PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (SENIOR PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR)

Position Overview

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is seeking a Public Information Officer. In this role, you will collaborate directly with the Governor’s Communications Office, agency leadership, and other state agencies to maintain a consistent and aligned public message. Your leadership will guide a dedicated team, helping them grow while delivering exceptional public relations services. From media relations and crafting compelling content to managing crisis communication and public events, you will help keep the public informed and engaged with the agency’s mission and initiatives. Our employees work in an ever-changing environment that presents new challenges with rewarding results. If you are interested in joining our team of compassionate and integrity driven public servants, we invite you to apply for the Public Information Officer position with IEMA-OHS!

Essential Functions

• Subject to management approval, serves as the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) Public Information Officer (PIO), directing the Agency's public information, media relations, and strategic communications program.
• Serves as the Agency's primary spokesperson, directing media relations and representing the Director and IEMA-OHS in communications with the media and the public.
• Serves as a full-line supervisor.
• Develops, implements, and oversees strategic branding, marketing, and public image initiatives to enhance the Agency's visibility and public awareness. In collaboration with agency leadership, develops, implements, and oversees effective branding, marketing, and public image strategies to achieve Agency goals.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in business, public administration or a closely related field.
• Requires prior experience equivalent to four (4) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in public affairs, public relations or journalism in a public or business organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers five (5) years of professional experience developing and executing strategic communications plans, including crisis communications strategy.
• Prefers three (3) years of professional experience responding to or coordinating Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from media organizations.
• Prefers four (4) years of experience in the development and maintenance of cooperative working relationships with Board members, management, staff, members of the general assembly, and representatives from law enforcement unions and/or fraternal organizations.
• Prefers four (4) years of professional experience supervising communications, public relations, or marketing staff.
• Prefers four (4) years of professional experience writing, editing, and distributing press releases, newsletters, brochures, or other public-facing communications materials.
• Prefers four (4) years of professional experience developing branding, marketing, or public image campaigns, including multimedia content such as video, social media, and print materials.
• Prefers three (3) years of professional experience building and maintaining relationships with members of the media, and coordinating public information activities with county, municipal, state, and federal governmental agency counterparts.
• Prefers one (1) year of professional experience directly communicating with the public or media during an actual emergency, disaster, or crisis event.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police.
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This may require the ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.