Public Affairs Specialist

There is only one city in the country that can say it is the Nation's Capital – Washington, D.C. Given that distinction, The Metropolitan Police Department is the premiere law enforcement organization in the city. We receive over 22 million visitors a year, have almost 700,000 residents, and 21,000 private business. The Department consists of more than 4,200 members: approximately 3,550 sworn members and over 650 civilian employees. We are one of the most diverse and highly trained departments in the country. We have the honor of safeguarding and protecting not only our nation's residents, but also people from all over the world.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) offers an attractive benefits package. The benefits package includes competitive compensation, health insurance, prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, short and long term disability and life insurance, as well a strong retirement benefit and savings options. Employees are also eligible for our employer contributed 401a plan after one year of employment. Additional perks such as discounts on wireless carriers, gym memberships, amusement park tickets and much more Additional information can be found at: DCHR Benefits

This position is located in the Executive Office of the Chief of Police, within the Office of Communications. The incumbent advises management on the possible public and media reactions to MPD actions, as well as the information needs of the general public and various specialized groups.

This Public affairs position is covered under the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE) bargaining unit and you may be required to pay an agency fee through direct payroll deductions.

The Incumbent Will Be Responsible For The Following

• Responds to information requests from the news media and the public, disseminates information, and answers questions about the agency's operations or activities.
• Supports the department's Real Time Crime Center with real time messaging regarding significant and routine law enforcement functions to the public and the media.
• Advises management on appropriate solutions and approaches to problems and issues; identifies, summarizes, and analyzes public comments submitted to the office.
• Provides consultation management officials in developing direction in public affairs activities to support the total agency efforts.
• Evaluates local/national media to identify potential problems or areas of friction and advises management officials concerning the causes of the problems and suggests methods for resolving them.
• Develops communications and social media strategies with short-term and long-term goals and plans for achieving such goals.
• Prepares articles for publication and other informational materials and strategies for communicating activities to support the total agency efforts.
• Plans, develops and communicates the agency's programs, policies and activities to the public and media.
• Advises management on the possible public and media reactions to agency actions, as well as the information needs of the general public and various specialized groups.
• Analyzes and evaluates the agency's communications needs to advise management officials of the information that should be made available to the public or approaches to take to attain program goals.
• Uses a variety of methods and techniques in achieving communication goals such as news releases, social media campaigns, radio and television scripts, feature articles, personal appearances, new conferences, exhibits, brochures, pamphlets, etc.
• Advises management on appropriate solution and approaches to problems and issues
• Evaluates local/national media to identify potential problems or areas of friction and advises management officials concerning the causes of the problems and suggested methods for resolving them.
• Develops communications and social media strategies with short-term and long-term goals and plans for achieving such goals.
• Develops informational materials such as news releases, fact sheets, feature stories and background statements.
• Initiates and prepares responses to inquiries from interested groups, and the general public concerning policies and activities of public involvement.
• Organizes and coordinates media interviews with staff members, oversees all arrangements with the media, prepares materials and briefs command staff members as required.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relations with local/national media. Coordinates the dissemination of information relating to the agency through the news media.
• Writes public involvement plans for informing and involving the public on issues of local, state and national significance, as appropriate.
• Participates in updating the agency web site, social media sites, brochures, fact sheets, FAQs and other agency publications.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, methods and techniques of communications; and skill developing strategies to disseminate information, and training or mentoring others.
• Knowledge in developing written materials designed to encourage affected publics to adopt positions on a variety of issues when such policies have been determined as a result of a broad involvement of interested or concerned individuals or groups in the decision-making process.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining working relationships with the media and a variety of publics some of whom have opposing points of view from the organization and where the specialist must defend the developed policy or point of view in the face of heavy criticism in unstructured settings.
• Knowledge of the mission, function and goals of the office to facilitate communication between the agency and its publics on program-related problems, activities or issues.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of written and oral communication, and knowledge in applying principles and using methods in developing and disseminating information about the agency and activities to the general public.
• Skill in analyzing and developing recommendations, or training others to do so, from a wide array of conflicting and divergent input from many publics and arriving at a position acceptable to most of the participants.

Licensures, Certifications And Other Requirements
N/A

Education
Bachelor's Degree preferred. Master's Degree strongly preferred.

Work Experience
Must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to CS-11 grade level in the District of Columbia government service or its non-District equivalent, that demonstrates knowledge of the specialized subject area of the position.

Specialized experience includes understanding principles, methods and techniques of communications; skill in developing strategies to disseminate information and training or mentoring others; establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with local and national media representatives; applying the mission, function and goals of the office to facilitate communication between the agency and the public on program-related problems, activities or issues; and communicating orally and in writing and applying principles and using methods in developing and disseminating information about the agency and activities to the general public.

Work Environment
Work location is in an office environment. Work is sedentary and may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel and attendance at meeting and conferences away from the work site and carrying light items, such as laptops, papers, books, small parts, and driving an automobile.

Other Significant Factors
Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential

The Metropolitan Police Department is a 24-hour, 7 days a week operation. Your position is emergency and subject to rotating shifts, to include weekends and holidays.

This Position Is Deemed As Security Sensitive Pursuant To Chapter 4 Of The D.C. Personnel Regulations, In Addition To The General Suitability Screening And Criminal Background Check (pre-employment And Periodic), Individuals May Be Subject To The Following Checks And Tests

• Traffic record check (as applicable);
• Pre-employment drug and alcohol test (as applicable);
• Consumer credit check (as applicable);
• Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test;
• Random drug and alcohol test;
• Return to duty or follow-up drug and alcohol test; and
• Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

The incumbent is required to possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's permit.

The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer: all qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is also prohibited. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited.

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