PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR 2 PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR 2

Supplemental Information

Position: Public Information Director 2 

Agency: Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA)

Division: Executive 

Office Location: 150 Terrace Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Responsibilities: 

The incumbent of this position will serve as the public affairs liaison for the state of all matters related to the Coastal Protection and Restoration program, such as:

• Executes public outreach in all programmatic areas of the agency
• Directs the operation of the Outreach and Engagement Section
• Serves as the agency webmaster, approving all information that is entered or published to the agency website
• Manages all communications and public relations, including tours of and CPRA hosted events at the Center for River Studies
• Oversees agency educational initiatives
• Serves as the public affairs liaison for the state on all matters related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

The maximum salary for the Public Information Director 2 is $105,206 annually. 

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

• Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.*

Louisiana is a State as Model Employer for individuals with disabilities.

If you have any questions, you may contact:

Rachel Dunbar, Human Resources Supervisor

P.O. Box 44027

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

CPRA.HumanResources@la.gov

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A baccalaureate degree plus four years of professional level experience in marketing, public relations, library science, and/or the research, written preparation and dissemination of information to the public or on behalf of an organization to its customers through such medium as publications, broadcasting, Internet web pages, social media, or public speaking.

SUBSTITUTIONS:

Experience in marketing, public relations, library science, and/or the research, written preparation and dissemination of information to the public or on behalf of an organization to its customers through such medium as publications, broadcasting, Internet web pages, social media, or public speaking will substitute for the required degree on the basis of one year of experience for thirty semester hours of college.

A baccalaureate degree with twenty-four semester hours in English, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting, library science, public relations, or a combination of the above courses to total twenty-four semester hours will substitute for one year of the required experience.

Graduate training which included a combination of eighteen semester hours per thirty in English, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting, public relations or library science will substitute for one year of the required experience.

A master’s degree in English, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting, public relations or library science will substitute for one year of the required experience.

A baccalaureate degree with twenty-four semester hours in English, French, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting, or public relations, or a combination of the above courses to total twenty- four semester hours will substitute for one year of the required experience.

Graduate hours which included a combination of eighteen semester hours per thirty in English, French, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting or public relations will substitute for one year of the required experience.

A master’s degree in English, French, speech, journalism, marketing, mass communications, broadcasting or public relations will substitute for one year of the required experience.

NOTE:

Specialized college credit will substitute for a maximum of one year of the required experience.

NOTE:

Any college hours or degree must be from an accredited college or university.

NOTE:

Graphic design, graphic art and technical jobs in radio/TV production will not be considered as qualifying. Some examples of technical radio/TV production jobs include but are not limited to TV camera operators, directors, production technicians, sound technicians, or video technicians. In addition, retail sales is not qualifying under marketing.

Job Concepts

FUNCTION OF WORK:

To plan and administer all publicity or promotional events, internal information programs, Internet web page, or public information programs for a large agency.

OR

To assist an unclassified Public Information Officer appointee in administering public information programs for a large agency with multiple complex programs.

LEVEL OF WORK:

Manager.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Broad direction from a higher level administrator or agency secretary.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

May supervise Public Information Officers, clerical and other technical employees.

LOCATION OF WORK:

May be used by all state agencies.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:

Differs from Public Information Director 1 by the presence of responsibility for supervising a staff in a non-complex communications program of a large agency or by serving as the spokesperson for a large agency or elected official with complex duties such as broadcast, publication production, international or multi-lingual communications duties, crisis management responsibilities, agency webmaster responsibilities, and/or electronic commerce administrator responsibilities.

Differs from the Public Information Director 3 by the absence of responsibility for the supervision of professionals in a complex communications program at a large agency or typically having the presence of an unclassified Public Information Officer appointee.

Examples of Work

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

Serves as agency spokesperson and is responsible for public relations programs in all programmatic areas of the state agency.

Directs the operation of the entire public relations/ communications division and administers the division budget.

Serve as the agency spokesperson in crisis situations, as well as with the media and at community and agency meetings.

Develops training programs and conducts training of agency media liaisons and webmasters.

Develop public relations crisis management program and plan.

Serve as agency webmaster, approving all information that is entered on and published to the agency Internet web page.

Serve as electronic commerce administrator for the agency and is responsible for the timely response of all electronic commerce inquiries to the web page. 

Conducts research and develops objectives and programs for pro-active positive public relations interactions across the state for all agency programs.

Develops and implements agency Web Page Policy.

Develops and implements agency Media Relations Policy and Media Relations Plan.

Develops and implements agency Crisis Management Plan.

Designs agency web page, selects web page software and appropriate technology to use on the web page.

Develops and publishes agency news to the Louisiana State web page daily or as needed.

Plans, develops, implements and/or contracts for training of agency webmasters. 

Plans, develops, implements and/or contracts for training of agency media liaisons. 

Manage the communications, public relations, and promotional budget by writing the narrative, projecting costs, determining necessary adjustments and approving and reviewing expenditures.

Plans and directs advertising, public relations and promotional campaigns and strategies for a large agency.

Produces and/or directs radio or audio-visual productions.

Develops the material and script, and oversees production of audio/video programs and PSAs.

Arranges interviews for and regularly briefs agency officials on sensitive and/or controversial issues; recommends public relations course of action in crisis and in routine public relations situations; and identifies potential public relations problems and advises agency officials of appropriate preventative actions.

Oversee agency use of contracted advertising and public relations activities.

Plans and coordinates statewide press conference tours for the agency secretary and governor and other special events.

Advise agency officials on proper public relations interview techniques before media contact.

Writes materials for and directs the layout and production of informational materials such as newsletters, bulletins, pamphlets, directories, and posters.

Initiates, develops, and maintains local, national, and international media and public contacts for disseminating agency information.

Researches materials for and writes speeches, news releases, and position papers on selected topics for agency officials.

Interpret agency programs for the media and the public, including technical areas peculiar to that agency.

Conduct marketing for agency programs, services, and Louisiana products.

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career. 

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran’s Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement – State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher’s Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

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