Senior Public Information Representative - Energy Department

City of San José; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 159,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San José’s Energy Department seeks a Senior Public Information Representative to lead strategic communications, public information efforts, and outreach for SJCE programs. The role reports to the Marketing and Communications Manager and collaborates with internal partners and external stakeholders to advance city climate and customer engagement goals.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years in public information or PR, strong writing and presentation skills, and experience guiding diverse

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, advertising, marketing, public relations, or closely related fields.
• Four (4) years of public information, marketing, or public relations experience.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Form 700 disclosure within the first 30 days of employment.
• Leadership and supervision experience of a team of professionals.

Responsibilities

• Develop Marketing and Communications plans to support SJCE’s programs and customer experience.
• Media relations support including writing talking points and press materials.
• Present to internal and external stakeholders as needed.
• Create content for social media, web, and various channels.

Skills

Public information

Marketing

Public relations

Writing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in journalism/communications/advertising/marketing/public relations/public administration

Job description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY), or via email at [e-mail].

About The Department

San José Clean Energy, or SJCE, is San José’s local, not-for-profit electricity supplier operated by the City of San José’s Energy Department. Since 2019, our dedicated and motivated team has provided clean energy for residents and businesses at competitive rates, while also offering community programs, local benefits, and increased transparency and accessibility. SJCE has more than 350,000 customer accounts and has contracted more than 1 GW of power.

Joining our team means that you will be making a big impact on the fight against climate change. SJCE plays an important role in meeting San José’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2030 and in implementing the City’s climate action plan, Climate Smart San José. Thanks to SJCE, San Jose has one of the cleanest energy mixes of any large city and offers a 62% renewable product and a 100% renewable product.

Serving our community with respect and integrity is at the core of what we do. We center equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging in our work. The department also hosts active staff-led Culture and Racial Equity committees and has won awards for its education and outreach work with Spanish and Vietnamese-speaking communities.

For more information about San José Clean Energy, please visit: www.sanjosecleanenergy.org.

Position Duties

Salary Range for the Senior Public Information Representative classification is:

$130,472.16 - $158,951.52 Annually This salary range(s) includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

The Energy Department is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Senior Public Information Representative who is an experienced and savvy senior communicator with strong strategic and tactical abilities. This position will report to the Marketing and Communications Manager and will help lead public information aspart of the Account Services and Marketing and Communications team.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent writing and presentation skills and have substantial experience developing and executing effective communication plans using a wide range of approaches and tools. Collaboration is key for this position; the individual in this role will work with the public information team, internal partners, and external stakeholders to accomplish marketing goals and report on results. In addition, the Senior Public Information Representative will have well-developed interpersonal skills to influence and guide a diverse team of people who may not directly report to them. The ideal candidate will have at least 4 years of experience in public information, marketing, or public relations. Candidates with public sector, corporate, or energy industry experience are invited to apply. Typical duties of this position may include, but are not limited to:

• Develop Marketing and Communications plans to support SJCE’s programs and customer experience, engaging full time staff and outside vendors.
• Media relations support including writing talking points, press releases, op-eds, etc.
• Present, as needed, to internal and external stakeholders.
• Create content for social media, web and various communication channels.
• Assist with communication compliance with regulatory requirements, including customer notifications.
• Contribute to City Council memos and presentations.
• Supervise and coach a team of communication professionals.
• Cheerleading San Jose’s commitment to environmental justice, and a healthier more sustainable world for all.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the fields of journalism, communications, advertising, marketing, public relations, public administration, or closely related fields.

Experience

Four (4) years of increasingly responsible public information, marketing, or public relations experience.

Licensing Requirements (such As Driver’s License, Certifications, Etc.)

Possession of a valid driver's license is required.

Form 700

This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise

Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Analytical Thinking

Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.

Collaboration

Develops networks and builds alliances; engages in cross-functional activities.

Fiscal Management

Understands the relationship of the budget and resources to the strategic plan; complies with administrative controls over funds, contracts, and procurements.

Flexibility

Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment.

Leadership

Leads by example; demonstrates high ethical standards; remains visible and approachable and interacts with others on a regular basis; promotes a cooperative work environment, allowing others to learn from mistakes; provides motivational supports and direction.

Planning

Acts to align own unit's goals with the strategic direction of the organization; defines tasks and milestones to achieve objectives, while ensuring the optimal use of resources to meet those objectives.

Project Management

Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Vision/Strategic Thinking

Supports, promotes, and ensures alignment with the organization’s vision and values; understands how an organization must change considering internal and external trends and influences; builds a shared vision with others and influences others to translate vision to action.

Communication Skills

Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people’s ideas and thoughts.

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Jennifer Macias at [e-mail].

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [e-mail] and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.