State of Michigan Civil Service Commission

State of Michigan Civil Service Commission

Capitol Commons Center, P.O. Box 30002 Lansing, MI 48909

POSITION DESCRIPTION

This position description serves as the official classification document of record for this position. Please complete the information as accurately as you can as the position description is used to determine the proper classification of the position.
2. Employee's Name (Last, First, M.I.) / 8. Department/Agency
DEQ-ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
3. Employee Identification Number / 9. Bureau (Institution, Board, or Commission)
4. Civil Service Position Code Description
Communications Specialist-3 / 10. Division
Office of External Relations
5. Working Title (What the agency calls the position)
Public Information Officer / 11. Section
Communications
6. Name and Position Code Description of Direct Supervisor
LEEMING, SUSAN J; EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPUTY DIRECTOR / 12. Unit
7. Name and Position Code Description of Second Level Supervisor
GRETHER, C H; DIRECTOR A / 13. Work Location (City and Address)/Hours of Work
525 W. Allegan St., Lansing, MI 48933 / M-F, 8:00-5:00, and adjusted schedule as needed
14. General Summary of Function/Purpose of Position
ThispositionfunctionsasthemediarelationsspecialistfortheDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality(DEQ).Thisposition isresponsibleforcontactwiththemedia,stakeholdergroups,theGovernor’soffice,Legislature,andthegeneralpublic,whilealsoassistingandsupportingseniorlevelstaffmember(s).Positionwillberesponsibleforallmediarelationsincluding, but not limited to, assisting DEQ’s Communications Office, developing press releases and other informational pieces, coordination of social media presence, and tasked with responding to media inquiries, coordinating media specialevents,reviewingpressreleasesandothercommunicationsactivitiesfortheDEQ.Thisspecialisthasresponsibilityforhighly complex and specialized communication, marketing and media duties and assignments, handles strategiccommunications as well as develops relationships with the media.

15.Please describe the assigned duties, percent of time spent performing each duty, and what is done to complete each duty. List the duties from most important to least important. The total percentage of all duties performed must equal 100percent. Duty 1

General Summary:Percentage:50

Responsiblefortheallaspectsofmediarelationsincludingresearch,writinganddistributionofnewsreleases,factsheetsandotherinformationmaterialstothenewsmedia,customersandotherinterestedpartiesfortheDEQ.Additionally,thisposition is responsible for building working relationships and responding to inquiries from outside stakeholders such asGovernor’soffice,legislature,local,state,nationalnewsmediaandotheroutsidesourcesrequestinginformation.

Individual tasks related to the duty:

•Preparenewsreleases,articles,mediaadvisories,talkingpoints,andothercommunicationmaterialsandletterstotheeditorandfactsheets.

•Directthedistributionofthesematerialstothetargetaudiences–newsmedia,staffandpublic,etc.

•Answer questions from the news media about agency programs and services, ensuring that the information provided isaccurate and timely.

•Buildstrongworkingrelationshipswiththenewsmediatoinformthemofagencyprograms,services,etc.

•Arrange for news media to speak directly with the department deputy director or appropriate agency director, whennecessary.

•Act as department spokesperson with the news media when required.

•Provide briefing materials to agency spokesperson when responding to media inquiries.

•Prepareagencydirectors,managersandstaffformediainterviews,ifneeded.

•DevelopaworkingknowledgeofregulatoryissuesrelatedtoDEQinregardstocommunicationefforts,toprovideinterpretation and /or explanation of various policies, procedures, etc.

•Followuponpressconferenceswithmediarelatedtoanyissuesandarticlesthatmayarise.

•RespondstospecialrequestsfromtheGovernor’soffice,Legislatureandexternalcustomersandotherrequestsforspeeches, talking points and/or other media events.

•Follow up with media representatives as needed

•Serve as back-up for the Communications Office as needed

•Coordinatethedepartment’ssocialmediapresence.

Duty 2

General Summary:Percentage:40

ServesasamediaspecialistfortheDEQExecutiveManagementteam,providingcommunication,marketingandpublicrelationscounseltoalldivisionswithinthedepartment

Individual tasks related to the duty:

•Preparesanddistributesnewsreleases,photographs,factsheets,etc.tomediarepresentativesandotherinterestedparties

•Draft,edit,reviseandapprovespublications,letters,speeches,talkingpoints,executivesummaries,briefings,etc.

•Work with other state departments, Governor’s office, and stakeholder groups in developing strategic messagingrelativetooverallmissionoftheDEQ,crisiscommunicationsorasdepartmentalissuesarise

•Actasliaisonandresourceforstaffandotherdepartments
•Attend department and other Executive Team meetings
•Responsible for handling all aspects of written communications for the media and other information requests
Duty 3
General Summary:Percentage:10
Workclosely with the entire DEQ communicationsteam. Perform special projects as directed.
Individual tasks related to the duty:
•Support department wide communications initiatives by working closely with DEQ communications team.
•Attend and represent DEQ at various industry and legislative events when needed
•Perform special projects.
•Other duties as assigned
16. Describe the types of decisions made independently in this position and tell who or what is affected by those decisions.
Decisionsmade independently include those based on existing policy or precedent or which are not of a sensitive nature.Issuesmedia responses related to the department or other communications. Politically sensitive and complex issues.
17. Describe the types of decisions that require the supervisor's review.
SomefinalworkproductsmusthavetheExecutiveOfficereview/approval.Anydecisionsthathavebudgetaryimpactand/orhighvisibility,sensitiveorcontroversial.Changestoexistingpolicy,procedures,andprocesses.

26. What are the minimum education and experience qualifications needed to perform the essential functions of this position.

EDUCATION:

Possession of a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, communications, broadcasting, telecommunications, advertising, communication arts, public relations or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

Communications Specialist13-15

Four years of professional experience in the communications field equivalent to a Communications Representative, including two years equivalent to a Communications Representative P11or one year equivalent to a Communications Representative 12.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of public relations techniques, policies and procedures. Knowledge of DEQ programs and communityorganizations.Abilitytomaintainfavorablepublicrelations.Goodwritingskills,theabilitytocommunicateeffectively (verballyandinwriting),theabilitytocoordinateawiderangeofeventsandactivities,skillinproducingwrittenmaterialusingvarious formats and methods to achieve understanding, skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people having different interests to attain mutually beneficial objectives.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

NA

NOTE: Civil Service approval does not constitute agreement with or acceptance of the desired qualifications of this position.

TO BE FILLED OUT BY APPOINTING AUTHORITY

I certify that the entries on these pages are accurate and complete.

Appointing AuthorityDate
I certify that the information presented in this position description provides a complete and accurate depiction of the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position.

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