Find The RightJob.

Public Relations Specialist

I. Summary of Position

A Public Relations Specialist who serves as a Public Information Officer (PIO) for a city department plays a vital role in public health advocacy and education. Their responsibilities include developing strategic communication plans to effectively disseminate health-related information, fielding questions, managing media relations, and crafting social media content to engage the community, and promoting the NOHHS brand for all public/media-related activities. They work closely with community and city leaders to ensure accurate messaging and monitor media coverage to respond to public health issues promptly. This role is essential in promoting public health initiatives and maintaining transparent communication between the health department and the public.

II. Organizational Relationships

Supervisor: Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services

Assignments received from: Deputy Mayor and Executive Leadership Team of NOHHS

Interacts with:

● Public and private sector organizations, including health care providers, non-profit organizations, the office of the Mayor, the City Council office, Louisiana Department of Health, universities, and various national public health organizations.

● NOHHS director, deputy directors, all program managers. and initiative coordinators

● Non-profit organizations and organization leaders

● International, National, and local media organizations

● Collaborates with all city departments

Individuals supervised: PR Analyst

III. Duties and Responsibilities

● Manages strategic marketing and communication plans for promoting NOHHS services and events, including advertising, branding, web, social media, graphic design, video production, and media relations.

● Promotes the NOHHS as a trusted source of public health information in the city, working with stakeholders to deliver key messages and maximize engagement of external and internal audiences by conceptualizing, developing, and producing eye-catching digital and print materials.

● Work with and manage all print and electronic advertising campaigns released by NOHHS programs to ensure their work aligns with department goals and brand values.

● Proofreads and approves all communication material by the department.

● Assist with the marketing management of the department's special events and promotional campaigns.

● Creates talking points, press, invitations/programs, including coordinating efforts with designers, printers, freelancers/vendors.

● Proactively handles media relations by contacting the news media to place stories, responding to inquiries from various media, coordinating news conferences, producing news releases, and serving as spokesperson as needed.

● Manages the production of bi-monthly newsletters, fliers, posters, and direct mail and contributes content to the department's employee apps.

● Coordinates with the City's Mayor Communication Office, City Council, other departments, vendors/agencies as needed.

● May work irregular hours, including some evenings and weekends, during emergencies.

● Manages the daily operations of the public information function, including overseeing staff responsible for research and compilation of statistical and historical data.

● Represents the department as spokesperson and acts as a liaison between the department and the community. Attend various civic, council, and business meetings, public dedications, and other public-event activities.

● Oversee the preparation and distribution of responses to all media requests, information interviews, public inquiries, and City Council requests, ensuring accuracy and promptness.

● Promote departmental activities through appropriate media channels.

● Monitor, review, and respond to public feedback on departmental activities and progress.

● Handle extremely sensitive or confidential information.

● Maintain inventory for communications equipment, branding items, and swag.

C. Physical Requirements, if any:

● Frequent lift and carry up boxes and equipment up to 25 pound

IV. Examples of Work (provide 3-5 examples)

● Managing media relations: Respond to all media inquiries by writing statements, conducting interviews on behalf of the director, and monitoring media coverage of public health issues.

● Developing communication strategies: Effectively disseminate public health information in a timely manner.

● Dissemination: Creating and distributing health education materials to the community.

● Collaboration: Collaborating with stakeholders to ensure accurate and consistent messaging.

● Creative solutions: Implementing innovative solutions for media outreach, such as documentaries, videos, and podcasts.

● Strategic communications: Overseeing strategic messaging for the department’s social media presence, creating content for platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

● Adherence to branding and NOHHS’s mission: Work closely with the Health Director and executive Leadership team and other department leaders to align communications with the department’s mission and goals.

● Data analysis: Tracking and analyzing the performance of communication strategies and initiatives to optimize future efforts.

V. Qualifications and Skills

A. Minimum Qualifications and Skills Required by Department:

● A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, journalism, marketing, advertising, public health, social sciences, liberal arts or related field.

● Five (5) years of experience in related fields. Spanish fluency is preferred.

● Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, graphic design software, social media platforms, email marketing platforms

● Strong interpersonal skills

● Strong analytical skills

● Strong problem-solving skills

● Strong conceptual, strategic, and visionary skills

● Licenses: A valid Louisiana Driver's License a plus

B. Other Qualifications, Skills, and Competencies:

● Knowledge of and experience in effective public speaking techniques and the ability to present complex information in an effective and concise manner.

● Demonstrated experience and knowledge of disparities, health equity, and social determinants of health.

● Demonstrated experience in forming effective relationships and communicating with individuals, groups, and communities of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures

● The ability to meet changing deadlines and be able to multitask.

● Proficient in written and oral communication

● Project Management experience.

● Knowledge of emergency communications fundamentals. Experience responding to media inquiries during a crisis, including crafting media statements.

● Creative content: quickly, accurately, and engagingly writes news releases, speeches, copy for social media, websites, presentations, print ads, brochures, flyers, and billboards–knowledge of AP Style writing.

● Hands-on social media and Content Management System experience.

● Experience with creative marketing equipment and software, including Adobe Creative.

● Knowledge of print marketing fundamentals, including graphic design, layout, branding, and production.

● Experience managing video production, including scriptwriting, storyboards, editing, and graphics.

● Experience with social media marketing, web content marketing, surveys, and engagement.

● Proficiency in managing projects for all communications channels and campaigns.

● Experience with brand compliance through established communications channels.

● An understanding of marketing best practices and their application to digital communications.

● The ability to quickly shift and adapt to changing priorities that come with working in a large organization led by a public health form of government.

● Oral and written bilingual skills, English/Spanish, a plus.

● On-camera experience is a plus.

Pay: From $55,000.00 per year

Benefits: