Initial Posting Date:

06/07/2024

Application Deadline:

06/23/2024

Agency:

Public Employees Retirement System

Salary Range:

$5,483 - $8,416

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Communications Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 2) Limited Duration

Job Description:

If you are a strong planner with excellent professional, interpersonal, and written communication skills as well as demonstrated publication and multimedia experience, this is an excellent, 100% remote work opportunity for you!

The Public Employees Retirement System is recruiting for a Limited Duration Communications Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 2).

This is a full-time, limited duration position for a long-term project, expected to last through June 30, 2025; however, the agency has requested continued funding into future biennia. If future funding is secured, the appointment may be extended or be made permanent.

• This position is based at our headquarters office in Tigard, Oregon, and the successful candidate will be eligible for a 100% remote work schedule.
• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.
• This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

We serve the people of Oregon by administering public employee benefit trusts to pay the right person, the right benefit, at the right time.

Central Administration Division (CAD)

The Central Administration Division provides leadership and support services necessary to achieve the agency's key goals in support of the mission, vision, core values, and operating principles. Services are provided to all departments in the agency and to PERS external stakeholders, mainly members or PERS- participating employers. Central Administration plays a key role in making and implementing critical agency decisions.

Communications Section

The Communications Section creates and determines the best medium to publish and disseminate information. Communications are developed for both external and internal stakeholders. The focus of this position is to apply advanced communication and analytical methods to solve complex stakeholder relations and communications problems, identify channels and methods of communications, and to support the internal groups and the Communications Section in ensuring robust communications and engagement with all stakeholders. This role supports project and program communication dissemination, specifically interfacing with organizational change management resources, updating agency staff, and keeping the public apprised of agency projects of note.

Communications Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 2)

The Communications Specialist is responsible for interfacing and supporting the communications aspects around projects and initiatives, as well as for enterprise organizational change management (OCM) needs; analyzing and planning communication strategies for PERS stakeholders (both internal and external); liaising with internal stakeholder groups; and developing external communications regarding significant agency efforts. The Communications Specialist identifies the causes or reasons for misunderstanding or indifference among stakeholders and develops alternative communication strategies, in collaboration with internal stakeholder groups, the Communications Section, and external partners.

The Communications Specialist is self-motivated and works independently to apply advanced communication and analytical methods to solve complex communications problems, in order to support agency project and program initiatives, stakeholder groups, and the Communications Section. The person in this role will base decisions on the analysis of information needs and adapt communication practices to fit the situation. This position must be able to evolve standard approaches to solve complex problems and communicate with stakeholders having a range of interests and who need to be communicated with in different ways, voices, and formats or styles. This position also interacts and collaborates with other specialists in the section and works with the Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist to ensure channel and editorial calendar alignment of deliverables.

Typical Job Duties

The person in this position will be responsible for developing and coordinating communications and strategies, including intranet content development, newsletter articles, content for portions of the PERS website, various organizational change management communications workstreams materials, and developing new materials as needed, such as publications or other forms of media.

These duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Write, edit, and produce publications such as media updates, brochures, infographic content, and informational web pages or fact sheets, in collaboration with subject matter experts and other appropriate stakeholders.
• Author articles and work with PERS Production Team to create stakeholder deliverables.
• Update website content and develop new content on timely and relevant topics.
• Review agency publications and revise them on an ongoing basis.
• Support the development of responses to questions from the media about factual or straightforward issues.
• Create and revise materials, including PowerPoint decks, for presentations given by managers and executive section staff regarding relevant topics.
• Distribute notices and other mass messaging to interested or enrolled parties, using GovDelivery (PERS’ mass communications tool).
• Assess communications or outreach needs of agency projects and programs and propose plans of action.
• Research, write and edit posts for agency intranet.
• Collaborate with PERS internal departments on developing new ways to engage with stakeholders.

Benefits of Working for the State of Oregon and the Public Employees Retirement System

We strive to create an environment that is supportive and encourages work-life balance.

