Responsibilities

• Proactively develop, research and write news releases and external messaging that promotes ADOT goals and initiatives.
• Provide official agency response to media inquiries related to highway infrastructure, construction, maintenance and operations.
• Represent ADOT in media interviews and at public events.
• Contribute to the development of external communication materials through writing, editing and consulting on creative development of support materials, including multimedia.
• Measure the effectiveness of external communications. This includes written, spoken and digital/electronic forms of communications, including social media.
• This position implements external communication strategies that maintain and enhance positive relations between ADOT and local and national media outlets.
• Recognize emerging news, creating proactive and reactive media outreach to inform commuters and professional drivers.
• Provide a high level of customer service to journalists.
• Build and sustain positive relations with local, statewide and national media.
• Pre-Employment Requirements:

Requirements

• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
• - Communication techniques that attract public support for the agency’s programs and objectives.
• - Principles and practices of journalism, publications, advertising and public information.
• - Preparation and production of written and visual materials and materials to be presented orally.
• - Associated Press Style.
• - Social media standards, trends and methods of measurement.
• - Arizona’s political structure and ADOT’s role within that structure.
• - Transportation infrastructure.
• Skill In/with:
• - News management.

Preferred

• Five to ten years experience in journalism, media relations, public information & or public relations.
• Ideal candidate for this position will possess a bachelor degree in journalism, broadcast journalism, communications or a closely related field.
• Ideal candidate will have a professional background in transportation.

Benefits

• - Sick leave
• - Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• - Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• - Health and dental insurance
• - Retirement plan
• - Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• - Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance
• - By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.