Media Specialist

MEDIA SPECIALIST

Office of the County Executive

$99,902.40 - $120,785.60 Annually

County of Marin

San Rafael, California

At the County of Marin, our employees overwhelmingly report feeling their work is meaningful, they like the work they do, and they are proud to tell people “I work for the County of Marin.” Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture on the Marin County Human Resources website. Read on to find out more about this opportunity.

The Office of the County Executive (OCE) is responsible for preparing the County budget, providing the Board of Supervisors with the information needed for decision-making, representing the County in intergovernmental relationships, coordinating the work of all County departments, ensuring they provide timely, accurate and coordinated information to the public. The OCE staff also helps coordinate planning for County facilities, risk management, and racial equity initiatives. The OCE Communications Division is a small, dynamic team that consists of a Communications Director, a Media Manager, and three Media Specialists.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Media Specialist promotes public understanding of County programs, services, and initiatives. The position is responsible for performing professional public information, media relations, and communications duties. Work includes preparing and disseminating materials through multiple channels, managing relationships with traditional media, and ensuring that communications strategies support the County's overall public information objectives.

The position involves collaboration with County staff, the news media, and the public to convey accurate and timely information about County programs and services. The Media Specialist works closely with elected officials, department heads, and County staff, developing and maintaining positive working relationships with those involved in public information and outreach efforts.

Areas of focus include:

• Supporting the development and management of the County’s communication strategy for internal and external audiences, including public information, social media, marketing, and branding.
• Assisting in creating policies, procedures, and action plans for communication programs.
• Facilitating public outreach efforts in alignment with County goals and coordinating briefings, workshops, events, and emergency communication plans.
• Serving as a liaison between the County and media for sensitive issues and preparing talking points for public events and meetings.
• Collaborating with teams to ensure website content is accurate and updated, contributing to social media strategy and content development.
• Supporting contracted vendors and overseeing the progress of communication-related projects.
• Researching emerging issues in Marin’s communities and assisting in recommending policy adjustments based on potential impacts.
• Leading the preparation of speeches, scripts, news releases, and other communication materials for policymakers.
• Contributing to developing educational content, including brochures, fact sheets, and newsletters.
• Helping coordinate disaster preparedness and community outreach initiatives.
• Performing other related duties as required.

THE HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE: The ideal applicant possesses a combination of the following experience and competencies:

• Experience supporting communication strategies for internal and external audiences, including public outreach, social media, marketing, and branding.
• Experience with public information initiatives in a governmental agency, coordinating outreach, and engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Experience collaborating with media and managing public responses to sensitive issues.
• Experience creating and editing speeches, scripts, news releases, and other materials, simplifying complex information for broad audiences.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Confident speaking publicly and on camera.
• Experience with government protocols for public information and emergency communications.  

Given the County’s goal to increase engagement with its Spanish-speaking residents, English/Spanish bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Bilingual Testing/Certification: The successful candidate, if bilingual, must demonstrate proficiency in both Spanish and English prior to appointment. A bilingual proficiency exam will be administered to ensure the candidates possess the appropriate skill level to meet the requirements.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and abilities listed. Typically, this would be the equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations or a closely related field and two years of progressively responsible experience in media-related activities. Additional professional experience in media activities may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Remote work, up to two days per week, may be arranged after six months of employment. Work could include occasional evenings or weekends depending on the outreach needs of County departments.

Filing Deadline: Thursday, October 31, 2024, 11:59pm. Apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/marincounty/jobs/4696483/media-specialist. You may also visit  www.marincounty.org/jobs. For any questions, please contact the Marin County HR Dept at [email protected] or call (415) 473-6104. EEO/TTY