Public Information Officer - Probation Agency

JOB What We OfferThe County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Aside from our base salary range, an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following: A general salary increases (GSI) of 4.
0% effective December 24, 2023, and 3.
5% effective December 22, 2024.
New Hire/Retention/Referral Incentive: New hires may be eligible for a one-time New Hire Incentive up to 10% of the current annual base wage.
(Subject to the applicable section of the Management Resolution (Secs.
625 – 627) Educational Incentive for completion of an associate degree (2.
5%), a bachelor's degree (3.
5%), or a graduate degree (5%).
Annual Leave Redemption: The option to cash out up to 100 hours out of 208 total accrued Annual Leave hours per year.
A candidate selected for this position will earn 208 hours per year increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service.
Deferred Compensation: Section 457 Plan and/or 401(k) Shared Savings Plan with up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
Health Plans: You are afforded an annual flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
Pension Plan: Participation in the County's defined benefit plan which has reciprocity with CalPERS.
Bilingual Incentive: Proficiency levels by exam are $.
69 per hour (Level I), $1.
00 per hour (Level II), or $1.
32 per hour (Level III).
Holidays: 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.
PROBATION AGENCYThe Ventura County Probation Agency (VCPA) works to transform and empower the lives of youth and adults under their care and supervision.
In doing so, VCPA collaborates with justice system stakeholders (e.
g.
, judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, law enforcement, and service providers) and allied organizations, community-based partners, and community members to support victims and to provide evidence-based programming and other services to those under supervision.
THE POSITIONThe Probation Agency is seeking an individual who would implement the Agency’s communications strategy to inform and engage County of Ventura residents and foster public understanding and awareness of the Probation Agency’s activities and services.
Under general direction, this individual would be involved in developing a communication strategy that would include a true external and internal “branding” of the agency by way of social media, recruitment efforts, internal communications as well as a presence at community related events.
This position provides the public with accurate, timely, and consistent information utilizing social media postings across all agency platforms aimed at both recruitment and raising community awareness of our function and promoting the agencies mission, vision, and values.
The Public Information Officer will collaborate with interdepartmental management and build credibility within this complex organization and the diverse community that it serves.
Dedication to transparency, inclusivity, diversity and ethical behavior is paramount in this role.
In addition to the community-based activities, this position would be responsible for the oversight of internal communications policies and activities that support and advance the goals of the Agency’s Strategic Plan across all divisions.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATEThe Probation Agency is seeking a poised, professional, and experienced communications specialist with a strong customer service orientation and diverse skill set to head the Probation Agency's public information team.
The ideal candidate will have experience in public relations, social media campaigns and event planning leading to the ability to prepare an effective marketing program of public information and community outreach services including bulletins, web-based communication, pamphlets, posters, and audio-visual presentations.
The ideal candidate must have a positive attitude, strong interpersonal skills, work effectively and collaboratively in a fast-paced team environment, demonstrate initiative, and adapt well to change.
The ideal candidate is organized, detail oriented and will have the experience needed to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of this position.
Payroll Title: Agency Public Information Officer II The Agency Public Information Officer II classification is a management classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULEOPENING DATE: Wednesday, October 11, 2023CLOSING DATE: Continuous (Previously: Wednesday, October 18, 2023)FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS: Application Review complete by Wednesday, October 25, 2023ORAL EXAM DATE: Tentatively for the week of November 6, 2023 EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: Coordinates the dissemination of agency wide information on upcoming changes, newsworthy events, and updates on the implementation of the Agency’s Strategic Plan.
Develops a communication strategy that would include a true “branding” and promoting of the Agency by way of our website, social media, and recruitment, internal communications and being present at community related events.
Agency photographer and videographer.
Determines content and layout of the Agency's employee newsletter.
Assists personnel in leading the Agency’s Public Relations Committee.
Plans, organizes, and directs a specifically defined program area, a composite of programs, or support elements; and performs related duties as required.
Administrator for the Agency website and social media accounts.
Creates messaging boards, publishes the Agency newsletter that includes unit updates and recognizes new staff and staff milestones and produce an annual report.
Assesses the agencies long term communication needs and expand the agencies communication infrastructure.
Coordinates the internal and external communications needs for the Agency by developing communication strategies for agency programs, initiatives, services, and events.
Oversees the preparation of departmental public information materials such as brochures, bulletins, videos, newsletters, pamphlets, posters, audiovisual presentations, and information to be contained on the Internet/Intranet web sites and other publications.
Plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the content for the Agency website, social media, media events, and various stakeholder and community outreach activities, including informational presentations.
Assesses strategies to leverage existing agency technology to enhance the ready exchange of information.
Assists Human Resources in community related recruitment events.
Develops a communications plan that defines roles responsibilities around communication, methods of communication, meeting guidelines, and guidelines for interacting with community members, stakeholders, and other interested parties.
Reviews and modifies policies and practices around communication and that of the Agency’s Strategic Plan to ensure that expectations are clear and consistent throughout the Agency.
Examines communication barriers that are unique to the Juvenile Facilities operations (24/7, 365 days a year) and identify creative solutions unique to this setting.
Performs other related duties.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it.
Your application must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.
m.
on the closing date.
(Previously: Applications must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.
m.
on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
) To apply on-line, please refer to our web site at www.
ventura.
org/jobs.
If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call (805) 654-5129 for application materials.
Our address is: County of Ventura, Human Resources Division, 800 South Victoria Avenue,L-1970, Ventura, CA 93009.
NOTE: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.
If interested, please click here for additional information.
Applicants must provide sufficient information under the Education/Work experience portion of the application and supplemental questionnaire to determine eligibility.
A resume may be attached to supplement your responses in the above-referenced sections; however, it may not be submitted in lieu of the application.
SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE – qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this examination at the time of filing.
The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the examination process to assist in determining each applicant's qualifications and acceptability for the position.
Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.
APPLICATION EVALUATION – qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met.
Those individuals meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the screening and Selection process.
TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire.
The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements.
In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department.
Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.
NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool.
In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis.
For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities.
It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.
ORAL EXAMINATION/PRACTICAL EXAMINATION– 100%: A job-related examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating applicants' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which a job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job.
Written documents produced by candidates may also be discussed with the panel in the oral examination.
Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.
NOTE: The oral examination/practical may be consolidated into one process or expanded into two separate exam components contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool.
If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an oral/practical examination will not be conducted.
Instead, a score of 70% will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.
ELIGIBLE LISTCandidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.
The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill current and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-Term), Extra Help and Intermittent vacancies for this position and similarly situated.
There is currently one (1) Regular, full-time vacancy available within the Probation Agency.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Alicia Ibarra by e-mail at Alicia.
Ibarra@ventura.
org or by telephone at (805) 654-2154.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERThe County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.