Senior Public Information Officer

at  Utah Transit Authority

UTAH TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Hop 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.

EXPERIENCE/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.]

PAY RANGE: $70,500.00 OR MORE, DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE.

If interested, apply before: Thursday, 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 Part40,655, and219. 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.

PM21
PI6843e23e2cf6-25404-34286869

Please refer the Job description for details