Public Information Officer - Parks & Recreation

About This Opportunity

As the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Parks & Recreation Department, you will develop and manage strategic communications, branding, and marketing initiatives to achieve the department’s communications and outreach objectives. In this high visibility role, you will serve as a department spokesperson, overseeing community and media relations while working closely with the City’s Communications Team. You will be challenged to be innovative and creative with your communications and marketing planning, while working as a team in a fast-paced environment. Your work will be valued by colleagues and community members alike as you help connect and serve the diverse Hillsboro community of more than 111,000 residents and businesses.

What You Will Be Doing

This position is embedded in the Parks & Recreation Department, while also working as part of the centralized Communications Team in the City Manager’s Office. The Parks & Recreation PIO will be responsible for developing and implementing the department’s strategic communications plans and associated campaigns under the direction of the Communications Manager and the Parks & Recreation Director.

This position will spend at least three days a week working in office, with flexibility to work remotely as needed.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities Include:

• Effectively communicating and disseminating accurate and timely information through visual publications, social media, webpage updates, written articles, videos, fact sheets, brochures, and other informational materials.
• Leading the planning and production of marketing and communications outreach materials, including Activities Guides, email newsletters, event promotion, and other public-facing marketing materials.
• Coordinating advertising and strategic marketing to external audiences.
• Working closely with the Parks & Recreation Department Director, Communications Manager, and City communicators to coordinate Citywide updates and responses to questions.
• Ensuring that City communications are effective in reaching diverse and/or culturally specific audiences, including underrepresented and underserved communities of color, in multiple languages.
• Prioritizing work projects and organizing resources with team members who are not under your direct supervision.
• Managing project communication responsibilities throughout the course of design, construction, operations, and more.
• Managing work priorities for part-time staff and contractors, including freelance photographers, graphic designers, writers, and videographers.
• Coordinating design and production of department signage in alignment with City branding and accessibility standards.
• Supporting sponsorship programs within communications and marketing.
• Recognizing community interests and developing creative content (written/digital/video) that brings awareness to the City’s Parks & Recreation programming, facilities, and more
• Responding to requests for information from community members, media, external organizations, and departments (or designating an appropriate spokesperson);
• Analyzing data and preparing clear, concise, and comprehensive correspondence, reports, studies, and other educational materials, including newsletters, budget narratives, internal communications, policies, and guidelines.
• Providing information during and in response to crises, emergency incidents, and other critical situations.
• Working onsite in the office at least three days a week to encourage team collaboration and effective communication.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Developing and managing strategic communications, informational activities, branding and marketing efforts to achieve communications and outreach objectives.
• Coordinating content planning and production of print publications to market Parks & Recreation programs and services to the community.
• Writing and communicating through print and/or electronic newsletters, news releases, brochures, social media, video, and other communication tools.
• Serving as a spokesperson or providing public and media relations services.
• Promoting and marketing programs and events through visual mediums such as graphic design and social media.
• Leadership and supervisory skills, including the ability to mentor and guide team members while fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth within the department.
• Engaging community through in-person conversations, email outreach and responses, and online communication
• Working collaboratively as part of a team, while supporting a positive work environment and achieving departmental goals.
• Meeting deadlines, juggling competing priorities, and collaborating with multiple employees to complete assignments successfully.
• The ability to take complex information and communicate it in a way that makes it accessible and understandable to the entire community.

Current / Upcoming Projects

• Developing and implementing a community engagement strategy for a department-specific Strategic Plan.
• Creating and implementing a comprehensive marketing plan that includes evaluating the effectiveness of marketing campaigns to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with departmental objectives.
• Coordinating the creation of Activities Guides for Summer, Fall, and Winter/Spring registration
• Creating content for a monthly email newsletter to more than 40,000 recipients
• Supporting community engagement on the City’s Engage Hillsboro website and in person
• Marketing membership opportunities at Parks & Recreation facilities such as the Hidden Creek Community Center and SHARC
• Marketing community events year-round, including Hillsboro's 150th Anniversary Celebration
• Implementing communications and marketing in support of the Parks & Recreation System Plan
• Supporting communication for the opening of the Hillsboro Hops Stadium
• So much more!

Recruitment Timeline

Note: Timelines subject to change based on City needs. 

Salary : $92,790 - $122,106