The Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES School Communications Service is seeking a Public Information Specialist to provide customized communications and public relations support to public school districts in the OHM BOCES region.

Our award-winning team of PR and graphic design professionals brings more than 145 years of combined professional experience to ensure our clients successfully inform and engage with their communities. We strive to be communication leaders for public education clients, advising school districts on creative, strategic, innovative and effective communication solutions and collaboratively implementing those plans.

Description:

Our Public Information Specialists serve as strategic advisers to district superintendents and central administration. In this role, you will be responsible for providing sound guidance, strategy, writing and support to shape your clients’ internal and external messages. You will define, create, implement, and evaluate communications strategies as part of an overall communications plan.

This is a Civil Service position.

Responsibilities:

Understand the needs of your clients and supporting their goals through the development and implementation of planned and strategic communications.
Serve as the subject matter expert, working directly with superintendents and other district and building level administrators to understand their communication goals and provide recommendations on how to best meet those goals.
Utilize your public relations skills—applying strategy, creativity and knowledge of audience expectations—to develop content that effectively reaches your intended stakeholders and reinforces your clients’ missions.
Possess the critical thinking skills to effectively develop and deliver messaging that reflects and respects honest, transparent communication to maintain credibility, preserve reputation and strengthen trust with various stakeholder groups.
Evaluate emerging communication tools, such as new social media platforms, and make recommendations on adding these tools to school district communication strategy.
Maintain the highest print and digital publication standards, ensuring all content shared is consistent with branding and style guides.
Develop/update client branding and style guides. This may include outlining content strategy objectives, editorial approach, messaging, narrative, tone of voice and copywriting guidance.
Attend meetings and maintains records of information released.
Coordinate media outreach, publicity and news coverage for client issues and events.

Make a difference. Join our team!

As a Public Information Specialist, you will be supported by a team of experienced PR colleagues working in similar roles throughout the region and a team of graphic artists who create dynamic, eye-catching content. You will routinely collaborate with the School Communications team to support all clients and accomplish communications projects and initiatives.

Our shared service model provides our clients with a depth and breadth of communications expertise that no single communications professional could provide alone.

Education:

Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor’s degree AND three (3) years of professional experience in journalism, writing, public administration, marketing, public relations or public policy; OR
Possession of Associate’s degree AND five (5) years of professional experience in journalism, writing, public administration, marketing, public relations, or public policy; OR
Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma AND seven (7) years of professional experience in journalism, writing, public administration, marketing, public relations, or public policy.
Civil Service Position

Requirements:

Possession of an appropriate level, valid Driver's License at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout appointment;
Excellent knowledge of the principles and practices of journalism and public relations;
Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, including writing, editing and proofreading in Associated Press style;
Excellent project management skills;
Ability to read, interpret, analyze and summarize complex written documents;
Ability to acquire a knowledge of school district operations and complex educational issues;
Ability to establish and maintain effective and comfortable working relationships with others;
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as work effectively in a team setting;
Ability to balance competing priorities and deadlines, show initiative and common sense, bring energy and flexibility in support of a team environment;
Excellent knowledge of appropriate media sources for dissemination of information; and
Broad understanding of traditional and social media platforms, and experience in web content writing and social media content creation.

Starting Date: As Soon as Possible

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $45,260.00 - $48,648.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

Day shift
Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person

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Public Information Specialist