Senior Community Relations Specialist
Job ID: 107345
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary:Regular
CLACKAMAS COUNTY CORE VALUES
Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. In that spirit, we pledge to hold ourselves to these standards at all times in our interactions with customers and one another:
• Service
• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Respect
• Individual accountability
• Trust
By incorporating these values into our daily routines, we can better serve our customers, ourselves and our projects. We’re always looking to improve. That’s the Clackamas County SPIRIT. https://www.clackamas.us/countyadmin/spirit
Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.
CLOSE DATE
This position will remain open until filled. The first application review will be Wednesday, February 28, 2024. We reserve the right to close this recruitment at any time on or after that date.
PAY AND BENEFITS
Annual Pay Range: $87,447.48 – $110,710.34
Hourly Pay Range: $42.042059 – $53.226127
Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on a candidate’s experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position.
Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.
We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering, health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle. Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.
Attractive benefits package and incentives for employees in regular status positions are detailed below.
Generous paid time off package, including:
• 12 hours of vacation accrued per month
• Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
• 8 hours of sick accrued per month
• 10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year
Other Benefits:
• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
• Employer paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.)
• A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• A Choice of Dental Plans
• Robust EAP and wellness programs, including gym discounts and wellness education classes
• Longevity pay
• Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• A variety of additional optional benefits (see links below for additional information)
This is a full time County position represented by the Employees’ Association.
https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/1e311321-f9ff-4daa-8753-bbdfb4e8d1b4
http://www.clackamas.us/des/benefits.html
JOB DETAILS AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Department of Public and Government Affairs has a dynamic opportunity for an experienced communication professional to join our team as a Senior Community Relations Specialist.
We are looking for someone who will be responsible for creating and leading the implementation of education, outreach, and communication initiatives for the Clackamas Water Environment Services (WES). WES provides wastewater services, stormwater management, and environmental education. The water utility protects public health and supports the vitality of communities, the natural environment, and the economy. This position will assist with developing educational programs and materials that communicate WES initiatives, values, policies, projects, and actions. This position will engage with students, educators, the general public, and other targeted segments of the population to inspire behavior change and build support for protecting watershed health.
Working closely with WES subject matter experts and education consultants, the selected candidate will apply communication and behavior change principles to meet WES’ strategic goals and objectives. The incumbent will also assist in developing effective communications strategies and programs to enhance the understanding and awareness of WES services and programs. This role will engage the public, communicate effectively with internal and external audiences, and coordinate public outreach services.
Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in communications, public relations, public involvement, program coordination, outreach and education in a mid-size or large public, private, or non-profit organization
• Experience in developing and implementing education and outreach strategies
• Experience creating and implementing communications plans and ability to integrate multiple communication tools
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to juggle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work both independently and within a team structure
• Ability to occasionally perform off-hour or weekend work
• Driving may be necessary for County business. For position(s) with occasional/incidental driving, incumbents must possess a valid driver’s license. Accommodation requests for an acceptable alternative method of transportation will be reviewed on an individual basis in compliance with State and Federal legislation. For position(s) with regular driving, incumbent(s) must also possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. http://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/828106a0-265a-47cc-a3a6-0a2c8b028673
Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*
• Experience working in the water resource or utility industry with specific knowledge of natural resources and watershed health
• Experience in equity, diversity and inclusion best practices
• Experience communicating sensitive and/or complex information to various stakeholders
• Experience in social marketing, education, or other frameworks that help influence behavioral change
• Experience conducting educational outreach on behalf of a government agency or entity.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) fluency preferred, but not required
*For Veterans qualified for Veteran’s Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.
TYPICAL TASKS
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
• Research, manage and assist with the development of a variety of educational content for interpretive displays and programs. Ensure consistent messaging and content to advance WES’ education strategy and goals.
• Act as point of contact with education contractor(s) to coordinate their work in schools, including ensuring equitable delivery to schools throughout the district.
• Identify and support partnership and collaborative education opportunities with schools, non-profits and community-based organizations with a focus on communities of color, non-English speaking communities, Native people, people with low incomes, and other interested residents who have not participated in education activities in numbers representative of their local populations. Represent WES in regional work groups, such as Children’s Clean Water Festival and Clackamas Water Education Team.
• Participate in coordinating and staffing community events, tours, workshops and other outreach opportunities. Some work during weekend and evening hours is required. Events include watershed festivals for students and tabling for all ages at community events.
• Deliver presentations to community, neighborhood, and business groups on education and outreach program initiatives.
• Develop communication plans, projects and deliverables; develop strategies that support county objectives and goals; evaluate and select appropriate communication and styles for targeted audiences; ensure county message, story and images are appropriately conveyed and supports the county’s mission, values and services; identify and address potential issues resulting in public misinformation or miscommunication; provide culturally competent communication services.
• Advise management and project teams on public affairs impact of proposed changes to county programs, policies and operations.
