Sarasota County Government
Public Information Officer (Communications Associate II)
Sarasota County Government, Sarasota, Florida, United States, 34243
Public Information Officer (Communications Associate II)
Make a meaningful impact in your community while building a rewarding career. As a Public Information Officer (PIO) with Sarasota County Government, you’ll play a key role in sharing important messages that inform, connect, and strengthen trust with the public. This position supports multiple departments, provides back-up coverage to department PIOs, and focuses on media relations, strategic messaging, and collaboration across the organization to ensure clear, accurate, and timely communication. About the Position Make a meaningful impact in your community while building a rewarding career. As a Public Information Officer (PIO) with Sarasota County Government, you’ll play a key role in sharing important messages that inform, connect, and strengthen trust with the public. This position supports multiple departments, provides back-up coverage to department PIOs, and focuses on media relations, strategic messaging, and collaboration across the organization to ensure clear, accurate, and timely communication. In this role, you will play a key role in sharing important stories, managing media relations, and supporting county communications across multiple departments. You’ll help craft compelling messaging, build strong media relationships, and contribute to crisis communication efforts, all while collaborating with the countywide PIO Network. Responsibilities include the following: Media Relations & Communications: Act as a trusted media contact by coordinating press events, responding to inquiries, and supporting county meetings and community engagements. Media Relations & Communications: Develop and share compelling stories through press releases, talking points, and pitches that highlight county programs and services. Media Relations & Communications: Build strong media relationships, monitor coverage, and provide leadership with news analysis and trend insights. Media Relations & Communications: Support crisis communications, including serving on the rotating on-call PIO team and addressing misinformation quickly and effectively. PIO Network Coordination Support the countywide PIO Network by planning meetings, trainings, and development opportunities. Manage network resources, including contacts, assignments, communication channels, and SOPs, while sharing timely updates and guidance. Cross-Training & Departmental Support Expand your skills through cross-training in multiple communication areas, ensuring continuity of operations and broad professional growth. About the Schedule Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After-hours and weekend on-call functions required. About You To be considered for this role, you must have the following: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Relations, Marketing, Mass Communications, Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Illustration, or related field with three (3) years of related experience. OR: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in the above fields with two (2) or more years of related experience. OR: Seven (7) or more years of related professional experience may substitute for the required education, at management's discretion. Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire. The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities: Bilingual skills and previous experience as a Public Information Officer, journalist, or government communicator are highly valued. Training or certification in crisis communications, emergency management, or related professional accreditation is a plus. Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear, accurate messaging for multiple audiences and formats. Strategic, collaborative, and organized, able to manage projects, meet deadlines, and adapt quickly in high-pressure or unexpected situations. Experience building media relationships, working across departments, and using project management tools and analytics to support communications efforts. Benefits Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
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Make a meaningful impact in your community while building a rewarding career. As a Public Information Officer (PIO) with Sarasota County Government, you’ll play a key role in sharing important messages that inform, connect, and strengthen trust with the public. This position supports multiple departments, provides back-up coverage to department PIOs, and focuses on media relations, strategic messaging, and collaboration across the organization to ensure clear, accurate, and timely communication. About the Position Make a meaningful impact in your community while building a rewarding career. As a Public Information Officer (PIO) with Sarasota County Government, you’ll play a key role in sharing important messages that inform, connect, and strengthen trust with the public. This position supports multiple departments, provides back-up coverage to department PIOs, and focuses on media relations, strategic messaging, and collaboration across the organization to ensure clear, accurate, and timely communication. In this role, you will play a key role in sharing important stories, managing media relations, and supporting county communications across multiple departments. You’ll help craft compelling messaging, build strong media relationships, and contribute to crisis communication efforts, all while collaborating with the countywide PIO Network. Responsibilities include the following: Media Relations & Communications: Act as a trusted media contact by coordinating press events, responding to inquiries, and supporting county meetings and community engagements. Media Relations & Communications: Develop and share compelling stories through press releases, talking points, and pitches that highlight county programs and services. Media Relations & Communications: Build strong media relationships, monitor coverage, and provide leadership with news analysis and trend insights. Media Relations & Communications: Support crisis communications, including serving on the rotating on-call PIO team and addressing misinformation quickly and effectively. PIO Network Coordination Support the countywide PIO Network by planning meetings, trainings, and development opportunities. Manage network resources, including contacts, assignments, communication channels, and SOPs, while sharing timely updates and guidance. Cross-Training & Departmental Support Expand your skills through cross-training in multiple communication areas, ensuring continuity of operations and broad professional growth. About the Schedule Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week. Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After-hours and weekend on-call functions required. About You To be considered for this role, you must have the following: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Media Relations, Marketing, Mass Communications, Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Illustration, or related field with three (3) years of related experience. OR: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in the above fields with two (2) or more years of related experience. OR: Seven (7) or more years of related professional experience may substitute for the required education, at management's discretion. Valid Florida driver's license by date of hire. The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities: Bilingual skills and previous experience as a Public Information Officer, journalist, or government communicator are highly valued. Training or certification in crisis communications, emergency management, or related professional accreditation is a plus. Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create clear, accurate messaging for multiple audiences and formats. Strategic, collaborative, and organized, able to manage projects, meet deadlines, and adapt quickly in high-pressure or unexpected situations. Experience building media relationships, working across departments, and using project management tools and analytics to support communications efforts. Benefits Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations. Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different. A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
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