Public Outreach Specialist-23233709

Salary: $67,475.20 – $82,014.40 Annually

Location : County of San Diego, CA

Job Type: Regular – Full time

Job Number: 23233709

Department: Public Works, Dept of (Gen)

Division: Policy Outreach Data-Gf

Opening Date: 10/17/2023

Closing Date: 11/6/2023 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary

The County of San Diego Invites Your Interest for a Career Opportunity within the Land Use & Environment Group and the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District!

Public Outreach Specialist/Public Outreach & Engagement Specialist

First interviews will be held the week of December 4, 2023. Job offer will be made the week of December 18, 2023.

Future Salary Increase
**July 2024 – 4.33% increase to base pay (2.75% Across-the-Board + 1.58% Market Increase)

THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AT STEP 1, $67,475.20 ANNUALLY.

County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

This is a series recruitment that will close on November 6, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

Public Outreach Specialists/Public Outreach & Engagement Specialists are responsible for departmental community outreach, education, and stakeholder communication.

The list established from this recruitment may be used for vacancies in various County of San Diego departments. Current vacancies are for a Public Outreach & Engagement Specialist with the Department of Public Works (DPW); and a Public Outreach Specialist with the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD).

Public Outreach Specialists/Public Outreach & Engagement Specialists will provide public outreach for community engagement and education, cultivating relationships with stakeholders to ensure all community members have a seat at the table and their voices are heard regarding policy trends, best practices, and program and project development. They will be responsible for planning, preparing, and implementing marketing efforts of County departments. Incumbents will advise County departments on public outreach strategies and techniques and inform the public of activities and services provided by County departments. Incumbents are responsible for person-to-person outreach and marketing such as community building, sending emails, and creating visibility on social media. Incumbents assigned to the Land Use & Environment Group (LUEG) will work with other LUEG Public Outreach & Engagement Specialists. Incumbents assigned to San Diego County’s Air Pollution Control District will work with their Office of Environmental Justice.

Incumbents will also be tasked with assembling technical information into relatable content for members of the public to share information, for accountability and transparency, and to enhance public involvement and engagement.

Department of Public Works

The Department of Public Works (DPW) consists of five divisions responsible for a variety of activities. These range from the construction and maintenance of roads and highways in the unincorporated areas of the county, to the management of the region’s sanitation and flood control districts. It also includes construction, operation and maintenance of regional general aviation airports, such as McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad and Gillespie Field in El Cajon. This position is located within our Policy, Outreach, and Data group and will support department-wide initiatives.

DPW is responsible for: County-maintained roads; traffic engineering; land development civil engineering review; design engineering and construction management; land surveying and map processing; watershed quality and flood protection; County Airports; solid waste planning, recycling and diversion; inactive landfills; wastewater systems management; and special districts. DPW has an annual operating budget of $365.5 million with a total of 624 employees. For more information about DPW, please click

The Public Outreach & Engagement Specialist on the Policy, Outreach, & Data team will provide support in the following ways:

• Create communications plans, conduct person-to-person outreach, and implement traditional marketing techniques
• Facilitate public meetings driving engagement with community members on projects and priorities
• Develop presentations, marketing materials, and meeting assets
• Build relationships with key stakeholders
• Develop resources to support staff in community outreach and engagement efforts
• And other related tasks

San Diego County Air Pollution Control District

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD) works to maintain and constantly improve our air quality. We ensure commercial, industrial, transportation and agricultural businesses are permitted and comply with air pollution control laws, and we incentivize cleaner technologies by offering grant funds. We monitor and record air quality using a network of equipment stationed around the county, and alert you to the conditions. Air samples are also tested in the field and labs. Our field staff inspects both permitted and non-permitted sources of air contaminants and investigates citizen complaints on air quality matters. We also work to help future generations have clean air through long-term regional plans to reduce unhealthful pollution levels and develop air quality rules.

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District-Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) is hiring a Public Outreach Specialist to support intentional outreach to build relationships with communities that are disproportionately impacted by sources of air pollution and provide support for OEJ initiatives. For more information about SDAPCD, please click

The Public Outreach Specialist on the Environmental Justice team will provide support in the following ways:

• Assist in coordinating and delivering popular education presentations about SDAPCD;
• Facilitating listening sessions with community members to solicit feedback to inform SDAPCD rules, budget, etc.;
• Coordinate meeting and event logistics;
• Participate in outreach events;
• Communicate via website updates and through social media;
• Build relationships with Community Based Organizations;
• Develop resources to support staff in community outreach and engagement efforts;
• And other related tasks

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will possess a professional history that demonstrates the following leadership competencies and attributes:

• Experience creating communications plans, conducting person-to-person outreach, and implementing traditional marketing techniques
• Facilitation of public meetings driving engagement with community members on projects and priorities
• Coordination of meeting and event logistics
• Experience developing presentations, marketing materials, and meeting assets
• Strong communication skills across a variety of platforms (website, social media, emails, etc.)
• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders
• Identifies and develops resources to support staff in community outreach and engagement efforts
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, balancing multiple assignments simultaneously
• Understanding of governmental operations
• Organizational acumen, the ability to thoughtfully communicate, and respectfully engage diverse internal and external stakeholders including executives within the enterprise
• Strong attention to detail, organization skills, and ability to track and follow through on multiple commitments to meet competing deadlines and priorities
• Solid analytical skills with the ability to synthesize, summarize and provide verbal and/or written briefings to executives on complex information
• Volunteers and shows initiative to take on new assignments
• Understanding of and consideration for multiple perspectives, agendas, priorities and goals when making decisions
• Builds and supports mutually beneficial relationships within the enterprise, external organizations, associations, and community contacts; strong teamwork and collaboration skills and ability to build trust
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment; is strategic and has a forward-looking approach
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Formulates objectives and priorities, and implements plans consistent with long term interest of the organization

