor at 0.75-FTE in the Communications Division. You will develop and manage PHSS’s public information program, produce outreach materials, elevate public awareness, and ensure all community segments stay informed and supported.

The role requires leadership of staff and collaboration with the County’s Communications Office. The position emphasizes emergency response readiness, media relations, and strategic communications across public health

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, English, or closely related field.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in public information, public relations, journalism, or other field involving preparation and distribution of public information materials.

Responsibilities

• Develops public information strategies for programs based on stakeholder needs and educates the public about the department.
• Coordinates with the Communications Office to input into county-wide policies and plans.
• Supervises staff in the design and production of public information materials and participates in evaluations.
• Plans and produces or supervises production of news articles, brochures, fact sheets, newsletters, ads, and displays.
• Selects and oversees outside consultants for public information services (graphic design, printing, advertising).
• Coordinates dissemination of information about events, forums, and meetings.
• Prepares press releases and advisories; may serve as media liaison or spokesperson.
• Responds to media and public inquiries to educate and facilitate positive communications with the County.
• Performs other duties, including 24/7 response during public health emergencies and drills.

Skills

Public information

Public relations

Journalism

Education

Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, English

Tools

Graphic design software

Desktop publishing

Job description

The full-time salary for this classification is: $6,633.00 - $8,725 monthly.

Please note:This position is budgeted at 75% of the posted salary range, resulting in a salary range of $4,974.75–$6,543.75. However, we anticipate overfilling this position at 1.0 FTE, pending available budget.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for a Public Information Supervisorat 0.75-FTEfor our Communications Division.In this essential Executive Team role, you will develop and manage PHSS’s public information program to connect community members with vital health and human services resources. We are looking for a creative manager to lead the production of high-quality outreach materials, elevate public awareness, and guarantee that all segments of our diverse community stay informed, safe, and supported.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops public information strategies for specific public health and social services programs based on internal and external stakeholder needs. Administers public information and education programs to provide the public with greater knowledge and understanding of the Thurston County Public Health & Social Services department and to enhance the department's communication with the media and the community.
• Coordinates with the County’s Communications Office and provides input into the development, implementation, and evaluation of county-wide communication policies and plans.
• Supervises staff engaged in the design, preparation, and production of public information materials. Participates in selection and performance evaluation of those staff members.
• Plans, develops, and produces or supervises the production of public information and educational materials, such as news articles, brochures, fact sheets, newsletters, advertisements, displays, etc.
• Participates in the selection and supervision of outside consultants for public information services, such as graphic design, printing, and advertising.
• Coordinates or supervises the coordination and dissemination of information about special events, public forums, neighborhood meetings, etc.
• Disseminates information about office or department programs in response to requests by the media, residents, business community, neighborhood organizations, and other jurisdictions to educate and facilitate positive communications with the County.
• Prepares or supervises the preparation of press releases, public service announcements, and other information for release to the media. May serve as media liaison or spokesperson on specific projects.
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations. This includes emergency preparedness training and exercises, relevant to the work expectations of duties during emergencies.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment - Quiet office setting in Olympia, Washington
• Schedule - Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working
• Travel Requirements - Occasional travel may be required to attend meetings or trainings
• Customer Interactions - Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public

WHO WE ARE:

Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well‑being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values.

WHAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave:Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays.
• Robust Training Program:Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules:Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation:The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA):Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness:This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Why you’ll love it here

Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched in between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capitol city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.

Message to potential applicants:

We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree involving major study in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing, English, or closely related field. Additional experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• Five (5) years of professional experience in public information, public relations, journalism, or other field involving preparation and distribution of public information materials.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Experience in the public or private sector
• Ability to communicate verbally, in writing, and via various graphic and electronic media, complex ideas and technical information to a variety of audiences in a clear, concise, effective, and professional manner
• Knowledge of public information strategy and the principles and methods used in the preparation of public information materials. Ability to identify communication solutions to various organizational issues. Ability to conceptualize and design public information materials. Knowledge of graphic arts and printing methods, materials, and terminology
• Computer/desktop publishing experience preferred
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with local media. Knowledge of various media sources and how to package information to ensure wide dissemination
• Ability to plan and carry out promotional and marketing campaigns. Ability to plan, organize, schedule and carry out multiple tasks and priorities. Knowledge of public policy and decision-making processes. Basic knowledge of county government organization, programs and services. Knowledge of basic supervisory skills and techniques

Respect and Organizational Culture

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast‑paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Leadership:

• Supervise, motivate, and develop employees and team to become more productive and effective in achieving desired goals and career growth while encouraging employee critical reflection; able to give direction without conflict
• Show fairness and impartiality in interactions; is interested in employee welfare, elicits staff input where feasible; respond to staff suggestions and complaints in a sincere, sensitive, and timely manner

Goal Setting and Accomplishment

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
• Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact the PHSS hiring team at: [e-mail] or [phone]

This position is:

• Eligible for benefits
• Not represented by a union
• Not eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Contingent on the ability to pass a background check
• Grant funded

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of interest
• Applicant Disclosure Form (Pursuant to RCW Section 43.43.830) (Supplemental Questions 1-6)
• Please note:The candidate selected for this position isrequiredto show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:
  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)
  • Baseline tuberculosis screening (required of all new employees who are healthcare personnel, work in healthcare areas or who have contact with patients/clients as part of their normal duties; must be completed no earlier than three months prior to starting work.

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at [phone]. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Washington Relay.