PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST (ENTRANCE) (CLASS CODE 7126) Job at City of New Orle

Complex administrative and technical work serving as a liaison for a city department to city management, news media, and the general public. Responsibilities include responding to requests for information from citizens and the media. Work also includes designing, writing, and editing a variety of printed material including brochures, flyers, newsletters, press releases, reports, program policies, proposals, and other marketing and promotional materials. Duties include preparing written correspondence for management staff regarding major or unusual situations as well as preparing and delivering effective oral presentations, proactively developing and facilitating releases to the media on developing/breaking stories regarding investigations, and/or other areas of public concern; creating and monitoring the content for standard social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging); and implementing public information strategies to project a positive image of the department. Incumbents provide strategic policy advice to department management regarding external and internal communications, media relations, community relations, and public information; and related duties as required.

1. A Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism or closely related field from an accredited college or university.
2. Two (2) years of responsible professional administrative experience in public relations, communications, or journalism. At least one year of this experience must have included website design, social media content creation, digital photography or videography within the last three years. Professional experience must have been gained in a position that required a Bachelor's degree upon entrance.

* Prior to appointment, the hiring agency is required to verify education claimed by the applicant to qualify for this classification. If selected for hire, applicants must provide original documents of their qualifying credentials to the hiring agency prior to their start date in this job classification.

NOTE: Pay above the minimum for superior qualifications may be granted under Civil Service Commission Rule IV Sec. 2.7 based on a review of the applicant pool, the candidate's verified experience, education, and/or possession of related certifications. A rating of training and experience, weighted 100%. All related previous experience will be considered for qualification purposes; however, credit on the rating of training and experience will only be given for experience gained within the last ten (10) years.

This is an original entrance examination.

THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, AGE, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, CREED, CULTURE, OR ANCESTRY.

APPLICATIONS: Applications will not be accepted if received after the closing date or after the stated maximum number of applications has been received, as specified on this announcement. All minimum qualification requirements for examinations must be met by the final filing date unless otherwise specified on this announcement. PAPER APPLICATIONS must be submitted on the official application form AND MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CITY CIVIL SERVICE, 1340 POYDRAS STREET, SUITE 900, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, BEFORE THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THE FINAL FILING DATE.

WORKING TEST PERIOD: Effective August 1, 2023, the working test (probationary) period for all positions in the classified service is one year.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING: The City of New Orleans has a comprehensive program of substance abuse testing. Candidates for employment for certain positions where the health, welfare and/or safety of the public, co-workers, and the individual employee is at risk will have to undergo pre-employment substance abuse screening. Candidates for all other original entrance positions will have to undergo an unannounced substance abuse screening during their working test period.