Senior Public Information Specialist - Emergency Appointment

County of Los Angeles; California; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Los Angeles seeks an experienced Senior Public Information Specialist for Aging and Disabilities to lead media relations, messaging, and communications planning in response to homelessness and related issues.

You will supervise Public Information staff, draft press materials, coordinate with County Counsel on CPRA responses, and manage crisis communications; occasional travel and after-hours work may be required.

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, English or closely-related field and four years of relevant experience.
• You must meet the above requirements to be appointed to fill vacancies in this recruitment.
• Experience leading or managing a communications/Public information/public relations program is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as advisor on media relations, messaging, and communications planning.
• Lead the development and review of executive communications, including speeches, talking points, statements, briefing materials, and leadership messaging.
• Lead and supervise Public Information staff, providing technical direction and quality control of communications products.
• Develop and execute proactive and reactive media relations strategies, including story pitching, press coordination, and interview facilitation.
• Coordinate and respond to media inquiries and interview requests, including high-profile or sensitive issues.

Skills

Media relations

Spokesperson

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Writing & editing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications/Journalism/Public Relations/English

Job description

Applications will be accepted from Friday, October 9, 2026 until the department hiring needs are met. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

Exam Number: AG1609A-EA

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

Aging and Disabilities is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Senior Public Information Specialist vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Senior Information Public Specialist.

The position is located at Aging and Disabilities' headquarters located at 510 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020. The department has an established hybrid telework schedule, subject to changes based on operational needs.

Serve as an advisor on media relations, messaging, and communications planning.

Lead the development and review of executive communications, including speeches, talking points, statements, briefing materials, and leadership messaging.

Lead and supervise Public Information staff, providing technical direction, and quality control of communications products.

Develop and execute proactive and reactive media relations strategies, including story pitching, press coordination, and interview facilitation.

Serve as primary liaison to media outlets, cultivating and maintaining effective relationships with journalists and news organizations.

Draft, edit, and approve press releases, statements, speeches, talking points, and editorial content for the Department’s newsroom and publications.

Coordinate and respond to media inquiries and interview requests, including those involving sensitive, high-profile, or complex issues.

Manage communications related to California Public Records Act (CPRA) requests in coordination with County Counsel and internal stakeholders.

Monitor media coverage and emerging issues; recommend appropriate response strategies.

Lead communications during emergency or crisis situations, ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated messaging.

Plan and support press conferences, public events, and outreach efforts.

Develop and support internal communications initiatives to ensure alignment across the Department.

May be required to travel to various worksites and respond outside of standard business hours, as needed.

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY

A Bachelor's degree* from an accredited college or university with a major in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, English or a closely-related field -AND- Four years of experience at the level of Los Angeles County’s class of Public Information Specialist** initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating a public information program or professional experience as a journalist or publicist within a media organization, public relations firm, nonprofit organization, or other company. One additional year of the required experience will be accepted for each year of college.

You MUST meet the above requirement(s) in order to be appointed to fill any vacancies related to this recruitment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must be willing and able to occasionally work outside of normal business hours, including evenings or weekends, when needed for media events, public events, emergencies, crisis communications, or other Department needs. Candidates must also be willing to organize and/or attend off-site meetings, community events, press events, and other activities as needed.

LICENSE

A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS

2 - Light. This class includes administrative and clerical positions requiring light physical effort that may include occasional light lifting to a 10-pound limit and some bending, stooping, or squatting. Considerable ambulation may be involved.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading or managing a communication(s), public information, or public relations program.
• Proficiency in professional writing and editing and the types of communications you regularly develop, such as press releases, articles, public statements, executive communications, talking points, or other public-facing materials.
• Experience developing strategic communications, messaging, and communications materials for executives, senior leaders, or organizational leadership.
• Experience managing media relations, including responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews and press events/ conferences, working with reporters, and developing relationships with media outlets.
• Experience identifying newsworthy issues or opportunities and proactively pitching stories to the media.
• Experience developing or implementing communications for emergencies, crises, controversial issues, or other sensitive or high-profile situations.
• Experience serving as a spokesperson.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to produce clear, accurate, compelling communications for a variety of audiences and purposes.
• Strong proficiency in leading and managing a communications, public information, public relations, or similar program, including developing strategy, setting priorities, managing work, and evaluating results.
• Advanced proficiency in writing and editing press releases, news articles, public statements, talking points, executive remarks, briefing materials, and other high-level communications.
• Strong proficiency in strategic messaging, including developing key messages, communication strategies, and talking points for complex or sensitive issues.
• Strong proficiency in executive communications, including developing messaging, talking points, speeches, briefing materials, and other communications for executives and senior leadership.
• Strong proficiency in media relations, including responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, developing and maintaining relationships with reporters and media outlets, and serving as a communications liaison.
• Strong proficiency in proactive media relations, including identifying newsworthy issues and opportunities, developing story angles, and pitching stories to members of the media.
• Strong spokesperson skills, including the ability to represent an organization clearly and effectively before the media, community groups, and the public.
• Strong proficiency in crisis communications, including developing and executing communications for emergencies, controversial issues, and other high-profile or time-sensitive situations.
• Strong proficiency in public education and community outreach, including developing messaging designed to reach diverse audiences.
• Ability to translate complex, technical, or program-specific information into clear, accessible, and compelling public-facing communications.
• Strong proficiency in developing content across multiple platforms, including websites, social media, email, print, and other public-facing channels.
• Excellent judgment when handling sensitive, confidential, high-profile, or potentially controversial issues.
• Ability to independently manage multiple complex communications projects, competing priorities, and tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with program staff, subject-matter experts, community partners, and internal as well as external stakeholders.

EXAM CONTENT

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Please include your Social Security Number for record control purposes. Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Computer and Internet Access at Public Libraries: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI)

The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.