Public Safety Information Officer

City of Annapolis (MD); Annapolis (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Annapolis is seeking a Public Information Officer to bridge the Annapolis Police Department, the community, and the media. The role involves strategic communication, researching and crafting public information, press releases, PSAs, promotional content, and educational resources.

Daily social media updates, email distribution management, and participation in recruitment media activities are key duties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, journalism, mass communications, public administration or related field.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with media representatives, public officials and the community.
• Plans and implements programs and activities to promote a positive image of the Police Department.
• Researches and disseminates information to the public through press releases, PSAs and educational materials.
• Manages the Department's social media presence and website updates.
• Coaches staff on media inquiries and interacts with regional public information personnel.
• Assists with Maryland Public Information Act requests and related duties as needed.

Skills

Public relations

Media relations

Social media management

Writing & editing

Crisis communications

Advertising

Education

Bachelor's degree in public relations or related field

Tools

CMS

MS Office

Media monitoring tools

Job description

With minimal oversight, this civilian role serves as a bridge between the Annapolis Police Department, the community, and the media, ensuring the public is well-informed about the department's initiatives, achievements, and stance on contemporary matters. Duties include strategizing, researching, crafting, and circulating public information, press releases, public service announcements, promotional content, and educational resources. Additionally, the position entails daily social media updates with a police report and email distribution list management. Furthermore, involvement in recruitment media activities is part of the responsibilities. Reporting to the Office of the Chief, the role also encompasses other relevant tasks as needed. This is an exempt position and quasi essential job working 40 hours per week.(Note: The duties and responsibilities enumerated in this job description are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications and salary level for all positions in this class. They are not intended to include all the job duties of all positions in the job classification. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described.)

Duties and Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains effective and productive working relationships with media representatives (TV, print, radio, social media, etc.), public officials, public agency representatives, special interest groups and the general public;
• Plans, researches, develops, coordinates and implements programs, events, strategies and activities to promote a positive image of the Police Department;
• Researches available resources and best practice initiatives for communicating police events and other information to the public;
• Manages media relations for the department responding to media inquiries on routine, emergency, sensitive and controversial matters;
• Manages the Department’s social media presence;
• Maintains Police Department section of the City’s website to ensure it is up to date and relevant;
• Coordinates news conferences;
• Develops and issues news releases, statements, fact sheets and other informational materials;
• Serves as a resource for and coaches Department employees with media inquiries as needed;
• Monitors news coverage of City activities, programs, policies and actions;
• Maintains file of media regarding the Department;
• Interacts 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;
• Conducts television, radio, newspaper or social media interviews as directed;
• Coordinates with other local, State and federal public information personnel;
• Attends meetings as directed;
• Establishes and maintains a historical record of significant Department related events and activities;
• Assists with requests covered by the Maryland Public Information Act;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of pertinent City, State and Federal regulations;
• Knowledge of advertising and publicity techniques;
• Knowledge of the principles, techniques and methods of public relations, marketing and communications;
• Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, and the democratic political process;
• Knowledge of the principles of governmental organization, regulations, laws and administration as it relates to the position;
• Knowledge of social media platforms such as, but not limited to Nextdoor, TikTok and Snapchat;
• Skilled in the proper methods and techniques of researching, preparing and disseminating public information for a government agency clearly and calmly in a variety of situations both routine and emergency in nature;
• Skill in using logic and reasoning to understand, analyze, and evaluate complex situations and research information to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches;
• Skill and familiarity with data entry on a computer, laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc.;
• Skilled in the use of, and posting on, Facebook and Twitter platforms;
• Skill using sound judgment, tact and courtesy;
• Skill in developing and maintaining cooperative and professional relationships with employees and all levels of management to include representatives from other departments and organizations;
• Skilled in planning and organizing daily work routine, prioritizing and reprioritizing as needed;
• Excellent ability to communicate ideas and proposals effectively to diverse audiences to include preparing and presenting a wide variety of related community/public relation materials;
• Ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented verbally and in writing;
• Ability to handle a variety of issues with tact and diplomacy and in a confidential manner;
• Ability to present complex concepts effectively either orally or in writing;
• Ability to type at a reasonable rate of speed and accuracy;
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing;
• Ability to understand and carry out complex oral and written directions;
• Ability to and willingness to learn and perform a wide variety of assigned tasks;
• Ability to get along well with others;
• Ability to operate small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems;

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, journalism, mass communications, public administration, public policy or a related field and two (2) years of verifiable professional experience as a public information officer preferably for an emergency services government agency, or a civilian company; or an equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Special Qualifications

Possession of a valid driver's license.

Physical/Mental Demands

The work is sedentary and generally the employee may be required to speak, walk, stand, bend, and/or carry light items to include paper, books or files.

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Dexterity ability: sufficient to pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping ability: sufficient to apply pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Handling ability: sufficient to pick, hold, or otherwise work, primarily with the whole hand.
• Hearing ability: sufficient to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Mental Acuity: sufficient to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Reaching ability: sufficient to extend hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Speaking ability: sufficient to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing ability: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Visual ability: sufficient to effectively operate standard office equipment, ability to read and write reports, correspondence, manuals etc.
• Walking ability: sufficient to move about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.

Work Environment

The work environment entails minimal discomforts that may be associated with an office environment.

Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires the need to be sensitive to change and responsive to changing goals, priorities, and needs. Work will be required after normal work hours, on weekends and holidays.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Annapolis Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment against any person seeking employment or employed in the civil service because of any consideration of political or religious affiliation or belief, race, color, sex, age, family status, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity.