Public Information Representative I and II - Energy Department

The Energy Department seeks to fill one (1) full-time Public Information Representative I/II who is an experienced and savvy communicator with strategic and tactical abilities. This position will report to the Public Information Manager and be part of a marketing and communications team that develops educational resources, communications/media strategies, and marketing campaigns for the Energy Department.

The Energy Department seeks a dynamic, creative, and committed communications professional to help the department best serve San José's rich cultural diversity. The Public Information Representative I/II will demonstrate excellent writing and speaking skills; execute program campaigns; experience in project planning and management, analytics, community outreach, graphic design, video production, and social media; possess a positive can-do attitude, initiative, curiosity, and cultural awareness, with experience in serving a diverse community; be able to multitask; and have outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills. Flexible working hours may be required; some work will occur during evenings and/or weekends as needed.

Typical responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assisting the Public Information Manager and Senior Public Information Representative in executing communications plans for public outreach. This includes establishing and meeting appropriate goals and objectives, identifying target audiences, recommending tactics and evaluation methods, determining project budgets, applying the latest communication technologies and tools, setting evaluation standards, and gathering measurement data to ensure an effective public awareness campaign.
• Creating and implementing public outreach campaigns by meeting with program staff, preparing campaigns and budgets, deploying tactics, and evaluating campaign effectiveness.
• Presenting to community groups as a representative of San José Clean Energy.
• Writing and editing various communications materials, including brochures, flyers, web pages, newsletters, news releases, advertisements, memos, surveys, and reports.
• Engaging customers with appropriate writing style and tone and interpreting lengthy concepts and messages into creative, impactful online, print, and social media content.
• Manage a social media calendar and strategically time posts. Experience using Canva, iMovie, or a similar program for quick social media graphics is a plus.
• Manage the creative production process, including developing timelines, providing creative direction to graphic designers, overseeing printing and mail-house services, and negotiating media purchases.
• Using Brillion, the SJCEs Content Management System (CMS), to create and update marketing lists.
• Proficient in WordPress, Constant Contact, and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Utilizing web best practices for managing and designing website content.
• Ability to use iMovie and Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere, and Acrobat Pro, and skills with InDesign) are a plus.

Minimum Qualifications

Public Information Representative I

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, communications, advertising, marketing, public relations, public administration, or closely related field.

Experience: No minimum experience required.

Acceptable Substitutions: Additional years of professional experience in public relations, public information, or other related experience maybe substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to two years.

Public Information Representative II

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in journalism, communications, advertising, marketing, public relations, public administration, or closely related field.

Experience: Two years of progressively responsible professional public information, marketing, or public relations experience.

Acceptable Substitutions: No substitution for education.

Other Qualifications

The ideal candidate will posses the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Political Skill: In taking action, demonstrates an understanding and consideration of how it will impact stakeholders and affected areas in the organization.

Customer Service: Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.

Initiative: Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Computer Skills: Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook; MS Word; MS PowerPoint; MS Access; MS Excel; Vision, Word Press or other CMS platforms; video programs: iMovie and Premiere, Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator).

Multi-Tasking: Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Desirable Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

• Media relations principles and methods.
• Marketing principles and techniques, including digital marketing and campaigns.
• Principles of project management.
• Organizations and resources relevant to the services provided by the department.
• The City’s practices and procedures, including purchasing, financial management, budgeting, and personnel administration.

Ability to:

• Develop, maintain, and use websites, communications technology, and social media platforms.
• Initiate, develop, and maintain productive working relationships with a wide variety of public and private agencies, organizations, and vendors.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate a variety of special events and promotions. Ability to read and write another language.
• Effectively organize and carry out multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Relate effectively with people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds.
• Translate complex information into understandable terms in order to engage a variety of audiences.

Experience with:

• Advanced graphic, photography, video, multimedia, and presentation production. Public outreach, community relations, and public engagement.
• Strategic communications planning.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses. Please be advised that use of AI content in your responses may result in your removal from the hiring process.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.