• Review, coordinate, oversee and respond to public information requests; coordinate interviews and appearances of elected officials, county management and staff; draft, write, edit and direct the preparation of public presentations, discussion notes, position statements and speeches for elected officials and county management.
• Conduct research and analyses of issues relating to county business, budget strategies and significant political and sensitive topics and issues; carry out media relations responsibilities; determine and recommend appropriate communication messages for elected officials and management.
• Develop, implement and manage assigned department/division community and outreach plans; conduct cost/benefit and situation analyses; develops messages and determine target audiences; recommend approaches and products consistent with needs and overall goals of the county; maintain effective working relationships with community leaders; work with other staff and the community in setting targets for successful outreach efforts.
• Develop new methods of promoting projects to the public and targeted audiences; develop strategy for presenting and facilitating community discussion and implementing new policies; contribute to development of marketing and public involvement concepts for effective representation of county projects.
• Lead and facilitate the development of department/division web communication plans, marketing campaigns, and/or project communication plans; ensure plans are implemented as designed, within budget, and on time.
• May act as county public information officer, spokesperson and/or liaison to external groups; assesses community values, concerns and opinions, and communicates them to staff and management; anticipates internal and external constituent needs and proactively provides information, access and communication.
• May provide lead direction to staff on work activities; prioritize and coordinate work assignments; review work for accuracy and content; evaluate projects, activities and processes.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Thorough Knowledge of: Principles, methods and practices applied in design and implementation of public information, public affairs, community outreach and education, public involvement and participation and promotion and marketing programs; principles, methods and practices in design and implementation of public involvement programs, collaborative processes and consensus building; principles and practices of public administration, including public policy decision making processes; principles and techniques of public relations; principles, practices and methods of web-based design and development and applicable programming languages, scripts and protocols; best practices of web design technology, such as navigation principles, breadcrumbs, progress trackers, search engine optimization and site use statistics; functions of county organizations and departments; legislative processes; audience market analysis sufficient to identify user needs and interests; media practices and procedures; training concepts; public and extemporaneous speaking; methods and techniques of writing for a variety of purposes and for diverse audiences; principles and practices of business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation; technical issues related to language translation in publications; research techniques including internet and database resources; project, contract and print budget management techniques and procedures; current trends and methods in public information and public involvement; multimedia and print media production and presentation; website development methods and techniques, including basic html programming; web-formatting options for special audiences; media markets and sources of community resource information; public notification and record keeping requirements and regulations.
Skill to: Anticipate issues of strategic importance and effectively communicate the department’s interests with the BCC and PGA; clearly and persuasively speak extemporaneously on sensitive and controversial issues; compose statements, news releases, and position statements; train staff to effectively communicate and respond to public citizen queries and interface with other government agencies; build and maintain an effective department public information and citizen relations program; establish and maintain effective working relationships; keep abreast of all department projects, issues, and opportunities.
WORK SCHEDULE
This position is included in the County’s alternate workweek program, working 40 hours during a standard workweek of Monday through Thursday (Fridays off). Occasional off-hour or weekend work may be required. Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for this position at the time an offer of employment is extended. This position is eligible for hybrid on-site/telework subject to the https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/9065b5fb-2237-47ce-9534-e7c8c40fc2bc and based on the Department’s business needs. The exact amount of on-site/telework and schedule will be discussed with the hiring manager during time of offer. Telework locations cannot be located outside of Oregon or Washington. Washington residents must perform 50% of their time on-site at Clackamas County.
EXPLORE CLACKAMAS COUNTY
Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents..
• http://www.clackamas.us/
• http://www.clackamas.us/onboarding/
• https://www.mthoodterritory.com/
• http://www.clackamas.us/diversity/
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The mission of the Department of Public & Government Affairs (PGA) is to promote communication, cooperation and strong connections between County government and its citizens, the business community and other government agencies to provide information to respond to key issues and increase awareness of opportunities and resources.
http://www.clackamas.us/pga/
Clackamas Water Environment Services produces clean water and protects water quality for more than 190,000 people living and working in Clackamas County. We operate and maintain five resource recovery facilities, 23 pumping stations and hundreds of miles of pipes.
Each year, we clean more than seven billion gallons of water which we recover and turn into natural energy and fertilizer. We also help reduce pollution in local rivers, streams, and wetlands caused by surface and stormwater runoff, the number one source of water pollution in Oregon.
https://www.clackamas.us/wes
APPLICATION PROCESS
Clackamas County only accepts online applications.
Help With Your Application:
• https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/6b3147a3-bf84-4f52-8238-64a37e936b4f
• https://www.clackamas.us/jobs#helpwiththeapplication
If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources at 503-655-8459 or mailto:jobs@co.clackamas.or.us?subject=Application%20Materials%20Question. Our office hours are Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays).
HOW TO CLAIM VETERAN’S PREFERENCE
• https://www.clackamas.us/des/jobs.html
• https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/a67ee11c-861c-4126-aa5a-4dec6174f6eb
VISA SPONSORSHIP
Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.
If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process.
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/5023930
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