Job Description
Join the City of San Jose's Communications team as a Senior Public Information Officer. This pivotal role shapes public perception of municipal initiatives through strategic messaging and crisis management. You'll lead cross-departmental communications campaigns, craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences, and serve as the primary media liaison for high-impact projects including Smart City initiatives and climate action programs.
Enjoy comprehensive benefits including CalPERS retirement, health/dental/vision coverage, and generous paid time off. This position offers unparalleled opportunity to influence civic engagement in California's innovation capital.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies for city departments
- Act as primary media spokesperson during public emergencies and major announcements
- Oversee digital content creation across city platforms (social, web, email)
- Manage crisis communications protocols with 24/7 on-call rotation
- Analyze public sentiment and adjust messaging strategies accordingly
- Coordinate with legal counsel to ensure compliance with public records laws
- Mentor junior communications staff and interns
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, or related field
- 5+ years of government or public sector communications experience
- Proven crisis management experience with media during critical events
- Expertise in digital analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Hootsuite)
- CA driver's license with clean driving record
- PRESS certification or equivalent crisis communications training
- Portfolio demonstrating successful multi-platform campaigns
- Proficiency in Spanish (written/spoken) preferred