Senior Public Information Officer
Company: Utah Transit Authority
Location: Salt Lake City
Posted on: April 28, 2024
Job Description:
Utah Transit AuthorityHop on board at the Utah Transit Authority
(UTA) a major transit agency in one of the fastest-growing regions
in the United States! As the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) expands
and develops, we need you as ourSenior Public Information Officer.
This job offers the opportunity to shape public perception and
engagement with a vital public service like transit. Additionally,
it involves diverse responsibilities in media relations, crisis
communications, strategic planning, and team leadership, making it
a dynamic and impactful role.As the Senior Public Information
Officer, you will:
- Coordinate Utah Transit Authority (UTA)s media relations and
public storytelling program and serves as the UTAs primary media
relations strategist and press liaison.
- Supervise social media and organic public storymining staff and
sets strategy related to education, events, news, data, incidents,
and engagement across public communications channels.
- Develop and execute strategic, proactive media plans and manage
the distribution of information to the news media in support of
events, announcements, activities, campaigns, education, and
issues.
- Write and edit press advisories, pitches, releases, talking
points, social posts, op-eds, messaging documents, scripts, press
event plans, stories, and other materials for proactive and
reactive media response.
- Develop and maintain relationships with the news media.
- Interact with reporters, editors, photographers, editorial
boards, and other members of the news media for disseminating
information and publicity.
- Act as a source of public information for scheduled and
unscheduled events, stories, or challenging, emotional, and
sensitive crises.
- Work with the agencys Chief Communications Officer,
communications and social media staff, government relations,
executive team, Board of Trustees, UTA Police, and department
subject matter experts to identify emerging media issues.
- Work with the Chief Communications Officer, executive staff,
board leadership and agency management in developing strategy,
messaging, and responding to media queries.
- Gather data and clipping reports to gauge public sentiment via
media and social media engagement.
- Develop and maintains crisis communications response
plans.
- Serve as UTA spokesperson, and trains and preps subject matter
experts to do media interviews, testimony, editorial visits,
presentations, and other public appearances that may have media
presence.
- Carry a highly trusted role in an actively changing
environment, seeking opportunities to strengthen the public
perception of the value of transit and UTAs operations and
management.
- Supervise staff by developing goals, monitoring progress,
coaching, and evaluating performance.
- Coordinates with Incident Communications Specialist team on
public response to incidents and general questions over social
media platforms.This job is not eligible for telework. Requires
regular and predictable attendance during set daytime hours Monday
through Friday in the Salt Lake City UTA FrontLines Headquarters or
in the field along UTAs service area. This position also requires
media on-call availability that could respond during evenings,
holidays, and weekends.Minimum QualificationsEXPERIENCE/EDUCATION
- Eight (8) years related work experience with demonstrated
competency in public relations with an extensive media relations
background including two (2) years in a supervisory role.
- Professional experience must include at least two (2) years in
a non-media outlet or outside of a newsroom or media
organization.
- Experience in a public or government organization a plus.
- Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism,
Communications, or related field.SKILLS/ABILITIES
- Leadership, mentorship, and an ability to motivate and inspire
subordinates.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Conflict Resolution.
- Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with excellent
grammar and Associated Press Style.
- Develop a proactive media strategy.
- Build rapport with various groups of people.
- Handle pressure, negative attention, emotional subjects,
confidential information, and meet deadlines.This job requires
regular and predictable attendance.- OR -An equivalent combination
of relevant education and experience.[UTA reserves the right to
determine the equivalencies of education and experience.]UTAs
benefits package for full-time administrative employees includes:
- Health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, short-term and long-term
disability insurance (eligible after 30 days of employment), with
Flexible Spending and Dependent Care accounts. Choice between
Traditional Co-Pay or High Deductible Health Plans for medical
coverage. HSA with company match available to employees enrolled in
the HDHP. Benefit plans include coverage for domestic partners
(eligibility affidavit required for coverage).
- Onsite Health and Wellness Clinics for medical care at no cost
to employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent
children.
- 22 days of accrued paid time off (13 vacation days and 9 sick
days), which increases with tenure at UTA.
- 10 paid holidays and two paid (2) floating holidays per
year.
- Retirement options - Pension Plan with 5-year vesting schedule
and 457 Contribution Plan, available for immediate contributions
and company matching.
- Generous tuition reimbursement for higher education, available
for any higher education degree (bachelor, master, or PHD). Course
of study must be approved prior to enrollment.
- Training, development, and career advancement
opportunities.
- Paid parental leave for birth, adoption, and child placement
(after 12 months of employment).
- Free transit passes for employees, their spouses, and their
dependent children.
- Employee assistance program includes counseling, legal
services, financial planning, etc.
- UTA Well a comprehensive wellness program designed to support
employees and dependents in their health and wellness goals.
- Free on-site fitness facilities and discounted membership to
VASA Fitness.For more information on UTAs Total Rewards benefits
package, please visit:Pay Range: $70,500.00 or more, depending on
experience.If interested, apply before: Monday, April 29th, 2024 @
5:59 PM MST* Utah Transit Authority is an Equal Opportunity
Employer of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex,
national origin, age, disability, covered veterans, sexual
orientation, and gender identity. Women, minorities, and people
with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants needing an
accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act for any
part of the application process should contact UTA Human Resources
at 801-287-2324. A minimum of two workdays notice prior to the need
for the accommodation is required.*Utah Transit Authority is a
drug-free workplace, subject to federal drug and alcohol testing
regulations under 49 CFR Part,, and. All offers for employment are
contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug test. If a
pre-employment test returns a non-negative result, an application
for employment may be rejected. All employees are subject to
reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing for drug and alcohol
use. All safety sensitive employees are subject to random testing
for drug and alcohol use.PM21PI22eb5a984c6c-31181-34286869
Keywords: Utah Transit Authority, West Valley City , Senior Public Information Officer, Other , Salt Lake City, Utah
Didn't find what you're looking for? Search again!
Loading more jobs...