PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST (ENTRANCE)

Complex Administrative And Technical Work

Serving as a liaison for a city department to city management, news media, and the general public. Responsibilities include responding to requests for information from citizens and the media. Work also includes designing, writing, and editing a variety of printed material including brochures, flyers, newsletters, press releases, reports, program policies, proposals, and other marketing and promotional materials. Duties include preparing written correspondence for management staff regarding major or unusual situations as well as preparing and delivering effective oral presentations, proactively developing and facilitating releases to the media on developing/breaking stories regarding investigations and/or other areas of public concern; creating and monitoring the content for standard social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging); and implementing public information strategies to project a positive image of the department. Incumbents provide strategic policy advice to department management regarding external and internal communications, media relations, community relations and public information; and related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or closely related field from an accredited college or university.

Two (2) years of responsible professional administrative experience in public relations, communications, or journalism. At least one year of this experience must have included website design, social media content creation, digital photography or videography within the last three years. Professional experience must have been gained after receipt of a Bachelor's degree.

Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification.

Pay above the minimum for superior qualifications may be granted under Civil Service Commission Rule IV Sec. 2.7 based on a review of the applicant pool, candidate's verified experience, education, and/or possession of related certifications.

Kind Of Examination

A rating of training and experience, weighted 100%. All related previous experience will be considered for qualification purposes, however credit on the rating of training and experience will only be given for experience gained within the last ten (10) years. This is an original entrance examination.

General Information

The City of New Orleans is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, creed, culture, or ancestry. Requests for alternate format or accommodations should be directed to Shana Parker at View phone number on click.appcast.io or TTY/Voice at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Domicile requirements for employment: Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. However, all new full-time employees hired into this classification on or after January 1, 2013, must be domiciled in Orleans Parish within 180 days of hire. Public safety employees such as commissioned law enforcement officers hired by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), firefighters hired by the New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), emergency medical technicians hired by the New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) and the recruits for these positions hired by these departments are excluded from this provision. Airport employees are excluded from this provision if the actual domicile of the employee is nearer to the employee's job site than the distance from the job site to the nearest point of Orleans Parish.

Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

Domicile requirements for employment (Sewerage and Water Board): Domicile requirements are currently waived for the purpose of application. Residency requirements are waived for all Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans positions vacant and advertised for at least 90 days. Employees hired under this waiver remain exempt from the city's residency requirement for the duration of their employment at the Sewerage and Water Board. (La R.S. 33:4076). Additional exceptions to the domicile requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to apply for this position and discuss your need for a domicile exception during the interview process.

Background check: The hiring department will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history.

Applications: Applications will not be accepted if received after the closing date or after the stated maximum number of applications has been received, as specified on this announcement. All minimum qualification requirements for examinations must be met by the final filing date unless otherwise specified on this announcement.

Working test period: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year.

Substance abuse testing: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing. Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period. For further information, see Civil Service Rule V, Section 9.

A medical examination is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to active classifications, and may be required for re-employment, promotions and/or transfers.

A medical screening, which may result in a medical examination, is required for all original entrance probationary appointments to non-active classifications.

Good moral character is required of all applicants. Any applicant may be disqualified if his/her character or past employment record is found to be unsatisfactory as determined by the Department of City Civil Service. Forgery, misrepresentation of facts, or cheating on examinations is punishable by disqualification, fine and other penalties.

Applicants who are licensed to drive should have a current license on their person for purposes of identification during all phases of an examination. In lieu of such license, the Department of City Civil Service may require that applicants have some form of picture identification.

Veterans preference: On original entrance examinations, veterans (as defined in Article X, Section 10(2) of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana), disabled veterans, certain spouses and parents of veterans shall receive additional credit if claimed as provided on the Veterans Preference claim form which can be obtained in this office. To obtain credit, this form must be submitted with the required proof (at the minimum, a DD214) before the final filing date.

High school diploma and general equivalency diploma (GED) must be issued by a state Department of Education or an institution recognized by a state Department of Education. Certificates of completion, high school diplomas and GED from institutions not recognized by a state Department of Education are not acceptable. High school diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (

Accredited colleges and universities: An accredited college or university is an institution that is accredited by an organization that is recognized by the USDE (United States Department of Education) as an Institutional Accreditor. College diplomas from foreign countries will be accepted if the applicant submits a statement of educational equivalency from one of the evaluation services accepted by the Department of Civil Service. A list of the accepted evaluation services can be found on the National Association of Credential Evacuation Services (NACES) website (

Experience: Applicants will not receive credit for unpaid work unless specified on the job announcement. Partial credit only will be given for related part time employment. Civil Service reserves the right to determine which degrees, education, or other credentials are related or closely related. Experience credit will be granted for related provisional appointments (internal applicants).

Professional administrative experience: The Civil Service Department defines this experience as experience gained in a position that required a Bachelor's Degree upon entrance.

Offers of employment or promotion: Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education, driver's license, and/or professional licenses/certifications claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification. Offers of employment or promotion are required to be withdrawn for applicants who are found to have misrepresented their credentials during the application process.

Revised 1/91, 4/03, 7/05, 2/07