COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER

This position will be assigned to the Police Department. As such, the ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, or other related field and at least five years of experience performing public relations including issuing press releases and social media posts on various platforms for a Police Department. The candidate must also be comfortable speaking in front of large crowds and cameras.

Job description is currently being updated and under review for final approval

DUTIES SUMMARY
Under administrative direction, oversees and manages programs and activities of the public information function within the City Manager’s Office or the Police Department; coordinates media and community relations activities to ensure publicity and outreach for City or Safety programs, services and events.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Community Relations Officer works independently under the general direction of the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Police Lieutenant or Police Captain, depending on assignment.

Examples of Essential Duties

Develops, implements, and coordinates a comprehensive communications program for the City or Police Department; identifies appropriate messages and communications tools for targeted audiences; employs evaluation measures to assess impact

Integrates the City’s vision, mission, strategic goals and key issues into educational, informational and marketing communications aimed at the general public and employees

Researches, composes, edits and issues press releases, news articles, feature stories and public service announcements for print, radio, cable television, and electronic media.

Interfaces with the media and organizes/conducts press briefings

Responds to inquiries from the media, City officials, community groups, businesses, the general public, and employees

Coordinates and participates in presentations to City visitors and community members; coordinates, schedules and may lead public tours of City facilities

Provides briefings to the City Council and the City Manager concerning public information program activities and events within the City

Oversees staff and manages projects of the City’s public access cable channel

Assists with the development of the budget for public information activities; authorizes expenditures and approves invoices

Oversees the database of public relations contacts and distribution of media materials

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of public information and media and community relations in a municipal government environment

Federal, State and local laws, rules, and regulations governing the disclosure of information by a public agency

Principles and practices of research, journalism, graphic design, print media layout and broadcast media production

Interview techniques, communications media services and resources

Strategies of external and internal marketing, public relations, public information, community outreach, community partnerships and media relations

Corporate advertising, including electronic, print, outdoor and direct mail research techniques and methods;

Ability to:

Develop and implement comprehensive public information programs utilizing various forms of media

Gather, assess, and summarize information for public distribution

Effectively utilize current and trending social media tools and applications

Prepare comprehensive reports, correspondence, press releases, speeches, information and promotion packages and news articles

Manage a variety of complex and challenging projects simultaneously to completion

Exercise judgment, initiative, decisiveness, and creativity necessary in situations involving the direction, control and planning of multiple programs, and in critical or unexpected situations involving considerable risk or loss to the City

Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with those contacted in the course of work

Communicate and interact effectively both verbally and in writing with elected officials, the public, and staff

Operate a variety of office equipment including computers and associated word processing applications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field; master’s degree preferred.

Experience: Five (5) years’ increasingly responsible public information, public affairs, or media relations experience, including three years experience performing public relations for a municipal agency or other public sector organization. Prior experience working in a Police Department desired, if assigned to Police.

Certifications/License: A valid California Class C driver’s license with an acceptable driving record required by time of appointment.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE:

An official on-line application must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applications must be received on-line by the closing date and time. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate meeting minimum education and experience qualifications and other supplemental question requirements by demonstrating proof or submitting the supporting information/documents or they may be subject to exclusion from further consideration.

Applicants must submit the following supplemental document with their application:

You have been provided the following information in response to an incident that just occurred. Please prepare an initial press release for immediate distribution. A press conference will be held the following day.

Date: November 23, 2020 Time: 2000 Hours

11 year old David Sanchez was killed during a vehicle pursuit initiated by HBPD officers. David was thrown from his father’s SUV when it was hit by a vehicle fleeing from Police.

18 year old suspect, Joe Smith, was involved in a strong arm robbery at the 7-11 located near Brookhurst/Yorktown. During the robbery, he physically assaulted the 70 year old female clerk, who received a head injury. She was treated by paramedics and taken to the hospital.

Smith lives in HB and attended Huntington Beach High School, where he was a local football star and getting ready to attend USC on a full sports scholarship.

Store surveillance footage shows Smith step behind the store counter and take a carton of cigarettes. When the clerk tried to stop him, Smith shoved the clerk to the ground where she hit her head and was injured.

Smith fled the location and the clerk called 911 and stated, “my store has been robbed, I was attacked and am injured.”

The clerk provided dispatch with Smith’s vehicle description, a blue Chevy pick-up truck. Smith was the only occupant in the vehicle. The clerk could not provide a suspect description.

Officers located the suspect vehicle and a two mile, high speed pursuit took place. There were five police vehicles involved in the pursuit prior to it ending in the Taco Bell parking lot near Magnolia/Garfield.

When Smith drove into the parking lot of Taco Bell, his vehicle struck a red SUV. David Sanchez was exiting the SUV at the time through the front passenger door and was struck by the blue Chevy pick-up truck. David and his father were going to get dinner at the restaurant.

Officers captured Smith after a short foot pursuit. He was unarmed at the time. Other officers attempted rescue efforts to save David after the collision. All officers were wearing BWC’s at the time of the incident.

Initial response by Chief Harvey: sympathy for the child’s family, angry at the suspect and concern for the community’s perception of the incident.

Applicants best meeting the needs of the department will be invited to participate in the examination process which may include a video presentation and oral exam.

