Career Opportunity

Public Relations and Communications Specialist (9252)

Recruitment: RTF0141492-01150520

Published: November 15, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

This is a Position Based Test conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A.

• Application Opening:  November 14, 2023
• Application Deadline:  November 28, 2023, 11:59 PM PST
• Recruitment ID:  RTF0141492-01150520
• Exam Type:  Combined, Promotive and Entrance
• Analyst:  Michael Eng

The Department
The San Francisco Planning Department (CPC) plays a central role in guiding the growth and development in San Francisco. The Department works with other City agencies and the community to help achieve great planning for a great city.   

Our Mission
The mission of the San Francisco Planning Department, under the direction of the Planning Commission, is to shape the future of San Francisco and the region by: generating an extraordinary vision for the General Plan and in neighborhood plans; fostering exemplary design through planning controls; improving our surroundings through environmental analysis; preserving our unique heritage; encouraging a broad range of housing and a diverse job base; and enforcing the Planning Code. 

Our Racial and Social Equity Vision 
The SF Planning Department envisions inclusive neighborhoods that provide all with the opportunity to lead fulfilling, meaningful, and healthy lives. We envision a city where public life and public spaces reflect the past, present, and future of San Franciscans. We envision a city where a person’s race does not determine their lives’ prospects and success. 

We envision an inclusive Planning Department and Commissions that represent and engage the communities we serve. We envision a department that proactively infuses racial and social equity in both internal operations and external Planning work. Together, we are reimagining what the planning field is and can be – inclusive, diverse and one that centers racial and social equity both as a practice and as an indicator of success. 

To achieve this broader city vision, we must do our part and address racial and social equity within the Planning Department’s policies and practices.

Role description

The Opportunity

The Public Relations and Communications Specialist is responsible for helping to plan, implement and coordinate communications programs for the Department and additional related activities as assigned. This could include creating, updating, editing, and publishing content and messaging for all channels (i.e. print, electronic, social media, web, mobile, broadcast, etc.) and audiences (i.e. internal and external), creating broad public awareness, and understanding and effectively communicating the Department’s policies and programs.

This position provides professional, analytical and technical support in the development, maintenance, and implementation of a comprehensive public, community, and stakeholder relations programs. This position will research and make recommendations on issues related to the Department, public relations, and the community; develop outreach materials; organize and coordinate events; prepare drafts and designs of news releases, articles and reports for the Department in print and/or electronic forms; maintain information content and collaborate in delivering visual and functional uniformity in the Department’s website. It may also supervise subordinate staff.

This position reports to the Chief of Staff and works with all divisions of the Planning Department to ensure that Department activities are communicated clearly, consistently, and as broadly as possible within a complex system of governance and external stakeholders. The Public Relations and Communications Specialist may respond to public policy issues and assist with the formulation and communication of positions on legislative and policy matters pertaining to the growth and development of San Francisco.

The Public Relations and Communications Specialist will have the ability and skills to effectively communicate in public forums and mass media, both orally and in writing; perform analytical research and prepare clear, concise stories, articles, press releases, reports, etc., including technical information for websites; present information effectively to the news media, customers, community partners, Department staff, sister agencies; resolving customer and media complaints and issues; work with the public, governmental agencies, and community organizations in a tactful, diplomatic manner; prioritize and manage projects to achieve established goals; and effectively communicate information to internal audiences, management, and the general public.

The Public Relations and Communications Specialist may serve as a spokesperson for the Department; advise the Department on public communications and media relations strategy, and develop, coordinate and implement community and media strategies for programs and policy efforts. The position also maintains strategic community alignments and stakeholder partnerships to promote Department efforts.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works to develop and execute effective communications strategies for policies and projects, both to City staff  and stakeholders and externally to the public.
• Plans, organizes, coordinates and creates events relating to Departmental activities.
• Prepares talking points and answers public questions and/or complaints related to a plan, program, event or activity.
• Creates, produces, and edits documents related to Department services and policies for distribution to the public; may function as publications editor in writing, reviewing, and supervising updates of publications.
• Supervises and/or participates in the preparation and composition of publications and other documents such as press releases, advisories, fact sheets, briefing notes, website content, editorials, social media, budget reports, and brochure updates, including coordinating all aspects of the publication process.
• Revises and updates Departmental publications regarding changes in services, procedures, plans, and facilities, as necessary.
• May represent the Department to the media as well as before the Board of Supervisors, various community groups, and non-profit agencies.
• Coordinates public relations strategies with other City departments and/or with a variety of partner organizations.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
   
   and
    
2. Three (3) years of professional experience working in the field of internal communications, public affairs, public information, or public relations unit. 

Substitution:

Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of two (2) years). Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one (1) year.

Desired Qualifications
The following desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Strategic thinker, with judgement to make day-to-day decisions in alignment with longer-term Departmental vision and priorities.
• Ability to conceptualizes and implements innovative and creative approaches to public engagement and communications.
• Comfort operating with City staff of all levels concerning land use projects at any scale; ability to consider interaction between internal operations and external public stakeholders.
• Exercises sound judgement; understands when to escalate matters.
• Functions well in a high-stress and quick-paced environment. Comfort with pivoting and re-formulating approaches in response to dynamic policy and regulatory environment.
• Solution-oriented; ability to not only anticipate and identify problems but also propose appropriate responses.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and team management skills.
• An understanding, acceptance, and ability to advance equity, inclusion and diversity concepts.

Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

What else should I know?

Selection Procedures

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

1. Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ) - Qualifying
Candidates will be sent an MQSQ via email as part of the employment application. Applicants will be required to respond to the MQSQ in the time frame indicated, and submit their answers as directed. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQs) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

2. Supplemental Questionnaire Exam (SQ) - Weight 100%
Candidates who meet the minimum qualification for this position will be sent a Supplemental Questionnaire (SQ) via email to complete and return. Applicants will be required to respond to the SQ in the time frame indicated, and submit their answers as directed.

The Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to determine relative knowledge, skills and ability levels in job related areas which may include, but not be limited to:  written communication ability; problem solving; critical thinking; project/time management; knowledge of public process, local/regional government issues, public sector business and administrative practices; and federal, state, and local regulation and policies.

The SQ will account for 100% of the total weight of the final score.

A passing score must be achieved on all components of the selection procedures in order to be placed/ranked on the score report. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be six (6) months, and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Upon approval of the Human Resource Director (see Civil Service Rule 111A.26.5), the eligible list/score report resulting from this announcement may be used by other departments that also use this classification or a similar classification. To find other Departments which use this classification, please see:  Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf (sfdhr.org).

Terms of Announcement:
This is a Position Based Test conducted in accordance with Civil Service Rule 111A. Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  Clerical errors may be corrected and, if so, an amended note will be posted on this official job announcement.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule.  Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director.  Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Position Based Testing Information
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Examinations
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Questions:  If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Michael Eng, by telephone at 628-652-7522, or by email at Michael.Eng@sfgov.org.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.