Public Informaiton Officer

SALARY: $39.93 – $58.76, SALARIED (DOE&Q) EXEMPT
OPENING DATE: 01/06/2026
CLOSING DATE: 01/12/2026 by 5 pm (OPEN UNTIL FILLED EXTERNALLY)

JOB SUMMARY
To perform a wide variety of highly responsible, confidential, and public duties for the City of Port Arthur and the City Manager, using independent judgment and personal initiative for a wide range of organizational activities. The Public Information Officer contributes to fulfilling the City of Port Arthur mission and meeting strategic and annual City of Port Arthur operational and organizational goals by organizing and implementing City of Port Arthur's public information activities in order to provide the public and media with timely and accurate information in matters of public interest and to provide a positive organizational image.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This class is distinguished from other secretarial and clerical classes by the performance of complex, responsible and sensitive duties related to functioning for the promotion and creation of an intended public image for the City of Port Arthur. The incumbent assigned to this class is expected to use judgment, discretion, and tact in the ability to interpret and apply City policy, laws, and regulations in response to requests for information and assistance from the general public and coordinating work with municipal departments.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from the City Manager. Exercises supervision over lower-level office staff.

EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES - Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform a wide variety of complex, responsible, and confidential duties for the City Manager.

Confers with agency personnel to identify trends and key group interests and public concerns.

Prepare or assist in the preparation of press releases or other media communications to promote the City and inform the public.

Respond to requests for information from the media or designate an information source.

Establish or maintain cooperative relationships with representatives of community, consumer, employee, or public interest groups.

Plan or direct development, or communication, of programs to maintain favorable public perceptions of the City’s accomplishments or agenda.

Maintain appointment schedules and calendars, and arrange meetings, conferences, and civic functions.
Respond to complaints and requests for information related to regulations, procedures, systems, and precedents.

Able to effectively maintain an effective working relationship with a variety of individuals with diverse backgrounds, education, and economic levels, including internal staff, the public, news media and others contacted in the course of assignment.

Monitor expenditures and revenue; prepare required budget adjustments.

Maintain calendars of City activities, meetings and various events, coordinate activities with other city departments, the public and outside agencies.

Prepare and maintain a variety of files and filing systems; prepare, maintain, and update various records; verify information as requested; participate in special projects as assigned.

Perform general clerical work including filing, scheduling, appointments, and processing personnel, payroll and purchase requisitions and reimbursement requests.

Establishes and maintains relationships with representatives of community, employee, and public interest groups. Provides training to employees on media and protocol.
Develops and executes city-wide web and social media strategies.

Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication and problem-solving skills.

Ability to carry out and interpret policy, methods and procedures relating to the conduct of a complete public relations program.

Understanding of policy and issues related to housing and community development. Knowledge of current principles and techniques of public information and relations programs.
Skilled in writing for a variety of audiences. Ability to write/edit in a variety of writing styles, ability to draft materials on a wide range of topics. Strong editing and proofreading skills.

Extensive knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of oral and written communications and interpersonal relations skills in order to determine the most effective communication media and methods.

Able to exercise sound judgment in safeguarding confidential or sensitive information. Thinks creatively, takes initiative, and requires minimal supervision.
Proactive in anticipating and alerting others to problems with projects or processes.

Other Important Responsibilities and Duties:
Research, compile, and analyze data for special projects; collect and assemble data al1 background materials for a variety of reports.

Schedule travel arrangements, reservations, daily operations, or meetings as assigned.

Required to attend and provide assistance at night meetings related to city functions. Perform related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
Proper public contact and telephone etiquette; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Media communication and dissemination techniques and methods to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including computers, laptops, photocopiers, etc.

Business letter writing and basic report preparation using query, video, and editing skills for media purposes.

The English language including rules of composition, and grammar A bility to :
Tactfully respond to requests and inquiries from the general public or other employees.

Communicate information and ideas through oral comprehension and expression speech clarity and recognition, as well as written expression.

Understand the organization and operation of the city and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.

Compile and maintain complex and extensive records.

Establish and maintain effective working relationships and provide assistance in the analysis of a variety of administrative problems; make sound procedural recommendations.

Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Analyze situations carefully and adopt effective courses of action.

This is the career or full performance level where incumbents are expected to perform assigned duties at all levels of complexity.

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

• making observations
• reading and writing
• operating assigned equipment communicating with others.

Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of:

• making sound decisions
• demonstrating intellectual capabilities.

Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include the following:

• sitting for extended periods of time
• operating assigned equipment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required at this level include advanced knowledge of English usage, including grammar and composition; of public relations principles and techniques; of accepted styles for materials released to various media; of media sources and their capabilities; of visual graphics and video techniques; of agency's objectives; and of editing techniques and procedures. Ability is required to write and edit; to gather and organize pertinent data; to uphold and practice public relations principles and codes of ethics; to deliver informational presentations; to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

Experience and Training Guidelines

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Two (2) years of increasingly responsible and high-level clerical experience, performing paraprofessional administrative work.

Training:
Bachelor's degree from accredited university in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or a related field and one year of public relations or communications experience, OR Bachelor’s degree and four years of responsible public relations or communications experience, preferably in a government, non-profit or housing/community development media setting.

NOTE: Regular, and weekend attendance are deemed essential.
This position is deemed essential pursuant to the City of Port Arthur Emergency Management Plan.

Public Information Officer -City Manager - Posting #26-002.

CITY OF PORT ARTHUR
Attn: Hiring Manager
P.O. Box 1089
Port Arthur, Texas 77641-1089
(EEO/AA/V/F/RC/H)
The City of Port Arthur is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer