Police Communications Strategist - Non-Merit

Duties

Under general supervision of the Director of Public Affairs for the County’s Police Department (“Department”). Serves as the section's Assistant Director and supports the Director of Public Affairs with administrative, operational and section supervision. Responsible speech writing and content creation, constructing internal/external presentations and speeches for the agency head, and the creation and production of social media content on various digital media platforms including, but not limited to social media postings, podcasts, vlogs and other video shorts. Develop information for public release to assist the Department in developing and implementing public relations messaging, presentations, and speeches. 

Essential Functions

• Develops information for public release to assist the Department in developing and implementing public relations messaging, presentations, and speeches.
• Researches, prepares, and writes social media content and other materials for public release describing the objectives of the Department and its programs.
• Collaborates on internal and community relations publicity campaigns designed to provide the public with accurate and timely information about the department and its programs.
• Collaborates on community outreach events, materials and campaigns.
• Develops content for various communication channels, including websites and social media platforms. 
• Drafts speeches and talking points for department executives.
• Provides direct and proactive advice, consultation, and assistance to management regarding communications matters, including direct assistance in researching, providing information to the public and developing presentations and speeches. 
• Writes social media posts and creates social media content regarding departmental activities, services, programs, and functions.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with staff at other agencies, both public and private, and media representatives.
• Coordinates videography and photography; researches departmental projects for proactive media outreach (story pitches).
• Evaluates effectiveness of communications programs and implements changes.
• Monitors and track issues affecting the department and informs management accordingly.
• Prepares, edits and supervises the preparation of communication materials on matters such as policy issues, special events and departmental services and programs in response to current events and news worthy issues.
• Generates accurate media content to highlight departmental activities to the public and internal members of the agency.
• Participates in responding to newsworthy events and media inquiries, including emergency and crisis communications to include on-call and call back on as assigned basis.
• Assists the Director in creating communication strategies as needed to respond to emergencies, newsworthy events, and media inquiries as needed.
• Develops and executes presentations to community groups as needed.

Examples of Oher Duties

• Produces video content for publication. 
• Supervises support personnel and supports Director as assigned. 
• Performs other related duties as required.

NOTE: The duties and responsibilities listed above are for the purpose of determining a common set of minimum qualifications for all positions in this class. They may not include all of the essential job functions of each position in the class. Each position may not be required to perform all of the essential job functions listed.)

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Journalism, Public Affairs, Communications, or related field. 

PLUS

Five years of experience in television, radio, content creation and production, podcast creation, or social media administration, communications or related field. 

(Additional education may be substituted for one year for the required experience.)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of advanced principles of public relations, communications and speech writing, and/or media relations principles and methods.
• Knowledge of principles of budgeting, project management, and organizational administration.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of video/audio content, web and social media content creation, and multimedia presentation development.
• Skills in researching and organizing data.
• Skill in writing, assembling, and editing original speeches, public presentations, scripts, and/or podcasts.
• Ability to present sensitive and/or complex issues, both orally and in writing, to large diverse groups in a persuasive fashion.
• Ability to utilize all available media mediums in order to meet the needs of the agency.
• Ability to effectively organize and carry out multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work and others assigned to supervise. 

Character Requirements

All applicants must be of good moral character and emotionally stable as determined by a comprehensive background investigation and drug test.

Proof of License(s), Certification(s) and Education
Applicants are required to submit proof of license(s), certification(s) and education beyond high school to meet the minimum qualifications of the position. Diplomas or transcript must show the applicant's major field of study. Copies and unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Failure to submit proof of License(s), Certification(s), and Education beyond high school will result in your application not being considered. 

Proof of Degree Equivalency
Applicants who have obtained a degree from outside the United States of America are required to submit degree equivalence documentation from World Education Services, Inc. (www.WES.org).

Mail or deliver documents to:
ATTN: Police Communications Strategist - Non-Merit
Office of Human Resources
Baltimore County Government
308 Allegheny Ave.
Towson, MD 21204

You MUST attach your transcript(s) and/or certification(s)/license(s) to your application. Unofficial copies are acceptable.

EXAMINATION PROCEDURE

Applicants will be qualified based on an evaluation of their training and experience, as stated on their application, which includes answers to the supplemental questions. Applicants must state the dates and duties of past and present experience clearly and completely for evaluation purposes.