Additional benefits include:

• Work/life balance, 11 paid holidays a year, and a competitive benefits package.
• Advancement and learning opportunities that will help grow your career with the state of Oregon.
• Remote work.

What Are We Looking For?

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's Degree in Business or Public Administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs.

OR

Five years experience directly related to the position under recruitment; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Candidates who are the most competitive will possess the following skills, background and areas of experience:

• Strong planner with excellent attention to detail; excellent organizational and prioritizing skills that include creating and maintaining an editorial calendar and project tracking, leading and guiding team members and stakeholders in content development and channel use, managing and prioritizing weekly/monthly/quarterly work and special projects, and the ability to meet competing deadlines with quality products.
• Thrives in an environment of respect and diversity and demonstrates a willingness to compromise, take responsibility, and accept constructive criticism.
• Demonstrated excellent written communication skills that include research, applying and presenting data analysis, audience awareness, content creation, editing, presentation creation, and communications campaign planning/creating communications strategies.
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and take the initiative; desire to learn and take on new projects and responsibilities; ability to create, sustain, and improve work processes and workflows to support efficiency and effectiveness; demonstrates excellent follow-through.
• Demonstrated strong ability to coordinate communications efforts and campaigns with internal and external partners and section team members, while staying organized and delivering quality products within deadlines.
• Excellent professional and interpersonal communications skills that include the ability to present information orally in a logical, clear, and engaging manner, audience awareness, and the ability effectively interact with a variety of stakeholders, strong presentation skills and awareness of presentation best practices.
• Demonstrated publication and multimedia skills with experience in the areas of print and multimedia and the use of content management systems to support digital publications.
• Possesses the ability and experience to collaborate and build sustainable relationships throughout the agency and with external partners. Must be able to support the communications needs of a range of audiences and partners across cultures, and at all levels of the organization; possess strong research and problem-solving skills to support communications and communication planning around myriad topics, audiences, projects, and stakeholders with these partners.

Application instructions & requirements

Current State of Oregon Employees: Apply via your employee Workday account.

External Applicants – Apply via the State of Oregon job opportunities webpage

• Fill out the application or submit a resume . Your submitted experience fields or attached resume should include the beginning and end dates (mm/yyyy) for each employer.

• Complete questionnaire

• Portfolio – Please make sure to attach a portfolio of writing and campaign samples with your application. This can be included as a link to an online repository with your cover letter or resume or in the application. If you do not have an online portfolio of work, please attach at least six samples of work that you feel represents your acumen and demonstrates your facility with the requirements of this role; please make sure one attachment is a communications planning document or campaign outline.

• Cover Letter - In your cover letter, please make sure that you clearly explain, in detail, how your previous experiences make you the best candidate for the role of Communications Specialist. Be sure to clearly state how your experience aligns with the desired attributes and, where applicable, give concrete examples of how you have experience in fulfilling the responsibilities of this role. Your cover letter should be a maximum of two pages.

• After you submit your application, please respond to the public records request authorization and gender identity questionnaire. This screen will come after you submit and will complete the process. If you are an employee, the tasks will come to your Workday inbox.

• If you are a veteran, you may receive preference. The task to upload your documents will come before the public records request and gender identity questionnaire tasks.

Additional Details:

• Finalists will be subject to a criminal history check. Criminal records are compared against the needs of the position and if found to conflict then may lead to disqualification.
• Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. For more information, please visit Veterans Resources, or call Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. NOTE: If claiming veterans’ preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section
• Agency does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. If your employment authorization and documentation is contingent on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet Agency employment eligibility standards.

Helpful Links & Resources

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HELPFUL LINKS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Learn more about PERS

Learn more about Oregon

For additional information you may contact the recruiter by e-mail at dawn.estby@pers.oregon.gov or by phone at 503-603-7500.

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PERS is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer
Committed to Workforce Diversity