Public Information Officer

“Shape the City’s Voice. Strengthen Community Connections. Lead Strategic Communications.”

The City of Redlands is seeking a strategic, creative, and highly skilled communications professional to serve as its Public Information Officer (PIO). This is an opportunity to play a key role in how the city communicates with its community, employees, media, and regional partners.

The PIO will lead and coordinate the City’s public information and communications efforts, working closely with the City Manager’s Office, City departments, and executive leadership to ensure information is timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent. The position will help tell the City’s story by highlighting programs, services, accomplishments, community initiatives, and important issues affecting Redlands.

The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator who can translate complex municipal information into clear and engaging messages for diverse audiences. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced public-sector environment, responding to press inquiries, managing communications during emergencies or high-profile events, developing content across multiple platforms, and advising City leadership on effective communication strategies. 

This position offers an opportunity for an experienced communications professional to help shape and strengthen a coordinated, modern, and responsive communications program for the City of Redlands.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads and coordinates the City’s communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. Key responsibilities include developing strategic communication initiatives, managing media inquiries and press releases, overseeing digital and social media content, coordinating public information during emergencies, and promoting City programs, services, and accomplishments. The PIO also advises City leadership on communication strategies, oversees multimedia productions and publications, supports community events, and ensures consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all platforms. 

For a complete listing of duties, responsibilities, and qualifications, please refer to the full job description. Job Description.

Please see brochure: Digital Brochure 

A combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: 

• Three (3) years professional experience performing increasingly responsible public information, communications, media relations, public relations, journalism, community engagement, or related work. 

• Experience developing communications for a public agency, governmental organization, or similarly complex organization is highly desirable.

License or Certificate

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Class C California driver's license at the time of appointment.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment: 

• Candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills;

• Experience developing content for websites, social media, press releases, presentations, and other communication platforms; 

• The ability to establish productive relationships with media representatives, community stakeholders, employees, and executive leadership; 

• The ability to communicate effectively during sensitive, rapidly changing, or emergency situations;

• The ability to attend meetings, community events, emergency incidents, or other assignments outside of normal business hours may be required depending upon assignment;

•  Employees work in a standard office environment with the ability to travel to different sites and locations; 

• While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand, talk or hear, both in person and by telephone, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist, climb, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 60 pounds; and 

• May work a variety of hours including response to applicable incidents and special events.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application materials that they meet the minimum qualifications of the position. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position.

The employment application must be completed and submitted online.  Applicants must list current and past work experience.  Do not indicate “See Resume”.

Proof of education, such as but not limited to university/college transcripts and degrees, must be submitted online with your application.  Applicants are responsible for attaching proof of education, certification, and/or license to each position for which they apply.  

Please note, the City of Redlands’ preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference/background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which may include a drug/alcohol screening depending upon job classification).  The City of Redlands utilizes E-Verify, and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Maher at [email protected] or Sophia Diaz at [email protected] .