Hiring Process and Timeline:

• Job Offer and Background Process begins in December 2023. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

If you are not selected for this interview process, you may have the opportunity to compete for future vacancies.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in journalism, telecommunications, english, or a closely related field; OR,
2. Two (2) years of full-time experience writing professional news and feature articles, developing and producing commercial audio or video presentations, or working directly in the field of media relations.

Click to review the complete job description, including minimum qualifications, examples of duties, working conditions, etc.

Required Attachment:
In order for your education to be considered, you must attach a copy of your diploma, transcripts or foreign studies equivalency certificate to your application. Required documents submitted on or after February 29, 2008 do not need to be resubmitted. Please only attach the documents required.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application Work History and/or supplemental questionnaire.

Condition of Employment
As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation Process

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month eligible list based on scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment and supplemental application.

Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application form will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process, your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.

Note: Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran’s Preference PolicyThe County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.Military Skills TranslatorDo you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help!

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of: a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which are infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our as well as our commitment to serve everyone, to build a that will create a County that works for all.

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 – 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term “public employees” includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.

Click here to see the Confidential Non-Management Benefits Summary (CNM)

01

The experience indicated in your responses to the supplemental questions below MUST also be described, in detail, on the Work History/Experience section of your Employment Application.Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02

Please be sure to answer the following questions in a thorough, complete and truthful manner, as your responses may be used to determine your overall score. Please do NOT indicate “See Resume,” or “See Application,” as these are not valid answers. If you are invited to a selection interview(s) by the hiring department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification. Please review the minimum qualifications for this position before completing your application. Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency in journalism, telecommunications, english, or a closely related field? Note: Please provide proof of education at time of application.

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have two (2) years of full-time experience writing professional news and feature articles, developing and producing commercial audio or video presentations, or working directly in the field of media relations? Note: If selected for an interview, you may be asked to provide samples of your work.

• Yes
• No

05

If you answered “Yes” to question 3, please provide the following information:A) Job TitleB) Duties PerformedPlease indicate N/A if you do not have experience.

06

Please identify which of the following departments you are interested working for:

• Public Outreach Specialist & Engagement Specialist with the Department of Public Works (DPW)
• Public Outreach Specialist with San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (SDAPCD)

07

Do you have experience engaging community members and internal and external stakeholders to provide information on activities, programs, or services?

• Yes
• No

08

If you selected Yes in the question above, please provide a description of your roles and responsibilities performing engaging community members and internal and external stakeholders to provide information on activities, programs, or services. Please be sure to include the name of employer, your job title, the hours worked per week and length of employment, and a brief description of your duties, roles, and responsibilities. If you answered No in the question above, please indicate N/A.

09

Do you have experience creating and implementing a marketing or outreach plan?

• Yes
• No

10

If you selected Yes in the question above, please provide a description of your experience creating and implementing a marketing or outreach plan. Please be sure to include the name of employer, your job title, the hours worked per week and length of employment, and a brief description of your duties.If you answered No in the question above, please indicate N/A.

11

Do you have experience taking multiple pieces of information to determine the appropriate communication method and message to the selected audience?

• Yes
• No

12

If you selected Yes in the question above, please provide a description of your experience taking multiple pieces of information to determine the appropriate communication method and message to the selected audience. Please be sure to include the name of employer, your job title, the hours worked per week and length of employment, and a brief description of your duties.If you answered No in the question above, please indicate N/A.

13

Are you bilingual and do you have experience reading, writing, and speaking another language? If you select “Yes,” make sure your application states that you are fluent in languages other than English. Please note that fluency in another language will be verified at time of interview.

• Yes
• No

14

Do you have experience conducting outreach and engagement efforts with community groups and/or with communities facing environmental injustices?

• Yes
• No

15

If you selected Yes in the question above, please provide a description of your experience conducting outreach and engagement efforts with community groups and/or with communities facing environmental injustices. Please be sure to include the name of employer, your job title, the hours worked per week and length of employment, and a brief description of your duties.If you answered No in the question above, please indicate N/A.

16

Do you have experience developing/designing outreach/educational material?

• Yes
• No

17

If you selected Yes in the question above, please provide a description of your experience developing/designing outreach/educational material. Please be sure to include the name of employer, your job title, the hours worked per week and length of employment, and a brief description of your duties.If you answered No in the question above, please indicate N/A.

18

Where did you first hear about this job opportunity?

• San Diego County website
• Governmentjobs.com
• Veteran Outreach / FFSC
• Mana de San Diego
• Family, Neighbors, Friends
• County Employee Resources Group
• College/University Career Site
• County Social Media
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Voice and Viewpoint
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity
• Other

19

If you answered “Other” to the question above, please indicate where you first heard about this job opportunity. If this does not apply, please indicate N/A below.

Required Question