Public Information Officer

Job Description

Full-time position available with the Office of the City Manager - City Communications Division in support of the Parks & Recreation Department
Work Location: 4600 E 63rd St
Salary Range: $4,711-$7,067/month
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Weekends and Nights as needed based on event assignments
Application Deadline: October 14, 2026

About Us

About the City Manager's Office

The City Manager's Office provides executive leadership and operational oversight to ensure efficient, cost-effective delivery of municipal services under the council-manager form of government. The office serves as a strategic advisor to the mayor and City Council, supporting policy development, budget preparation, and organizational direction. Oversees department leadership appointments, enforces municipal laws and ordinances, and coordinates citywide operations and programs. The City Manager works to deliver staff support to the City Council and its committees, including policy analysis and implementation. Manages high-profile, citywide initiatives and special events, ensuring successful coordination across departments and stakeholders.

More about this office

Responsibilities

What You'll Do:

• Develops and executes integrated communications plans for the Parks and Recreation Department that advance departmental programs and initiatives and align with citywide priorities and Communications & Engagement team goals.
• Maintains proactive content and media calendars; coordinates with City Communications to ensure consistent messaging across departments.
• Builds collaborative working relationships with department heads and City leadership to align objectives and support sensitive issues.
• Monitors performance metrics, including reach, engagement, sentiment, and accessibility compliance; reports outcomes and adjusts tactics to meet departmental and City KPIs.
• Monitors media inquiries and ensures timely responses to media requests.
• Drafts news releases, media advisories, talking points, and interview materials; serves as an on-the-record spokesperson as needed.
• Develops story ideas and media relationships to support proactive outreach with media outlets and community partners.
• Coordinates press conferences, public hearings, and media events; prepares briefing materials for department leaders and subject matter experts.
• Attends parks events, celebrations, and community activations to capture and share content, engage attendees, and promote Parks and Recreation initiatives.
• Supports after-hours and on-call media response for urgent and breaking matters in coordination with the PIO Supervisor and Department or City leadership.
• Writes, edits, and publishes content through approved channels, including websites, intranet, social media, email, newsletters, and print and digital collateral; ensures adherence to brand and style guidelines.
• Produces basic photo and video assets and partners with creative services staff for advanced production needs.
• Collaborates with social media and website professionals to optimize reach, engagement, and user experience.
• Applies plain language principles and accessibility standards; coordinates with the Office of Language Access team for translation and ADA-related language support.
• Prioritizes inclusive communication and equitable engagement in all materials and outreach efforts; integrates resident feedback into communications plans and promotes two-way community engagement.
• Provides internal updates through intranet posts, staff emails, and other communication channels regarding projects and emergency matters; ensures alignment with City standards.
• Uses approved tools and service-level agreements to intake, prioritize, track, and fulfill communications requests; contributes to quality assurance and process consistency.
• Participates in regular meetings with managers and other Public Information Officers to share updates, identify resource needs, and coordinate coverage.
• Serves as a backup for other Public Information Officers during vacations, emergencies, and high-demand periods to ensure deadlines and service-level agreements are met.
• Supports the Emergency Public Information plan by developing rapid response statements, coordinating with public safety and emergency management personnel, and managing incident-related communications under the direction of the PIO team.
• Applies established messaging frameworks and communication protocols; monitors misinformation and issues corrections when necessary.

Qualifications

REQUIRES

• High school graduation and
• 7 years of experience in public information, media relations, public affairs, journalism, or strategic communications; OR
• an accredited bachelor's degree and
• 3 years of experience in public information, media relations, public affairs, journalism, or strategic communications; OR
• an accredited master's degree and
• 1 year of experience in public information, media relations, public affairs, journalism, or strategic communications.
• Preference given to candidates with experience in crisis/emergency communications and rapid response, coaching non-communications staff on media and messaging and familiarity with project management systems (e.g., Asana), editorial calendaring, and stakeholder management, and 2-4 years of experience in public information, media relations, or strategic communications in a municipal or complex organization.

Other Information

Military veterans encouraged to apply

Why You'll Love Working with Us - Core Employee Benefits (Benefits offered to all permanent employees unless otherwise specified)

Comprehensive Health Coverage
Affordable medical, dental, and vision plans with multiple options and low employee contributions.

Generous Paid Time Off
Enjoy vacation, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays-with accruals that grow the longer you're with us.

Secure Retirement Planning
City-funded pension plan plus an optional 457 savings plan to help you build long-term financial security.

Support for Life's Big Moments
Paid parental and bereavement leave to help you navigate major life events with peace of mind.

Tuition Assistance
Get reimbursed for eligible education expenses-invest in your future while you work.

Income Protection
Short- and long-term disability coverage options to safeguard your earnings.

Life Insurance Provided
City-paid life insurance with the option to add more coverage for extra peace of mind.

Community Volunteer Leave
Take up to 8 hours annually to give back to causes you care about.

Want the Full Picture?
Click here for a complete benefits summary.

URGENT!!! CRITICAL RECRUITMENT INFORMATION

Applications and/or resumes are evaluated on the information received by the application deadline. Please ensure that your application or resume clearly demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying, this includes providing all relevant educational dates and a detailed description of relevant work experience, including months/years of employment. Applications and/or resumes may not be considered if information is incomplete.

In order for a resume to be used in lieu of an application the resume must have been submitted online via the City's Applicant Tracking System.

Positions requiring a high school diploma/GED certificate must be obtained from a school/program accredited by the Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

The minimum education requirement for positions that allow for experience equivalency for an accredited degree is a high school diploma. Unless otherwise specified, an accredited degree must be obtained from a college or university listed with the U.S. Department of Education and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
For positions with a salary grade of EX6 or higher that require an accredited degree, qualifying professional experience must be obtained AFTER the accredited degree is obtained.
Successful completion of a pre-employment criminal history/background check is required for all positions. Some positions require a post offer drug screen and/or physical.

If appointed, non-residents must obtain residency inside Kansas City, Missouri's city limits within nine months.

The City of KCMO is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The City is committed to providing a workplace environment for its employees and citizens free from discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more information, please see our EEO Policy

The City of KCMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call 816-513-1908 or send an e-mail to accommodations@kcmo.org .

If claiming military veterans' preference points, you must attach a copy of your DD-214 or a DD-256 (for reservists). To claim veterans' points you must have served 180 days of regular active duty service and be discharged or released under honorable conditions during peacetimes or 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. (DOD) 38 U.S. Code • 4211).