PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

State of Idaho - Boise, ID

Full-time - Mid Level

Boise, ID

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Public Information Officer at the Idaho Department of Labor is responsible for overseeing communication strategies, managing media relations, and ensuring effective outreach to raise awareness of agency services. This role involves supervising communications staff, writing and editing various content types, and managing the agency's social media and website presence.

Responsibilities

• Supervise communications staff including employee relations and performance.
• Coordinate and manage communication team workload and projects.
• Help formulate effective outreach campaigns to raise awareness of agency services.
• Write, edit and proof news releases, blog posts, emails, brochure content, public service announcements, internal newsletters, website content, social media posts and outreach materials.
• Manage and oversee content creation for the agency blog.
• Serve as a department media spokesperson and field media inquiries.
• Work with subject matter experts and other divisions to develop messaging strategies.
• Represent the department on the state Public Information Emergency Response Team.
• Serve as an agency social media expert.
• Write and edit social media posts for agency programs.
• Manage analytics for agency social media platforms and websites and make recommendations based on data.
• Manage upkeep, design, functionality, content management and production of the agency websites.
• Work with the department webmaster and IT staff on website, domain and application issues.

Requirements

• Four to five years' experience in communications, journalism, broadcasting, public relations or a related field.
• Expertise in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe InDesign.
• Experience writing news releases or preparing general interest news for publication or broadcast.
• Good knowledge of public speaking, writing, editing, broadcast production, public presentations, risk communication and social media.
• Experience researching, composing and editing informational material.
• Experience interpreting and translating technical or specialized material into information usable by the public.
• Expertise in dealing with the media; conducting interviews with print, television and other media; and coaching staff for interviews.
• Experience with social media communications and monitoring.
• Experience with presentation and speech writing.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree or higher in communications, public relations, journalism, or related fields.
• Innovative, detail-oriented, organized, willing and able to change direction and collaborate.
• A proven ability to multitask on a variety of deadline driven projects simultaneously.
• Basic knowledge of photography, publication design, marketing skills.
• The ability to think strategically and build communications plans.
• Expertise in print production and layout software programs, including Adobe Creative Suite.
• Video shooting, editing and production skills.
• Experience creating infographics and data dashboards.
• The ability to remain composed, articulate, and reasonably comfortable during television interviews.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• PERSI retirement benefits
• Paid sick leave
• Paid vacation leave
• Paid parental leave
• 11 paid holidays per year