Communications Officer

Responsibilities

• Work with reporters and respond to media inquiries.
• Draft and route media responses for approval to ensure accurate, timely information.
• Identify and relay public interest stories and information.
• Develop shareable content, including for newsletters and social media.
• Work in close collaboration with subject matter experts from a variety of departments.
• Help manage crisis communications work.
• Provide occasional in-person event support (scoped as possible for 1 – 2 times per month per month within normal work hours)

Requirements

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, Communications the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs
• OR Five years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Preferred

• Experience With Serving as a public information officer or spokesperson for an organization
• Media, media relations or communications work
• Drafting talking points, statements or speeches
• Condensing complex policies into plain language
• Developing social media, web content or public-facing documents
• Crisis communications work
• A fast-paced work environment with deadlines
• Demonstrating resourcefulness, sound judgment, excellent time management skills and the ability to work on multiple initiatives
• Bi-lingual or multi-lingual.
• Experience in or knowledge of Medicaid or health policy.

Benefits

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.