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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Safety Information OfficerUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Public Safety Information Officer Department: City Manager’s Office Division: Communications Supervisor: Communications Coordinator FLSA: Non-Exempt Civil Service: Yes Pay Grade: 14 Job Number: 1419 Job Summary Serves as Public Information Officer (PIO) for Police, Fire, and Public Works departments. Develops and implements communications strategies, focusing on public safety initiatives. Creates effective and well-coordinated messaging, engages with the public, and communicates resources available. Participates in interviews with media and public. Represents public safety at various events and meetings. Works under the supervision of the Communications Coordinator. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. • Develops and writes public safety messaging for Police and Fire, serving as PIO; assists in determining appropriate communications means to disseminate such messages. • Promotes awareness and understanding of public safety programs, services and makes public presentations. • Coordinates public meetings, public safety press conferences and other community events as directed to provide information and receive feedback on public safety issues, reporting back to City officials. • Serves as an information resource for the diverse community, incorporating translation as needed, and keeping ADA accessibility top of mind in event planning. • Writes public safety news releases and web content, creates and manages social media content, talking points, presentations and works with the Communications Office to create publicity materials, including video. • Develops and maintains media relations and serves as public safety PIO for media inquiries. • Maintains editorial and graphic standards for public safety information, follows City’s social media policies; assuring effectiveness, clarity and high quality. • Works with public safety to receive training specifically related to emergency communications and protocols, including crisis communications training through NIMS. • Advises on media relations strategies, assists with development of public safety surveys and polls. • Works with the Communications Office to receive training on specialized software, providing communications assistance as needed for the division. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all community members and coworkers. • Performs all other related duties as assigned. Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution; or four years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree or coursework in Law Enforcement, Public Relations, Communications, or related. Experience in public speaking, new release writing, and/or website content management. • Must pass criminal background check. Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and one year of related experience; or five years of related experience and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Bilingual skill ability, experience in a diverse organization, and experience in municipal government operations. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. • Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs. • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. • Ability to travel to/from meetings or respond to emergencies at various City locations as needed. • Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. • Knowledge of and experience with public speaking, news release writing, social media platforms, website content management, public safety communications. • Skill in adapting to quickly changing circumstances. • Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint). Supervision No supervision of direct reports. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are generally performed in an office setting with a controlled environment. The job requires sitting for extended periods of time and the work may expose the employee to unpleasant social situations and significant work pace pressure. May be required to work evenings and/or weekends during emergency situations requiring emergency communications. Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Reviewed/Approved by: Geoff Fruin, City Manager (4/2024) of this job description, and I agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. Employee Date ________________________________ __________________