Public Relations Specialist

Missouri City is looking for an energetic, skilled Public Relations Specialist / Public Information Officer (PIO) to join its communications team. This professional will be central to shaping the city’s public narrative, acting as the primary point of contact for media relations, and highlighting key initiatives, programs, and services for the community. The ideal candidate is a strategic, creative communicator with a strong commitment to transparency and public engagement.

This position reports to the Chief Information & Communications Officer.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for all media inquiries, ensuring timely responses and fostering strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets;
• Proactively pitch story ideas and press releases to media to secure coverage of city initiatives and events;
• Identifies, researches, and develops compelling narratives that highlight the accomplishments, initiatives, and events of Missouri City;
• Crafts and distributes press releases, articles, and other communication materials that align with the city’s mission and goals;
• Assists in developing and implementing crisis communication strategies to manage and mitigate potential issues, ensuring the city’s message is clear, accurate, and timely;
• Acts as a spokesperson during emergencies or sensitive situations, coordinating information flow between city leadership and the public;
• Collaborates with city departments and community organizations to ensure consistent messaging and effective communication with residents;
• Assists in the development of the city’s public relations strategy, including setting performance metrics to measure success and impact;
• Supports internal communications to ensure all city employees are informed and aligned with the city’s messaging, initiatives, and goals;
• Tracks media coverage and public sentiment through various monitoring tools, preparing periodic reports for city leadership to assess the effectiveness of communication strategies;
• Analyzes trends in media coverage and public perception to inform future communication efforts;
• Establishes and maintains a current media contact list; serves as a contact point to the media and public; provides pertinent information to the community and media;
• Utilizes broadcast media and internet to develop and maintain news releases for media contacts and for publication to the City’s website;
• Develops a plan of action to facilitate information flow throughout the organization so pertinent information is dispersed in a timely manner;
• Performs other related duties as assigned;
• Subject to 24-hour recall and Emergency Operations recall.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of experience in public relations, communications, or media relations, preferably in a governmental or public sector environment.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of media relations, crisis communication, and strategic messaging.
• Proficiency in social media platforms and digital communication tools, including analytics and monitoring software.
  
  

The Department of Human Resources & Organizational Development may consider an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.