SENIOR PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT:

OPEN COMPETITIVE

EXAM NUMBER:

CA1609A

FIRST DAY OF FILING:

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 8:00 A.M. (PT)

Until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

WHO WE ARE:
The County of Los Angeles (County) is the largest employer in Southern California with more than 110,000 employees across 37 departments and an operating budget of $38 billion. The County serves the needs of over 10 million residents and 88 municipalities that lie within our boundaries.

WHAT WE DO:
At the Los Angeles County (County) Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), we are committed to fostering a fair and dynamic marketplace and enhancing the economic wellbeing of our communities. DCBA is the only local freestanding consumer protection agency in the State, and since its establishment in 1975, our resources and areas of assistance have significantly expanded. We strive to improve the lives of all consumers, tenants, homeowners, immigrants, and workers. Today, we provide a diverse range of services to the residents of the County, including investigating and assisting with consumer complaints, real estate fraud, identity theft, and elder financial abuse. We also strive to keep people housed and in mitigating displacements through our rent stabilization, tenant protections programs and our foreclosure prevention services. DCBA works to expand access to justice and ensures that residents understand their rights, protect those rights, and obtain a fair outcome through our consumer protection programs, including Small Claims Advisor, dispute resolution and mediation programs, immigration legal services, eviction prevention program, and through our Self- Help Legal Access Centers (SHLAC). DCBA also oversees the County’s cannabis regulatory framework and is committed to ensuring an equitable, sustainable, and safe marketplace. Additionally, we drive initiatives that protect workers from exploitation, human trafficking, and provide access to services for vulnerable communities including low to moderate income families, foster youth, and immigrants.

DCBA prides itself on providing extraordinary customer service and ensuring equitable access to our programs and resources for all residents of the County.

THE OPPORTUNITY:
We are seeking qualified candidates to fill Senior Public Information Specialist vacancies in our Communications division at DCBA.

DEFINITION:
Initiates, plans, develops, maintains, evaluates, implements, and coordinates a more complex and sensitive public information and engagement program; serves in a lead capacity or may serve as a supervisor to public information staff engaged in the planning and dissemination of information through various media channels.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:

Under general direction, positions allocable to this class report to a higher-level manager or Communications Manager and are responsible for initiating, planning, developing, maintaining, evaluating, implementing, and coordinating more complex public information programs which may be highly-visible, controversial, or sensitive in nature. This class serves a lead role in organization crisis communications or emergency communication responses and provides media training for departmental subject matter experts representing the department before civic and community groups. Positions are characterized by performing the more complex public information functions, such as communicating with members of the news media; developing crisis communications plans; planning, writing, editing, and preparing the more complicated and sensitive material for dissemination through various communication channels, as well as researching departmental programs and investigating and resolving concerns regarding departmental matters.

Positions in this class provide technical guidance to other professional, technical, and/or support staff assigned to public information activities. Incumbents must demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of methods of communicating with the County’s diverse, multilingual communities, and must possess professional-level verbal and written communication skills, applying communication principles, methods, practices, and techniques to engage local media and to convey information to the public through various media channels. Incumbents apply their substantial knowledge in utilizing various media outlets and social media platforms, including hyperlocal and ethnic media outlets. Incumbents in this class must have extensive knowledge of the Public Records Act. This class may also serve as a supervisor. Incumbents must seek professional development opportunities and continually update their skills.

Essential Job Functions

Serves as a key resource to executive management, advising on media relations, strategic communications, procedures, and processes.

Provides technical guidance or supervises a team of lower-level public information staff.

Establishes the objectives of the department’s public information program and develops strategies and tactics to accomplish these objectives.

Organizes and may assign work, sets priorities, and follows-up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work.

Supervises the development and execution of communication strategies, tactics and deliverables, through various communication channels such as web and social media content, email newsletters, print collateral such as brochures, annual reports, and other content.

Oversees the coordination and execution of videography, photography, and graphic design services, as needed.

Researches and oversees research of departmental projects for proactive media outreach (story pitches).

Develops procedures, standards, and guidelines for collection, review, and presentation of information to be communicated to the public through the various media channels and platforms.

Coordinates releases and distribution to the media; organizes and arranges public information campaigns and press conferences.

Identifies, develops, and maintains key communication channels, adapting and improving them in line with external trends and business needs.

Handles intake and response to media requests for information under the California Public Records Act, in coordination with departmental management, County Counsel and the department’s Public Records Act coordinator.

Attends and participates in meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations related to the field of public information and media relations.

Serves as liaison between the department and media representatives and develops effective relationships with media outlets.

Monitors and tracks issues affecting the department, monitors media channels and informs management accordingly.

Works with department representatives to develop communications such as an annual report, annual budget, mission and vision, and other critical documents.