The oral exam, weighted 100% of the total score, will determine the ranking on an employment eligible list from which hires may be made. The employment eligible list is valid for up to one year, unless exhausted sooner.

Candidates considered for hire must undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which includes (but is not limited to) LiveScan fingerprinting, polygraph exam, credit check, reference/employer checks, DOJ and FBI checks, etc.

Upon a conditional offer of employment, a pre-placement medical evaluation, psychological exam and drug screening must be completed with acceptable results.

Upon hire, employee is subject to further reporting from DOJ via subsequent arrest notification.

Our primary means of communication with applicants/candidates is sent via email; therefore, please include a valid email address on your application.

Physical Tasks & Environmental Conditions

The incumbent must be able to meet the physical requirements of the class and have mobility, balance, coordination, vision, hearing and dexterity levels appropriate to the duties to be performed.

Work is performed indoors. The incumbent sits for prolonged periods of time; standing and walking to retrieve work files or to other departments or office locations; leaning, bending and stooping to perform work behind a desk or to retrieve information; pushing, turning or twisting to move chair or body from desk; reaching to place or retrieve files or open file drawers or cabinets; light grasping to hold a writing instrument or documents; firm grasping as needed to lift and carry work files or operate office equipment; finger dexterity to type on a computer keyboard; and, hearing and speaking to answer the telephone or answer questions of co-workers and subordinates. Work is performed in a general office environment. Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Employees regularly assigned/required to drive a city or personal vehicle in the course and scope of work shall be required to participate in the DMV Employer Pull Notice program due to the performance of field duties that may require operation of a City vehicle.

Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

COMMON DISQUALIFIERS – Civilian
Please review the following common disqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

Illegal use or possession of drugs
The following examples of illegal drug use or possession will be considered automatic disqualifiers for applicants, with no exceptions:

Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within three years prior to application for employment.

Any adult use or possession of marijuana within one year prior to application for employment.

Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.

Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement capacity, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses related to the criminal justice field.

Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.

Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.

Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.

The following examples of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual and may result in disqualification:

Any illegal use or possession of a drug as a juvenile.

Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above (e.g., marijuana use longer than one year ago or cocaine use longer than three years.)

Any illegal or unauthorized use of prescription medications.

Motor Vehicle Operations

Receipt of three or more moving violations (or any single violation of a potential life threatening violation, such as reckless driving, speed contest, suspect of a pursuit, etc.) within three years prior to application. Moving violations for which there is a factual finding of innocence shall not be included.

Involvement as a driver in two or more chargeable (at fault) collisions within three years prior to date of application.

A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within three years prior to application or any two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Arrests

Conviction of any criminal offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law within three years prior to application.

Conviction for two or more misdemeanor offenses under California law as an adult.

Conviction of any offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)

Admission(s) of having committed any act amounting to a felony (including felony-misdemeanor offenses) under California law, as an adult, within five years prior to application or while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)

Admission(s) of administrative conviction of any act while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers) involving lying, falsification of any official report or document, or theft.

Admission(s) of any act of domestic violence as defined by law, committed as an adult.

Admission(s) of any criminal act, whether misdemeanor or felony, committed against children including but not limited to: molesting or annoying children, child abduction, child abuse, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, or indecent exposure. Acts of consensual unlawful intercourse accomplished between two minors shall not be included, unless more than four years difference in age existed at the time of the acts.

Having any outstanding warrant of arrest at time of application.

Conviction of a felony under Federal or California Law.

Integrity

Any material misstatement of fact or significant admission/omission during the application or background process may be disqualifying, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview (Personal History Statement or Supplemental Questionnaire) or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies.

Any forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.

Tattoos

Employees shall not display any tattoos, body art, brand, scarification or mutilation while on-duty or when wearing any part of the Police uniform. All visible tattoos, body art, brands, scarification or mutilation shall be covered by an approved uniform or by wearing a skin patch of neutral tone.

This policy also does not apply to Police Recruits while they are attending a Police Academy or participating in Academy sponsored functions. The policy will apply to Police Recruits while they are performing any official duty, in uniform, outside of the Police Academy.

Body Art

Body piercing or alteration to any area of the body visible in any authorized uniform or attire that is a deviation from normal anatomical features and which is not medically required is prohibited. Such body alteration includes, but is not limited to:

Tongue splitting or piercing.

The complete or transdermal implantation of any material other than hair replacement.

Abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose or teeth.

Branding or scarification.

Work Traits

Having been disciplined by any employer (including military) as an adult for abuse of leave, gross insubordination, dereliction of duty , or persistent failure to follow established policies and regulations.

Having been involuntarily dismissed (for any reason other than layoff) from two or more employers as an adult.

Having held more than seven paid positions with different employers within the past four years, or more than 15 paid positions with different employers in the past ten years (excluding military). Students who attend school away from their permanent legal residence may be excused from this requirement.

Having undergone personal bankruptcy more than once, having current financial obligations for which legal judgments have not been satisfied, currently having wages garnished, or any other history of financial instability.

Uttering any epithet derogatory of another person’s race, religion, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.

Having been disciplined by any employer as an adult for fighting in the workplace.