Public Relations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive communications and marketing strategy aligned with MSL’s mission, strategic plan, and core values.
• Develops, implements, and maintains MSL branding standards and messaging guidelines.
• Ensures consistency in messaging, voice, templates, taglines, and logo usage across all communications.
• Cultivates positive relationships with state agencies, the Governor’s Office, legislators, congressional staff, and other stakeholders to promote awareness of MSL and Maine library services and initiatives.
• Oversees MSL’s website, content management systems, and social media platforms, ensuring content is accurate, current, accessible, and responsive to public inquiries.
• Writes and edits press releases, talking points, speeches, reports, newsletters, and other communications materials, including MSL's quarterly e-newsletter.
• Plans and implements events, campaigns, and outreach activities that promote MSL programs and services.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports communications and program metrics to assess effectiveness and inform future strategies.
• Leads and coordinates MSL’s social media strategy and content development.
• Provides guidance, training, and models effective public relations practices for library staff statewide.

Requirements

• A four (4) year combination of education, training, and/or experience in outdoor education, public relations, or program management. Education in other fields must be supplemented by two (2) years of work experience which provides knowledge of professional outdoor education, public relations, various media, and/or information dissemination techniques.

Preferred

• Masters degree in a related field
• Experience with web design
• Library, community development, and/or public sector experience

Benefits

• Benefits of working for the State of Maine: No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($11,857.68-$13,950.24 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State . Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements . Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($365.28 annual value). Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 14.06 % of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System ( MainePERS ), on behalf of the employee . Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office . Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive forty-two (42) consecutive calendar days of fully paid parental leave . Additional , unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act . Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package , covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness . Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time. There\'s a job and then there\'s purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Thinking about applying? Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart. If you require a paper application, please download and print one HERE . If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.