Public Information Officer II

SALARY DETAILS

APPLICATION FILING DATES

Open: 01/03/2024

Close: 01/24/2025

APPLY NOW!

INFORMATION ABOUT LAUSD

We are LAUSD. We are at the forefront of innovation in public education, focused on a clear and inspiring vision of the future for all of our students as they venture forward on their journey as lifelong learners. Here, you will have the opportunity to exercise your potential in a role supporting the business of education. Our work directly contributes toward the goal of ensuring that our students graduate ready for the world – ready to thrive in college, career and life.

LAUSD is the second largest school district in the nation with an enrollment of nearly 575,000 students. We serve an area totaling 710 square miles, with over 1,190 schools and educational centers, and we employ over 74,000 individuals, making us one of the largest employers in our city.

**LAUSD EMPLOYEES: Please be advised that all LAUSD employees must sign in to the GlobalProtect Virtual Private Network (VPN) in order to submit an application from an external network outside of an LAUSD location. For assistance with installing the GlobalProtect virtual network, please contact Information Technology Services at (213) 443-1300 or (213) 241-5200 or via their page (https://www.lausd.org/helpdesk) available Mondays through Fridays from 7:30 AM PST to 5:00 PM PST.**

DEPARTMENT

LAUSD’s Division of Division of Communications is currently seeking well-qualified candidates to fill a Public Information Officer II position.

For more information about the Division of Communications, please visit: https://www.lausd.org/Page/345

THE POSITION

This position is A Basis (12 month calendar) and is based at our Beaudry location in downtown LA. Requires regular travel to different sites and events.

A Public Information Officer II implements communication and public information strategies in the identification and coordination of more complex communications and public relations issues in the assigned local district. Develops media strategies designed to inform a broad sector of the public (including internal audiences) on matters of major importance. 

A Public Information Officer II receives general supervision from the Local District Superintendents. Technical direction is received from the Chief Communications Officer or the Deputy Chief Communications Officer. General supervision may be exercised over lower-level communications and media relations personnel. 

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are seeking highly qualified individual(s) with exceptional writing and communication skills to produce clear, timely communications across a variety of formats. The ideal candidate has experience in editing, layout, design, multimedia technologies, and strategic communications for diverse audiences. They have strong, professional experience in public/community relations, media relations, and/or crisis communications as well as high profile event planning. 

In addition, the ideal candidate has:

• Experience in marketing and communication strategies for print, digital, and multimedia platforms.
• Communications experience with community-based organizations, non-profits, and/or elected official offices.
• Ability to foster and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and a results-driven approach.
• Strong ability to thrive in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
• Fluency in oral and written Spanish is preferred.

BENEFITS

Insurance: Paid premiums for your choice of several medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
Retirement: Membership in the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS).
Vacation: Full-time employees earn up to two weeks of paid vacation to start. Three weeks after five years of year-round paid service.
Paid Holidays: Up to 13 days.

JOB DUTIES

A Public Information Officer II plans, develops, supervises, and coordinates the more complex communications and public relations activities of the assigned local district while exercising more independent judgment. 

Typical duties for this position include:

• Coordinates and supervises the more complex communications and public relations issues in the local district. 
• Formulates and recommends a public relations campaign that will increase public and internal audience awareness and enhance the image for the local district.
• Advises and assists local district administrators, local district personnel, and staff communicating the development and support for local district programs external and internal audiences.  
• Serves as a spokesperson for the local district and liaison with the media on behalf of the Local District Superintendents. 
• Staffs and briefs the Superintendent at press conferences, school site visits, community meetings, and other public appearances. 
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with newspaper, radio and television personnel, and blog journalists, and personnel from other external and internal agencies and  organizations for the purpose of creative positive public relations for the local district.
• Initiates and prepares press releases, position papers, correspondence, reports, feature articles, and internal communication deliverables for distribution to the press, public and internal audiences via print, online, video and digital media.

Please Note: This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities of this position. For a comprehensive list of duties performed, please refer to the class description via our website https://www.lausd.org/Page/18661.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:  Graduation from a recognized college or university with a bachelor’s degree in communications, English, public relations, journalism, marketing, or a related field. Additional qualifying experience may substitute for two (2) years of the required education on a year-for-year basis provided that graduation from high school or evidence of equivalent educational proficiency is met. 

