Salary: $64,919.00 – $83,033.00 Annually
Location : Suffolk, VA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 02855
Department: Media & Community Relations
Opening Date: 06/16/2023
Closing Date: 6/27/2023 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Under general supervision, perform responsible professional journalistic and public relations work designed to cultivate a favorable impression of the city. Work involves video production, public relations and graphic design needs and assisting City administration and departments in various promotional activities and events. Reports to the Assistant Director of Media and Community Relations.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
Essential Job Functions
• Creates and maintains Channels Programming Lineup, including loading items onto the playback system, researching new programming providers, and creating public service announcements for departments and events.
• Maintains equipment and organizes Council Chamber and related facilities for meetings and other events.
• Updates and maintains the Municipal Channel’s character generator programming, including loading files and monitoring listings.
• Videotapes presentations and programs for various departments and City Council.
• Prepares and oversees production of live and videotaped programming including editing for presentation to the public via City-sponsored public access channel; operates and oversees the operation of cameras and other technical equipment; acquires previously prepared programming for presentation to the public.
• Oversees the operations of the City’s television studio, maintaining equipment, software and technological design; recommends purchase of equipment and supplies; designs layout and installs equipment.
• Works with the Director and Assistant Director to produce video programming for use on social media and the City’s municipal channel.
• Types messages on the Community Bulletin Board.
• Creates and maintains web content related to City functions, weekly programming and special events; social media accounts
• Maintains production schedule for department.
• Ability to write scripts for City programming. Appear on camera as needed to facilitate interviews with City subject matter experts.
• Performs other related duties as required.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in mass communications or a related field, and 3 to 5 years of experience in public information and relations; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities. Demonstrated creativity, innovative thinking, and working independently with the ability to manage large projects. Must be proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Microsoft Office. Web design and online marketing experience is preferred. Requires a valid driver’s license.
Supplemental Information
• Knowledge of use of the English language with proper structure, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Knowledge of the principles, methods and techniques of journalistic composition.
• Knowledge of State public information laws.
• Knowledge of the policies, practices, methods, objectives and goals of the City.
• Knowledge of the requirements, policies, and procedures of various media outlets necessary for promotional activities.
• Knowledge of the methods and procedures of the advertising industry
• Knowledge of the current literature, trends, and developments in the public relations field.Is skilled in written composition.
• Ability to use popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet, file maintenance programs.
• Ability to develop and maintain high visibility and good relations with department personnel, City officials, employees, media representatives and community groups.
• Ability to conceive, organize and implement programs to promote the City and its programs and activities.
• Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment in a variety of work situations.
• Ability to research various topics and compile facts and data accurately.
• Ability to make oral presentations before large groups of people.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to handle major project management and implementation.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
• Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
• Ability to read a variety of reports, letters, and memos, literature, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, news releases, advertising copy, speeches, scripts, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including journalism terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.
Seasonal Employees- No Benefits
Part-time Employees – Sick Leave (See below)
Full Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits;
Retirement (Virginia Retirement System employer) for employees hired on or after 1/1/14 – Hybrid Members
Hybrid plan members contribute 4 percent of creditable compensation to the defined benefit plan and 1 percent to the defined contribution plan each month. Members may voluntarily contribute up to an additional 4 percent in 0.5 percent increments to the defined contribution plan each month. Members can increase or decrease their voluntary contributions on a quarterly basis. With the mandatory and voluntary contributions to the defined contribution component of the plan, members can contribute a maximum of 5 percent with a 3.5 percent match from the employer. Members invest in various investment options that best fit their needs.
Vested after 5 years in the defined benefit part of the plan. Vested in phases based on years in the Defined Contribution part of the Plan. The retirement eligibility for a full or reduced retirement pension in the Hybrid Plan is very detailed. Please contact the Virginia Retirement System or the Human Resources Department for details.
Paid Time Off (PTO)Yearly earnings
120 Hours (1-59 months), 144 Hours (60-119 months), 168 Hours (120- 179 months), 192 Hours (180 and over)
Sick Leave
Part Time employees earn 4 hours per month Sick leave accrues at the end of the month and may be accrued with no ceiling.
Personal Leave
All regular full time employees are granted 24 hours of personal leave each calendar year. Personal leave must be preapproved and is not cumulative.
Health Insurance
Coverage available for you and your eligible dependents using pre-tax payroll deductions if elected.
Supplemental Insurances
Employees may purchase the following supplemental insurance policies: short term and long term disability, cancer, accident, supplemental hospitalization, and group universal life insurance.
Employer Sponsored Short Term and Long Term Disability
Provides disability coverage for employees work and non-work related disabilities. Work related disabilities are covered starting on day one (1). Non work related disabilities are covered starting on day eight (8), after you have been employed for one year.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employees may participate in the Health Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement and Premium Reimbursement Accounts. All deductions are made on a pre-tax basis and will reduce your taxable income.
Life Insurance
The city pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage in the amount of 2 times annual salary for natural death and 4 times annual salary for accidental death.
Optional Life Insurance
Employees have the option of electing additional life insurance coverage in the amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times their annual salary. Employees may only purchase optional life insurance on spouses and children if they are enrolled in optional life insurance for themselves.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
12 weeks of job protected leave for leaves approved in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Employees receive continuation of health insurance, job protection and consideration for a comparable job when available, or an equivalent job, upon return to work.
Funeral Leave
24 hours of paid leave of absence in case of death in immediate family.
Holidays
Suffolk follows the Virginia State holiday calendar as set by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Jury Duty
Time off with pay with difference between jury pay and regular pay or use annual leave and keep check.
457 Deferred Compensation, ROTH IRA, Traditional IRA
Offered through ICMA Retirement Corporation as a way to shelter a portion of your salary from income taxes and save for retirement.
Employee Assistance Program
Offers employees and immediate family members (3) free, confidential counseling sessions related to a broad range of issues such as marital or family conflict, job or personal stress, alcohol or drug abuse, financial or legal worries, etc.
Worker’s Compensation
Should an employee have an on the job injury, he/she could be eligible for Workmen’s Compensation Benefits, except in cases of willful neglect.
Pay Days
Employees will be paid on the 15th and last working day of each month.
Credit Union
A Suffolk Credit Union is available to employees.
Legal Services
Employees may prepay for access to legal assistance.
Notary Public Services
Services available in the Human Resources Department.
Alternative Work ScheduleFor some positions -Offers 4 Alternative Work Schedule options to provide employees with greater control over their personal and professional time, as well as reducing absences.
01
Which of the following reflects your highest level of education in Mass Communications, or closely related field?
- Associate’s Degree
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Master’s Degree
- Doctorate Degree
- Some College
- High School Diploma/GED
- No Diploma/Degree
02
Do you have a valid driver’s license?
- Yes
- No
03
How many years of experience do you have in public information and relations?
- None
- Less than 1 year
- 1-2 years
- 2-3 years
- 3-4 years
- 4-5 years
- 5-6 years
- More than 6 years
04
Indicate your level of experience with Adobe Photoshop:
- No Experience
- Basic
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Expert
05
Indicate your level of experience with Adobe Premiere Pro:
- No Experience
- Basic
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Expert
06
Indicate your level of experience with Adobe After Effects:
- No Experience
- Basic
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Expert
Required Question