Public Information Officer I/II

The Bay Area Air District (Air District) is a regional government agency, committed to achieving clean air to protect the public's health and the environment. The Air District accomplishes this goal through regulation of industrial facilities and various outreach and incentive programs designed to encourage clean air choices.

The Air District's jurisdiction encompasses all of seven counties - Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Napa, and portions of two others - southwestern Solano and southern Sonoma.

The Air District is currently accepting applications for the position of Public Information Officer I/II in the Communications Office. This is an open recruitment for one (1) vacancy which is a full-time, represented position.

DEFINITION

Under direction, develops and implements a comprehensive public information and community relations program for the District; acts as District liaison with community and news media to disseminate information about District programs, air quality hazards and events; performs related work as assigned.

What you will do:
In this role, you will also collaborate closely with the Community Investments Office to develop and implement communication strategies that highlight air quality improvement projects funded by penalty revenues. You will create compelling content to showcase these projects-from launch through completion-across multiple platforms, ensuring that impacted communities and the broader public understand the benefits and outcomes. You will coordinate with project managers, community partners, and other stakeholders to gather information, craft clear and accessible messages, and share success stories that demonstrate tangible community benefits.

About the position:

This position will be housed in the Communications Office but will work in close coordination with the Community Investments Office to publicize air quality projects funded by penalty revenues from air quality incident enforcement actions. These projects are designed to mitigate the impacts of pollution in affected communities. The ideal candidate will have experience developing and executing outreach campaigns for grant-funded programs or similar community-based initiatives, ideally in a government or nonprofit setting. Familiarity with communicating the goals, progress, and outcomes of funded projects to diverse audiences-including community members, partner organizations, and elected officials-is highly desirable.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES (Illustrative Only)

Acts as a liaison and collaborates with the Community Investments Office to develop and implement communication strategies that highlight air quality improvement projects funded by penalty revenues from enforcement actions.

Researches, writes, and edits content for print, web, social media, and multimedia platforms to share project updates, milestones, and success stories with diverse audiences.

Coordinates with project managers, community partners, and other stakeholders to gather information, photos, and testimonials for use in outreach materials.

Prepares press releases, fact sheets, and digital media content to publicize funded projects and their benefits to impacted communities.

Creates and schedules basic social media content and monitors engagement to inform and engage the public on project progress and outcomes.

Maintains a library of project-related communications assets, including images, videos, and graphics, for use across platforms.

Assists with planning and staffing public events, press conferences, or community meetings related to funded projects.

Ensures messaging aligns with Air District branding, style guidelines, and equity and environmental justice principles.

Responds to public and media inquiries regarding District regulations, permit processes, enforcement and legal authority and air quality conditions.

Makes presentations before school groups and service organizations and participates in trade shows and various public events.

Represents the Air District at meetings and conferences of community interest groups, professional associations, and public health organizations with the effects of air quality on human life.

Designs, writes and oversees production of media kits, brochures, newsletters, internet web pages and other informational reference materials.

Coordinates the dissemination of smog advisory and smog alert information to radio, television and newspaper publications within established guidelines.

Education and Experience:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills is:

Public Information Officer I: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in journalism, mass communications, or a closely related field and one year of experience performing professional public relations or journalism duties. Additional experience may be substituted for the college education on a year-for-year basis up to two years of the required education.

Public Information Officer II: In addition to the above, one year of professional experience in developing and implementing a public relations program, preferably in an air quality control work setting.

Desirable Qualifications:

Experience developing and implementing public outreach campaigns for grant-funded programs, community benefit projects, or similar initiatives.

Experience working in or with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or community-based groups on projects serving overburdened or impacted communities.

Strong ability to translate complex technical or regulatory information into clear, accessible messages for diverse audiences.

Familiarity with environmental, public health, or community development programs is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to craft clear, engaging, and audience-appropriate content for print, web, and digital platforms.

Proficiency in basic social media management, including content creation, posting, and engagement tracking across platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Familiarity with digital media tools, such as basic graphic design software, content management systems, email marketing platforms, and simple video editing applications.

Ability to adapt messages for multiple formats and channels to maximize reach and engagement.

Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and adapt to changing priorities, including occasional work outside of regular business hours to meet deadlines or respond to time-sensitive matters.

Interested individuals must submit a completed Air District application and responses to the supplemental questions no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2025. Applications are accepted online only. Please visit our website at www.baaqmd.gov/jobs to apply or to download an application.

Resumes can be included, but not in lieu of the required application materials. Postmarks, faxes, and E-mailed applications will not be accepted.

Except as requested in this announcement, do not include any additional documents, such as letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, work samples, etc. They will not be considered or returned.

Supplemental Questionnaire Instructions:
Individuals who apply for this position must respond to each of the supplemental questions. Both paper and online applications must be received by the Human Resources Office no later than the time and date specified in the vacancy announcement. The responses to the supplemental application questions will be used in accordance with the procedures indicated under the Selection Criteria in the vacancy announcement.

Instructions: Please limit your responses to one page per question. Do not combine your responses, or reference your application, resume, or any other requested documentation that you have included with your application packet to answer a question. Please be advised that the information you provide will be evaluated "as is" and incomplete or illegible applications will likely receive lower ratings. Therefore, it is very important to provide a concise, organized, and easy to follow response to each question.

You must provide the following for each question regarding experience: The name of the employer where you gained your experience, your job title, length of time in years/months performing the specific function, and detailed examples that illustrate your duties and responsibilities.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
Selection may be based upon a competitive examination consisting of a written exercise, interview, or combination of the two. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, an application screening and/or panel interview may be used to determine the most qualified applicants.

The Air District may hire from this recruitment process to fill future vacancies occurring within the next 18 months.

Updates regarding your status in the recruitment will be sent via email, unless you indicate a different preference on your application.

Persons with disabilities who may require reasonable accommodations during the application and/or selection process should notify the Human Resources Office at (415) 749-4980.

The Air District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.