Job Abstract

• View some of our projects here, here and here
• And some of our other activities here and here

Under varying levels of direction, the Strategic Communications Specialist advances San Bernardino Valley's mission through comprehensive communication strategies and water conservation initiatives. This role requires specialized knowledge in public relations and community outreach, independent judgment in executing duties, and responsibilities including public outreach, communication material creation, grant management, event coordination, and collaboration with regional partners.

Incumbents operate at varying responsibility levels, depending upon appointment level, ensuring consistent implementation of strategic communications priorities. A blend of creativity, communication skills, and industry acumen is essential. Success requires being a motivated, detail-oriented, and effective communicator. Positions are flexibly staffed, allowing for hire at either the Principal or Senior level, based on qualifications.

* View the full job description for Principal Strategic Communications Specialist HERE.
* View the full job description for Senior Strategic Communications Specialist HERE.

Supplemental Information:

• FLSA Exempt (Not Overtime Eligible)
• Incumbent is At-Will
• May be required to work weekends, evenings, and/or holidays as required to accommodate the business needs of San Bernardino Valley, in addition to responding as a Disaster Emergency Services Worker.
• Travel within the region is required.
• Successful candidate will be required to pass a background check and medical screening, including drug test.

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from being performed by this position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this role.

Duties performed and level of responsibility for the duties performed differ by assigned classification within the job series:

1. Perform a variety of public outreach and community relation activities, events and public awareness programs for the dissemination of information regarding agency projects and programs to internal and external audiences.
2. Plan, write, edit, and produce social media, reports, handouts, folders, fact sheets, newsletters, news releases, and other written forms of communication.
3. Identify, assess, and understand standards and practices essential to the efficient use of the region’s water supplies that meet strategic goals; develops innovative programs and strategies to implement and promote water use efficiency in collaboration with retail water providers, organizations and partners to reduce groundwater demand supporting long term water supply reliability.
4. Support San Bernardino Valley team for professional presentations as needed to reflect San Bernardino Valley strategic plan; give presentations.
5. Coordinate with other San Bernardino Valley staff on projects and programs to ensure messaging is consistent with the agency’s strategic communications priorities.
6. Research and recommend grants; work with grant consultant to apply for grants and, if received, manage grant requirements, including providing regularly scheduled updates or formal reports and managing how the project budget is used.
7. Schedule, coordinate and attend community events; distribute information and communications through a variety of outlets including, traditional media, online media and social media platforms.
8. Stay apprised of new and pending legislation and regulatory requirements and provides assessment on how they may affect agency operations and procedures, and the operations of the retail water providers; recommends policies and procedures that are consistent with regulatory requirements as well as San Bernardino Valley’s strategic goals.
9. Work with and administer consultants and vendors, including contract administration working within agency procurement policy.
10. Report on the impact of efforts on performance goals and budget.
11. Other duties as assigned.

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, along with the specific licenses/certifications. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education (All Levels):
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communications, marketing, public relations, journalism, water resources/water technology, business/public administration, or a related field.

Master's degree in a related field is desirable, but not required.

Experience:
Principal Strategic Communications Specialist: Minimum of 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in public information, marketing, public relations and social media. Experience must include project management, leadership roles in collaborative efforts, and leading and implementing complex communications strategies.

Senior Strategic Communications Specialist: 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in public information, marketing, public relations and/or social media, similar to the Strategic Communications Specialist or higher.

All Levels:

• Experience working for a public agency or experience working as a consultant with public agency experience is highly desirable.
• Experience with water conservation/ water use efficiency is highly desirable.

• A valid California Class C driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the agency’s Vehicle Insurance Policy.

• Principles, techniques, and methods of public information, outreach, and community relations.
• Basic methods and techniques of graphic design, layout and print production.
• Procedures utilized in preparing information for dissemination through various media.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; principles and techniques for providing a high level of customer service.
• Identification of opportunities to develop projects appropriate for grants or other funding sources for water use efficiency and climate resilience projects.
• Community-based social marketing for environmental behavior change.
• Inclusive engagement with diverse, underserved and disadvantaged communities.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure projects and meetings are conducted smoothly and effectively.
• Applicable federal state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.

• Maintain and grow relationships not only with peers, but with all levels of staff; be collaborative and work within and as part of a team, understanding that individual work contributes to both successes and failures of the team.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, orally and in writing, using appropriate and proper structure and content of the English language, including meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
• Clearly articulating options to management and policy makers, inspire and influence with high level of energy, enthusiasm, and creativity coupled with a positive attitude.
• Perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines on multiple concurrent tasks.
• Consistently meet deadlines and deliver results. Use resources appropriately. Organize, set priorities and complete multiple projects and assignments, ensuring work is completed within guidelines.
• Be agile in performance of duties; able to adjust course based on business needs, collaborate with others to find solutions, be disciplined in reaching targeted goals, and engage in continuous learning.
• Actively listen to understand.
• Think creatively and seek alternative solutions to produce results and add value; openness to new ideas on how to perform work and have a solutions-focused approach to problem solving.
• Make appropriate decisions in a timely manner based upon an appropriate mixture of analysis, experience and professional judgment; know where to look for easy to find and hard to find information; utilize relevant information in decision making and recommendation process; and make informed recommendations, independent conclusions and implement in accordance with laws, regulations, and all San Bernardino Valley rules, policies and guidelines.
• Provide a high level of customer service; establish and maintain effective working relationships with both internal and external customers, including City and other government officials, community groups, and the public. Using patience, tact, diplomacy, and courtesy in dealing with the public and employees.
• Provide transparent, high quality and fiscally responsible services, while meeting the needs San Bernardino Valley and its customers
• Learn from and adjust to feedback received. Open to learning and development.
• Use modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to the work performed.