• Job Description

  Req#: REQ-134311

  Initial Posting Date:

  08/17/2023

  Application Deadline:

  08/30/2023

  Agency:

  Department of Environmental Quality

  Salary Range:

  $5,145 - $7,901

  Position Type:

  Employee

  Position Title:

  Public Affairs Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 2)

  Job Description:

  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality strives to build and sustain an inclusive environment that embraces and values diversity. Employees at all levels of the agency work together to foster fairness, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, veteran, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or physical or mental disability. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may not meet every one of our listed preferred qualifications. Lived experience may count towards the preferred qualification. If you are excited about this position, we encourage you to apply. If you are unsure as to whether or not you meet the qualifications of this position, please contact us to discuss your application.

  Are you passionate about preserving, enhancing, and protecting Oregon’s environment? If so, please consider a career with the State of Oregon at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). At DEQ, employees have the opportunity to work with a dynamic and supportive team of mission-focused individuals tasked with maintaining, restoring, and enhancing the quality of Oregon’s air, land, and water. Here is a video about DEQ: https://youtu.be/E-Cs6M9AAlU

  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a full-time opportunity available for Public Affairs Specialists (Public Affairs Specialist 2 ) – located in Portland, Oregon.

  Please consider joining an innovative team, and work to advance our agency’s mission to protect and improve Oregon’s environmental quality. There are 3 regions (Northwest, Western, and Eastern); this position is in DEQ's Northwest Region. The Office of Communications and Outreach provides strategic direction for agency communications as well as community and interested party education, outreach and engagement activities. The regional public affairs specialists are place-based communications staff that connect interested groups and people with agency work.

  Click here to view a map of all DEQ offices.

  What you will do!

  You will plan, coordinate and execute communications and outreach for all DEQ activities in its Northwest Region office; provide information to the public and news media via news releases, informational materials and community meetings; and develop communication plans with staff. You will have the opportunity to use a variety of communication and public involvement tools and practices, including public and media relations, community education and outreach, staff training and social media approaches.

  You will also provide strategic communications analysis planning to the regional staff; advise staff and managers in communication and public involvement issues and activities; develop messaging and other communications delivery materials for a variety of issues to ensure public understanding of and engagement in complicated and/or controversial issues.

  What’s in it for you!

  The opportunity to work in a productive and creative environment where no two days are ever the same! We offer a competitive benefits package that offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans for the employee and their qualified family members, as well as paid sick leave, vacation leave, personal leave, and 11 paid holidays a year. In addition, we offer membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and you have the opportunity to potentially receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). If you are passionate about Oregon's environment, apply today!

  This is a full-time, AFSCME represented position.

  This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies.

  What are we looking for ?

  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 most competitive will also reflect the following:

  • Demonstrated understanding of environmental justice and the historical impacts for marginalized and underrepresented communities; ability to take personal responsibility for increasing their knowledge of environmental justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

  • Experience explaining complex, technical issues in plain language and in ways that are culturally relevant. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to provide clear, concise, and compelling communication of policy and technical information tailored to the needs of diverse audiences.

  • Experience providing strategic communications analysis planning, advice to staff and managers, developing messaging and other communications materials for a variety of issues to ensure understanding.

  • Ability to communicate effectively with staff, the public, and other agencies.

  • Experience in community outreach and engagement, including hosting community meetings, developing and maintaining relationships with community partners, and facilitating discussions between technical staff and interested community members.

  • Ability to manage, track and coordinate communications and outreach work for multiple projects and programs.
  • Experience in storytelling through a wide range of mediums, such as blog articles, media pitches, social media, podcasts and videos.

  Working Conditions:

  DEQ believes in a diverse and inclusive work environment. All employees are expected to contribute to a work environment that collectively values and benefits from respecting its diversity and promotes a culture of inclusiveness.

  This position will be based out of Portland, however, the successful candidate may be eligible for hybrid work. The logistics of hybrid work will need to be worked out with the Hiring Manager prior to your hire and may be changed at any time given specific job duties and business needs. DEQ will provide necessary hardware (laptop, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and cell phone) for an employee to successfully work from home. At DEQ sites, you will have access to a workspace, however, it may be shared with other employees.

  This position requires occasional travel by car within the region and state for meetings, report on spills, conferences, trainings, and public meetings, some of which may be held in the evenings and involve overnight stays.

  How to Apply: (complete the application in full)

  • External Applicants Click on the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
  • Internal Applicants (current State of Oregon employees): Apply through your employee Workday account. View this knowledge article for assistance.

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  Please Note: In addition to your related work experience and education, DEQ will use the desired attributes and minimum qualifications above, under the “What are we looking for?” section to determine whom to interview. Please make sure your attributes and minimum qualifications are clearly demonstrated in your application material.

  Veterans Information:

  DEQ provides veterans’ preference points to all eligible veterans. For more information on veterans’ preference, please visit Veterans Resources, or call the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666. For privacy reasons, please do not attach veterans’ preference documents when initially applying. You will be asked to submit those at a later time.

  Pay Equity:

  As an employer, the State of Oregon complies with HB 2005, the Pay Equity Bill. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected class in the payment of wages, and we do not screen applicants on the basis of their current or past compensation. Please visit http://www.oregon.gov/das/hr/pages/equity.aspx for more information. Please note: the salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95% (6% goes to PERS and .95% covers payroll taxes). Please review the Classification and Compensation page for more details.

  Work Authorization:

  DEQ does not offer visa sponsorships. On the first day of employment, all hires will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. In addition, hires will have three business days from their first day of employment to present documents that establish employment authorization and identity. DEQ is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

  Questions/Need Help?

  If you have questions about the recruitment or need assistance to participate in the application process, please contact Grecia Lora Motz, Human Resources Analyst, at grecia.loramotz@deq.oregon.gov or (503) 863-0621. TTY users: please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service at 1-800-735-2900.

• About the company

  Oregon (/ˈɒrɡən/ ORR--gən) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region on the West Coast of the United States.

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