EXPERIENCE:  Four (4) years of full-time experience in public information, media liaison, news reporting, feature writing, publicity writing, marketing, or television news and public affairs. Experience as a news reporter is highly preferred. Supervisory or lead experience and political and educational policy communications experience is preferred. 

SPECIAL:  A valid California Driver License and the availability of private transportation, or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation. Fluency in oral and written Spanish is preferable. 

*IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met, we need to verify your educational document(s). As such, you MUST upload your official diploma/degree/transcripts to your candidate profile, under "My Uploaded Documents." We screen applications based on the minimum requirements and need to verify the educational requirement is met. Candidates who have completed college or university coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States, MUST obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts and degrees. Please be sure to request a “Detailed” evaluation report. The original of this degree evaluation must be presented. For more information on Foreign Transcript Evaluation please visit https://achieve.lausd.net/Page/7876.

EMPLOYMENT SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process may consist of the following: a T&E, a Technical Project, and/or a Technical Interview. After applications are reviewed and determined to meet the minimum qualifications, qualified candidates will move on to the next phase of our selection process.

Application materials (your candidate profile, resume, and supplemental questionnaire) will be evaluated in relation to the background, experience, and competencies identified for successful performance in this job. As such, please make sure that you describe in DETAIL your experience, education, and training that most closely relates to this position in your application.

This is a competitive process and we anticipate a number of well qualified candidates for this recruitment. You may include a professional resume, but it will NOT be in lieu of a detailed application and the required questionnaire. It is imperative that your application reflects your true and accurate background. Furthermore, if you have assisted in an interim or other temporary assignment or worked out-of-class for a significant and specified duration of time, include the contact information of your immediate supervisor during that assignment and be prepared to present verification from the official (local district superintendent, department administrator, or supervisor) validating your claim.

**Please be sure to include correspondence from @lausd.net AND @successfactors.com as an approved sender so that messages aren't accidentally placed into your spam/junk e-mail folder. ALL notifications regarding this recruitment will be sent via email.**

PLEASE NOTE: Qualified Candidates will be required to present an unexpired government identification at the time of the test. If you are unable to attend the scheduled test date, rescheduling is NOT guaranteed. If you are unable to attend a scheduled assessment date, please note that we recruit for this position on a regular basis. We encourage you to visit our website periodically to check for the next recruitment and we encourage you to apply to any positions for which you believe you meet the minimum qualifications. For more information about the LAUSD employment assessment process, visit the 'My LAUSD Career' section of our website at https://careers.lausd.org/pc.

APPLICATION PROCESS

DO YOU NEED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE ON-LINE APPLICATION?

Email us at helpmeapply@lausd.net or call 213-241-3455, weekdays from 8:00 AM PST to 4:30 PM PST. To find out whether the application deadline has been extended, visit the website at: https://careers.lausd.org/pc. The Los Angeles Unified School District intends that all qualified persons shall have equal opportunities for employment and promotion.

Reasonable accommodations in completing an application and testing are available to individuals with disabilities. Please call (213) 241-3455 for more information.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Mercedes Quintanilla at m.quintanilla1@lausd.net.

> Note: Our applicant system is only compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

ADDITIONAL POSTING INFORMATION

The Los Angeles Unified School District is committed to providing a working and learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct, or bullying. The District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, abusive conduct or bullying based on actual or perceived race or ethnicity, gender/sex (including gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding/lactation status and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin (including language use restrictions and possession of a driver’s license issued under Vehicle Code), ancestry, immigration status, physical or mental disability (including clinical depression and bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, epilepsy, seizure disorder, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease), medical condition (cancer related and genetic characteristics), military and veteran status, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age (40 and above), genetic information, political belief or affiliation (unless union related), a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation in any program or activity it conducts or to which it provides significant assistance.

For inquiries or complaints contact our Equal Opportunity Section, (213) 241-7685.

Selection and promotion are based on a competitive employment assessment process. Candidates who pass all parts of the assessment process are placed on a hiring (eligibility) list based on their assessment score. Hiring departments may make job offers to candidates on the top three ranks of the hiring list. Eligibility typically lasts for 12 months. The hiring list resulting from this assessment process may be used to fill open positions in related job classifications.

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