Public Safety Information Officer III

Serves with agency's lead communicator, to help manage a comprehensive, pro-active public information program. Creates and maintains a favorable public image by communicating the agency s mission, programs, accomplishments, and perspectives. Oversees and participates in the day-to-day operations of the public information program, including preparing and disseminating information to the media, county officials and partner agencies/organizations and responding to public inquiries. Develops internal and external communication strategies and seeks and creates opportunities to publicly promote the sheriff s office mission, programs, accomplishments, and perspectives. Provides guidance and oversight for the sworn PIO on writing, media response and special interest requests/projects. Provides guidance to agency staff concerning the most effective means of communicating information to the general public, county employees and special interest groups.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Serves on 24-hour call, with responsibility for notifying County officials of significant incidents;
• Makes decisions under pressure and deadlines regarding information that may be released to the media;
• Coordinates and provides information regarding emergency incidents and other sensitive matters to the news media;
• Acts as official County spokesperson before representatives of print and/or broadcast media, handling the more sensitive and/or controversial issues;
• Plans, directs, and executes publicity campaigns designed to inform citizens about various county programs, events or legislation;
• Supervises the work of subordinates engaged, in public information activities;
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with members of the media;
• Responds to requests for information regarding agency/County programs;
• Provides assistance to agency/County staff as to the most effective means of communicating information to the general public, government employees, and other target groups;
• Supervises the office administration function that includes purchasing, personnel, and
• administrative reporting and budget preparation;
• May interact directly with the Board of Supervisors and County Executive's Office on behalf of the department.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of public safety area of expertise:
• fire and safety, police, public health, emergency management;
• Detailed knowledge of the requirements of the media regarding content, format, and timing of official releases;
• Broad knowledge of the principles of public administration and public relations as applied to public safety issues and local government operations;
• Knowledge of new media and its applications;
• Knowledge of the department and operation of the County government and its departments and agencies;
• Ability to plan and execute photographic coverage of complex events;
• Ability to adapt broadly defined policy guidance to specific situations with a minimal amount of supervision;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Ability to participate in meaningful interchange of views on matters of critical importance to the County;
• Ability to plan and review the work of others;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with the public, the press, and County employees;
• Ability to speak extemporaneously on a broad variety of County-related issues and occurrences;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with County government officials and representatives of the media.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Bachelor's degree in communication, journalism, public relations or related field or field of public safety specialization (fire, police, health, safety), plus at least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in supervision which includes 3 years as a media or communications professional or first responder communicator to include two years of social media experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience providing internal and external communications for local, state, or federal government, specifically law enforcement and/or the Sheriff's Office
• Experience providing public relations to local government operations and public safety
• Demonstrated knowledge of social media and its applications, prior experience with large-scale professional media and communications plans
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundamentals of digital still photography and videography
• Demonstrated experience developing professional relationships and working with the public, the press, and with County employees
• Ability to collaborate with civilian and sworn staff to execute an agency-wide strategic communications and media plan
• Ability to coordinate with civilian and sworn staff to ensure intra-agency coordination and cooperation with agency communications
• Ability to plan and execute photographic coverage of events
• Ability to adapt policy guidance to specific situations with minimal supervision
• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to participate in meaningful interchange of views on matters of critical importance to the Sheriff's Office and Fairfax County
• Experience supervising the work of others