Serves as an information conduit to Board staff and Board Deputies and alerts them of inquiries regarding high-profile or controversial issues affecting the department and provides opportunities to generate accurate media coverage to highlight departmental activities to the public.

Responds to newsworthy events and media inquiries, which may include emergencies as a result of an epidemic or following the occurrence of natural or other disaster by providing contacts and immediate responsiveness to inquiries including receiving and assessing information, tailoring releases to the audience, cooperating with the Board Office, Chief Executive Office, communications media, and advising appropriate personnel.

Develops and maintains internal communication projects.

Assesses effectiveness of digital content using online metrics.

Maintains departmental website’s public information content.

Staffs public information booth and make presentations to community groups.

Develops and manages annual operating budget and provides fiscal direction to the unit(s) supervised.

Responds to emergencies, newsworthy events, and media inquiries.

Drives to different sites, as necessary.

Requirements

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS:

A Bachelor's degree*, or higher, 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***.

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.

Some positions may require a valid California Class C Driver License to perform job-related functions.

PHYSICAL CLASS:

Physical Class II - 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.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION: *To receive credit for the required degree, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization, at the time of filing or within 7 calendar days from the date of filing application. Please submit documentation to Ahsu@dcba.lacounty.gov and indicate your name, the exam name, and the exam number.

**A Los Angeles County Public Information Specialist is defined as one who i nitiates, plans, develops, maintains, evaluates, implements, and coordinates a public information and engagement program for a County department.

***A Public Information program is one in which information is disseminated to internal and external audiences for the purpose of informing the public in support of an organization’s goals.

Withhold Information
No withholds will be allowed for this examination. Required experience must be fully met and indicated on the application on the last day of filling.

Out-of-class will be accepted for this examination.
Employees who wish to qualify using experience gained in county classifications not listed above must provide verification of qualifying out-of-class experience by providing official documentation of additional responsibility bonus, out-of-class bonus, temporary assignment bonus, or reclassification study with CEO Classification with your application at the time of filing or within 7 calendar days from the last date of application filing. Out of Class Bonuses, Temporary Bonuses, and Additional Responsibility Bonuses must be approved/signed by the departmental HR Manager or designated representative or will not be accepted. Employees do not need to submit such verification if they hold or have held one of the positions above, or a position deemed to be at equivalent level. Questionable experience will be verified through the departmental HR Manager when necessary.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
Additional points will be awarded to candidates who possess the following desirable qualifications:

• Experience performing public information work for a government agency
• Experience using various social media platforms to communicate internally and externally, managing, and creating content for an organization’s website
• Experience providing technical guidance and supervision over other public information staff
• Experience working with the public, external organizations, media and press to communicate an organization’s message to the public in support of its goals and purpose
• Experience managing and creating organizations publications utilizing software such as MS PowerPoint, Adobe/Illustrator, Photoshop, Canva and Vizio

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT:
This examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience based upon application information, desirable qualifications, and supplemental questionnaire, weighted 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be added on the eligible register.

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION:
Applications will be processed on an "as received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing grade on the examination will be placed on the eligible register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE IN THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.

VACANCY INFORMATION:
The eligible register resulting from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs as they occur.

AVAILABLE SHIFT:
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Apply online by clicking on the green "Apply" button at the top right of this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time with or without advance notice.

IMPORTANT NOTES :

• ALL information in the application materials is subject to VERIFICATION.
• We may reject your application at any point during the examination hiring process, including after the appointment has been made.
• Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.
• Utilizing VERBIAGE form the Class Specifications and Selection Requirements serving as your description of duties WILL NOT be sufficient to meet the requirements. Doing so may result in an INCOMPLETE APPLICATION and you may be DISQUALIFIED.
• Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the Minimum Requirements . Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week and description of work performed. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

NOTE: If you are unable to attach required documents, you must email the documents to the exam analyst, Alvin Hsu, at Ahsu@dcba.lacounty.gov within seven (7) calendar days of filing online. Please include the exam number and the exam title.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the deadline as you may be required to verify your email address. This only needs to be done once per email address, and if you already have a job seeker account on www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacounty , you can verify at any time by logging in and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of your online application and to ensure you do not enter an incorrect email address.

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.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD:
All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

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. For more information, please visit their website at https://lacountylibrary.org or contact the specific libraries directly.

FAIR CHANCE INITIATIVE:
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a contingent offer of employment. The County will make an individual assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records which are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed .

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.

CALIFORNIA RELAY SERVICES PHONE: (800) 735-2922
ADA COORDINATOR PHONE: (213) 948-2895
TELETYPE PHONE NUMBER: (800) 899-4099
ALTERNATE TELETYPE PHONE NUMBER: (800) 897- 0077

DEPARTMENT CONTACT
Alvin Hsu, Exam Analyst
(213) 948-2895
AHsu@dcba.lacounty.gov

For detailed information, please click here

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