Public Information Officer
City of Missouri City, TX
Missouri City, TX
$67,916 - $93,204 a year
Description
Definition
Missouri City is seeking a dynamic and experienced Public Information Officer (PIO) to join our communications team. This individual will play a crucial role in managing the city’s public narrative, serving as the primary liaison between the city and the media, and promoting our initiatives, programs, and services to the community. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a passion for storytelling and a commitment to transparency and community engagement. Reporting relationship: Chief Information & Communications Officer.
Examples of Work
- Serves as the primary point of contact for all media inquiries, ensuring timely responses and fostering strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets;
- Proactively pitch story ideas and press releases to media to secure coverage of city initiatives and events;
- Identifies, researches, and develops compelling narratives that highlight the accomplishments, initiatives, and events of Missouri City;
- Crafts and distributes press releases, articles, and other communication materials that align with the city’s mission and goals;
- Assists in developing and implementing crisis communication strategies to manage and mitigate potential issues, ensuring the city’s message is clear, accurate, and timely;
- Acts as a spokesperson during emergencies or sensitive situations, coordinating information flow between city leadership and the public;
- Collaborates with city departments and community organizations to ensure consistent messaging and effective communication with residents;
- Assists in the development of the city’s public relations strategy, including setting performance metrics to measure success and impact;
- Supports internal communications to ensure all city employees are informed and aligned with the city’s messaging, initiatives, and goals;
- Tracks media coverage and public sentiment through various monitoring tools, preparing periodic reports for city leadership to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies;
- Analyzes trends in media coverage and public perception to inform future communication efforts;
- Establishes and maintains a current media contact list; serves as a contact point to the media and public; provides pertinent information to the community and media;
- Utilizes broadcast media and internet to develop and maintain news releases for media contacts and for publication to the City’s website;
- Develops a plan of action to facilitate information flow throughout the organization so pertinent information is dispersed in a timely manner;
- Performs other related duties as assigned;
- Subject to 24-hour recall and Emergency Operations recall.
Education, Experience, or Certification
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field.
- Three (3) years of experience in public relations, communications, or media relations, preferably in a governmental or public sector environment.
- Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
- Strong understanding of media relations, crisis communication, and strategic messaging.
- Proficiency in social media platforms and digital communication tools, including analytics and monitoring software.
Supplemental Information
The Department of Human Resources & Organizational Development may consider an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.