Public Information Officer

Under the general direction of the City Manager, the Public Information Officer is responsible for planning and organizing comprehensive public information, community relations, open records, social media, City websites, and promoting the City of Paris as a destination for business, residents, and visitors. The Public Information Officer will also serve as the City's Public Information Officer for emergency management. This full-time position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule including office hours, some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Establishes and maintains positive media relations. Serves as the main contact person within the City for the media, citizenry, and other agencies. Serves as a spokesperson for the City.
2. Serves as the City's primary recipient for all Open Records Requests, funneling them to the City Attorney, City Clerk and other departments as appropriate for response.
3. Manages the Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) funding.
4. Plans and manages Public Information/Communications activities for the City, including community relations, media relations, public relations, and marketing.
5. In coordination with other departments, manages the various City social media pages of all departments by developing, overseeing, and posting content for social media, website newsfeed, and other platforms; maintains a consistent writing style, voice, and branding across all platforms.
6. Manages the website content, including building pages, preparing content, monitoring for maintenance, routinely checking analytics, and training other members of staff when necessary.
7. Designs creative promotional and advertising pieces including digital content, brochures, promotional and advertising materials, and publications using a variety of media.
8. Development and coordination of new and existing marketing and tourism media communications; create marketing campaigns.
9. With assistance from the IT Department, manages the City audio, video, and photography equipment. Takes promotional, event and meeting photos, produces videos, and maintains records for reporting.
10. Serves as the Public Information Officer (PIO) in conjunction with the PIO group under the City's Emergency Operations Center which requires the ability to report for duty during disaster or crisis situations (emergencies) and assist with internal and external communications.
11. Serves as one of the City's spokespersons to provide public information and promote public awareness of City programs and events.
12. Writes, edits, and disseminates press releases, newsletters, bulletins, information packages, and public services announcements for the City.
13. Attends City and local meetings and events, as requested, to collect information and encourage effective communications.
14. Provides setup preparation for all board meetings using the City Hall Council Chamber; providing video and audio recording to those identified by City Management;
15. Manages the City's brand, logo, taglines, etc.; providing guidance to all departments necessary to protect this product while in official use;
16. Develops relationships with government agencies, school districts, businesses, civic associations, and media to encourage participation with the City and facilitate needs in an emergency.
17. Assists with the planning, organization, and direction of special projects and special events in partnership with key staff with other city departments, such as the Police Department Community Outreach Officer, Recreational Director, Library , etc. Develops and distributes the City's monthly newsletter, any other informational flyers and brochures, including obtaining content from all departments, proofing and editing all content.
18. Consults with and advises management staff on communication and media issues.
19. Maintains cooperative relationships with area governments, event managers, civic organizations, hotel owners/managers and staff, and key contacts of area social venues.
20. Coordinates and/or assists with community outreach events including town hall and other public input meetings and City events.
21. Serves as project coordinator for all city dedication, groundbreaking, and grand opening ceremonies.
22. Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, marketing or related field; AND two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience, preferably within the public sector; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that will allow the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:? Master's Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing preferred.? Valid Class "C" Texas driver's licenseKnowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Principles of public administration, municipal organization and programs, local government, and community relations (preferred).• Standard operating procedures and legal obligations with respect to the release of data and reports to the public and other agencies.• City and department policies and procedures.• Current marketing trends, including the utilization of social media.• Texas Utility Code 66.009 - Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) funding.• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.• Creative design for marketing materials using InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, Adobe Spark or similar.• Operating a personal computer, standard software, and general office equipment.• Operation of photography equipment, video recording equipment, audio equipment, and other television broadcasting equipment.• Use of website platform; webpage content management.• Communicating clearly, both orally and in writing.• Maintaining records and filing systems.• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective relationships with the community at large, City Council, public officials, City departments, boards, agencies, citizen groups, and those contacted in the course of work.Physical Demands:• Physical ability to lift 20 pounds; • Must be able to sit for long periods of time; • Sensory demands typically require speaking, hearing, touching and seeing; • Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or other office equipment; • Requires occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching and pushing or pulling drawers to retrieve files; • Must have visual acuity to endure eye strain of working on a computer for extended periods of time; • Mobility required to inspect work of staff; • Physical mobility needed for moving around a worksite for the purpose of monitoring quality of work.Work Environment:• Employee works in an office setting but must occasionally go out into the field to: make presentations, interact with citizens, or civic groups; shoot video footage or take photographs, gather or share information with community stakeholders, participate in various civic functions as a representative of the City.• Office climate is moderate; however, in the field work temperatures can range from extreme hot to extreme cold.


Miscellaneous Information

TO APPLY: Applications should be completed and submitted to the City of Paris, Finance Office, 135 1st S.E. Applications are available in the City's Finance Office and on this website.