SENIOR PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST- Emergency Appointment Fire

Position/Program Information

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT: OPEN COMPETITIVE - EMERGENCY

EXAM NUMBER: I1609A-FR

Applications will be accepted from June 18, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. until June 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

This examination may reopen at any time to meet the needs of the department.

The LA County Board of Supervisors has unanimously ratified a Proclamation of Local Emergency in response to the windstorms and wildfires , including the Palisades and Eaton Fires, that have devastated communities across the County. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to assist the County in mobilizing resources and support needed to help our residents recover and rebuild. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The Department of Beaches and Harbors is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Senior Public Information Specialist vacancies related to this unprecedented natural disaster.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

During your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%. Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Senior Public Information Specialist.

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.
  
• Participates in or may supervise 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.
  
• Manage a photo archive of key word-searchable photos, as needed.
  
• Staff public information booth and make presentations to community groups, as needed.
  
• Develop and manage annual operating budget and provides fiscal direction to the unit(s) supervised, as needed.
  
• Respond to emergencies, newsworthy events, and media inquiries, as needed.
  
• Drive to different sites, as necessary.
  

The duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

Requirements

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A *Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Communications , Journalism , Public Administration , Public Relations , English or a closely-related field

-AND-

Four (4) 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 or professional experience as a journalist within a media organization.

***One additional year of the required experience will be accepted for each year of college.

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:

2 - 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:
*In order to receive credit for college coursework, bachelor's degree, or higher, you must attach a legible copy of your "official" diploma, "official" transcripts, or "official" letter from an accredited institution that shows the area of specialization at the time of filing or within (7) calendar days from the last day of filing. If you are unable to attach the required documents, you must email them to semery@bh.lacounty.gov . If it is in a foreign language, it needs to be translated and evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards.

For more information on our standards for educational documents, please visit: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/070812_PPG123.pdf and https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/dhr/205105_PPG_123_ACE_Resource_Guide.pdf .
We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

**Experience at the level of Public Information Specialist is defined as: initiates, plans, develops, maintains, evaluates, implements, and coordinates a public information and engagement program for a County department.

***A pplicants who have additional years of experience, may substitute up to four (4) years of the education requirement as follows:

• 30 semester/ 45 quarter hours = 1 year of college
• 60 semester/ 90 quarter hours = 2 years of college
• 90 semester/ 135 quarter hours = 3 years of college
• 120 semester/ 180 quarter hours = 4 years of college

Additional Information

EXAM CONTENT

During your initial work period, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Application & Filing Information:

Applications must be filed online only and will be reviewed for interview consideration on an ongoing basis. If you have not been contacted within 60 days and the recruitment remains open or reopens for filing, we encourage you to submit a new application. This will allow you to reaffirm your interest and update any relevant information.

Many important notifications will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. Please add semery@bh.lacounty.gov ,as well as noreply@governmentjobs.com, and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address and list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk/clutter mail.

You have the ability to opt out of emails from LA County. If you unsubscribe, you will not receive any email notification for any examination for which you apply with Los Angeles County. Regardless of whether you choose to unsubscribe, you can always check for notifications by logging into governmentjobs.com and viewing your profile inbox, which saves a copy of all emailed notices.

Plan to submit your online application well in advance of the Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m . 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.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

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. Check the website for updated information at: https://lacountylibrary.org/library-locator/ .

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, EMAIL, AND PASSWORD:

All applicants must file their application online using their OWN user ID and password. Using a family member or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER:

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 individualized 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 in equalities 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.

Department Contact Name: Shalonda Emery-Johnson
Department Contact Phone: (424) 526-7810
Department Contact Email: semery@bh.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Phone: (424) 526-7810
Teletype Phone: (800) 899-4099
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: 6/25/2025 5:00 PM Pacific

• 

• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

Show more