JOB ALERT: Public Information Officer

Hiring: NC Department of Environmental Quality

Job Type: Full-Time

 

Job Description:

This position serves as the lead public information officer for the North Carolina Division of Air Quality with the NC Department of Environmental Quality. It requires interaction with industry, citizens’ groups, other state, federal and local agencies and the news media. Responsible for collecting, managing and disseminating information to the public and specific audiences. Developing and maintaining communication channels related to air quality issues, and for coordinating and fulfilling public records requests. Coordinates events where appropriate, including planning, public notice, day-of execution, and post-event close-out and reporting. Frequently interacts with others in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Public Affairs Office to ensure that the division’s and department’s messages are clear and cohesive. Establishes and maintains working relationships with the public and representatives of the news media.

This position serves as a communications advisor to department and division leadership, including responding to phone calls, letters and emails from citizens; writing, editing and overseeing the design of brochures, other publications, social media posts, website and exhibits; helping publicize and conduct public meetings and hearings; helping respond to air quality-related communications with the Division of Air Quality’s director and other officials; conducting media training as needed, and developing messaging. Duties include providing responses to media inquiries, keeping apprised of newsworthy issues within the division, and communicating developments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency as well as division and department leadership.

This position serves as a subject matter expert, media liaison and spokesperson on division¬ related issues. The position must maintain effective working relationships with the news media; provide prompt responses to requests for information; track and share media reports on agency-related issues and keep division and department leadership informed about newsworthy developments. The position provides communications that support a wide range of environmental issues.

This position writes and edits speeches, press releases, talking points, editorials, social media posts, web content, and other communications content with attention to proper grammar, spelling and Associated Press style. The position proactively identifies and pitches positive news stories and timely opinion pieces. The position provides communications guidance to leadership in the division and the department. The position assists the division with reports and public presentations, and manages events, including public hearings and other public-facing duties as appropriate.

The position is responsible for maintaining the Division of Air Quality’s website, and reviewing, editing and posting website content. The position also proactively pitches and produces relevant content for publication in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s social media platforms.

The position also assists staff with internal communications, including writing, editing and reviewing reports, graphics and other documents, and keeping division staff informed of internal developments.

This person will advance media events for division and department leadership and staff division and department leadership when news media is present.

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