Courtesy Posting - Public Information Coordinator - Exempt

POSITION INFORMATION

***This is a courtesy posting for the Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman***

Salary: $34,158.00 (Part Time – 20 hours per week with Benefits)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Office of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman (CPO) was established to improve the child protection system by serving as a resource to citizens, employing a complaint process for citizens to voice their concerns about child protective services and by making recommendations to the Governor’s Office, Colorado General Assembly and other stakeholders for system improvements.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The position requires critical thinking skills, including the ability to research, analyze, synthesize and write. This position will assist in the development of and implementation of the CPO’s public education and outreach programs. Primary responsibilities will include content analysis and development, publication and promotion of agency products and public education of agency services, findings and ongoing work.

Reports To: Deputy Ombudsman

Supervisor Responsibilities:No supervisory responsibilities. Responsible for one’s own work product.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

How to Apply:

To be considered for this position, please email a resume and cover letter to knielsen@coloradocpo.org. Please include “Public Information Coordinator” in the subject line. Applicationswill notbeaccepted through any other state or government website or application process.

Deadline to Apply:

All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2022.

Conditions of Employment:

The successful applicant in this position must be willing and available to submit to the following conditions:

• Must be willing to submit to and able to successfully pass a criminal background check.
• This position will require documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccinated means two weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series for the COVID-19 vaccine, as defined by current guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. New employees will be required to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination within thirty (30) business days of hire. Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation will be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance.
• All CPO employees may be required to work at the CPO office suite at the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado, either on a hybrid or full-time basis.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist in responding to media inquiries by gathering information and referring the media to appropriate resources, as well as coordinate interviews and media engagements.
• Assist in developing press releases, media alerts and agency announcements.
• Develop original content for the CPO’s newsletters, blog and website.
• Manage the agency’s social media outlets and produces original content for posts.
• Work with the Deputy Ombudsman and website developer to enhance and maintain content on the CPO’s website.
• Assist in the production, design, editing and publication of agency reports, briefs and other products.
• Work with Deputy Ombudsman and Child Protection Ombudsman to develop outreach campaigns to various communities, including youth, care providers and rural communities.
• Assist in researching and writing about systemic issues impacting the child protection system, as well as drafting and producing content to highlight specific cases and issues addressed by the agency.
• Serve as an advisor to the agency on all communications matters.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in communications, journalism, public relations, public administration or other related fields. Experience in news media is highly desired. Experience in communications, education or public administration or a like field may be substituted for experience in the news media.

Applicant must have excellent verbal communications skills, adhere to deadlines, work collaboratively with CPO staff and maintain an appropriate level of professionalism.

Advanced writing skills are essential for this position. The qualified applicant will be required to demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of writing, including proper organization, appropriate sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and editing.

Proficiency with Outlook and Microsoft Office Suite programs, WordPress, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other applicable social media platforms is required.

• Final applicants will be required to submit a writing sample that demonstrates research and analytical abilities on a substantive topic. Applicants will also be required to engage in a “real-time” writing exercise that illustrates the applicant’s ability to accurately summarize issues and write in a succinct, colloquial manner.