Posted: Jul 14, 2025
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Public Affairs Specialist (General Programs)

Mesa Water District - Costa Mesa, CA
Full-time
Salary: $86,070.40 - $118,622.00 Annually
Application Deadline: Aug 7, 2025
Construction/Utilities/Contracting
The Public Affairs Department is expanding, and we’re excited to welcome a new Public Affairs Specialist to our dynamic (& self-proclaimed funnest) team!

In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our community engagement efforts — planning and coordinating events, developing impactful outreach and marketing campaigns, and helping to tell our story across multiple platforms. You’ll manage sponsorships and contributions programs, craft compelling social media content, design eye-catching graphics, and support media relations with press materials and messaging.

If you're a creative communicator who thrives on collaboration and wants to make a difference in the community, we’d love to hear from you!

Why Work For Us?
  • Competitive Pay & Benefits - We offer strong compensation and benefits packages (including $2,400/mo. to spend on benefits) that are regularly evaluated to stay ahead of industry standards.
  • Supportive Work Culture - At Mesa Water, we foster a fun, collaborative environment where meaningful relationships and teamwork thrive.
  • Employee-Centered Environment - Our organization-wide engagement program reflects our deep commitment to keeping employees motivated, supported, and excited about their work.
  • Diverse and Engaging Work - Given the smaller size of our agency, Mesa Water offers a unique opportunity for this individual to contribute to a broad range of communications initiatives across multiple platforms. Rather than being limited to a single focus area, this role provides a comprehensive and hands-on experience in public affairs.
  • Innovation - At Mesa Water, innovation is at the core of everything we do. We value creativity and forward thinking, especially within the Public Affairs team. This role encourages a growth mindset and offers the chance to develop and implement fresh ideas that enhance our communications strategy and uphold our reputation as a leading water agency.
  • Career Development - The Public Affairs department is deeply committed to professional growth. Through mentorship, access to industry events, conferences, and targeted training, the selected candidate will have ample opportunities to refine their skills, discover new strengths, and build a strong foundation for long-term career success.

What We're Looking For?
  • Experience working on public sector communications programs
  • Experience working with elected officials
  • Experience with the following software platforms:
    • Adobe Creative Suite
    • Canva
    • Email marketing platforms
    • Social listening tools
  • Strong creative storytelling experience
  • Orange County media contacts
  • Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
  • Photography & videography skills
  • Serve as a professional ambassador for the District
  • Someone who will bring their personality to their job and have fun with their work :-)
Interested candidates must submit their applications by 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a selection process that may consist of a skills assessment and interview panels.

 

Representative Duties

 

  • Coordinates Public Affairs Department event management of community engagement initiatives, which includes activities such as: creation of calendar of public outreach events, work plans, coordinates event logistics, secures location, obtains required inventory, communicates with stakeholders, prepares board event invite, and secures event staffing; represents the District and the Public Affairs Department to outside agencies, organizations, and the public through implementation of events.
  • Plans, coordinates, and implements community outreach and marketing programs/projects (e.g., Welcome Program, Community Asset Branding, Customer Survey); prepares staff reports for Board approval of program; coordinates program implementation logistics (obtaining appropriate resources, prototypes, etc.); evaluates program success and adjusts accordingly. 
  • Coordinates and implements Districts’ Sponsorships and Contributions programs; assists with contract maintenance, creates purchase orders for payment;   drafts and/or edits, researches, writes, formats, designs, and proofreads a wide variety of reports (including staff reports), types or enters data from rough draft or verbal instruction; independently composes correspondence and other written materials related to the Public Affairs Department.
  • Assists in planning, developing and executing social media campaigns and works with vendor to implement appropriate website updates as needed; develops and implements strategic digital content plans, ad buys and calendars, and collaborates with stakeholders across the District on content development; tracks the analytics of social media and digital marketing plans to identify trends.
  • Assists in producing artwork, graphics, and various digital formats for newsletters, news releases, billing inserts, brochures, photo displays, slide show, and video productions.
  • Oversees promotional item inventory and tracking, including building and maintaining relationships with vendors.
  • Creates and facilitates requests for proposals for long-term professional services and scope of work/contracts for smaller scale services; collaborates with internal staff and external stakeholders to create necessary materials for proposals.
  • Assists with media outreach/tracking and the preparation of press releases, press kits, media clips, and other materials for press events as needed, and development of media outreach plans; assists in the development and implementation of communication and marketing plans for external audiences; assists in developing talking points and speeches for community events.
  • Conducts research for various topics and projects critical to the Public Affairs Department and District; creates written material for reports, articles, other documentation for public viewing, and internal newsletter; Coordinates photographic services for District events, projects, and employee events.
  • Assists in the preparation and administration of the department’s budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
  • Assists in providing direction to interns. 
  • Performs related duties as required.

 

Minimum & Desired Qualifications

 

  • Education: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or a related field.
  • Experience: Three (3) years of consecutive and increasingly responsible experience in communications, marketing, event coordination and management, outreach, educational program administration or public relations profession.