Assistant Director for External Affairs (Public Information Officer)

Salary: $60,582.08 Annually

Location : Government Services Center - Westtown, PA

Job Type: Full Time, Exempt

Job Number: 03752

Department: Emergency Services

Division: Public Safety Communications

Opening Date: 05/14/2025

Closing Date: Continuous

Weekly Hours: 40

Shift: 8:00am-4:30pm

Summary

Support the Mission of the Department of Emergency Services; To promote and assist in providing safety and security to Chester County citizens so they can work, live, and grow in a healthy and safe community.

The Assistant Director for External Affairs serves as the Department of Emergency Services (DES) Public Information Officer. This key role in the DES leadership team is responsible for managing the Department's communications strategy, including external communications, media relations, web and social media presence, crisis communications, and community outreach.

This position requires availability 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

All Department of Emergency Services employees are essential personnel and may be required to work during non-business hours for extended periods of time. Essential employee duties may involve assignments within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), deployment to a field location, or other duties as required during periods of emergencies or training/exercise. Emergency assignments may be performed under adverse conditions, continue for periods ranging from a few hours to several weeks, and may require travel.

Essential Duties

Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies and public relations plans for the Department of Emergency Services

Oversees matters relating to the department's interaction with the news media, the public, and other stakeholders.

Serves as a spokesperson for the Department of Emergency Services, responding to media inquiries and public information requests in coordination with the County Public Relations Office.

Manage the department's web and social media strategy and content, ensuring a consistent and engaging online presence. This includes generating content for emergent events, as well as routine announcements, preparedness campaigns, or initiatives.

Takes pictures and videos of emergency incidents, planned events, training sessions, staff, vehicles, assets, and buildings. Creates high-quality, visually appealing graphics, flyers, and other professional materials for Department of Emergency Services use.

Build and foster long-term working relationships with media, first responder organizations, citizens, community organizations, other municipal, county, regional and state public information offices.

Maintain and carry out the department's procedures and plans for crisis communications, joint information system/center, community relations, and public affairs.

Serve as the media consultant and advisor to the Director and other department staff on public relations matters.

Prepares talking points, news/press releases, advisories, newsletters, reports, and other communication materials as it relates to the Department of Emergency Services.

Maintains situational awareness of local news headlines, reporting trends, weather forecasts, planned events, and active incidents that may require a response from the Department of Emergency Services and/or lead to inquiries from the media or public.

When necessary, respond to major events, incidents, and emergency operations center activations to coordinate and disseminate information to the media.

Oversee the development and review of publications, press releases, newsletters, annual department report, etc.

Support cross-divisional activities and such as department tours and promotional events, development of emergency plans, providing training and presentations, participating in exercises and drills, and supporting regional public safety initiatives.

Participate as a Department representative on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force, the Emergency Management Workgroup, and the Public Information Subcommittee.

Maintain a professional public image to ensure a positive relationship between all users of the public safety system.

Assist with responding to Right to Know requests.

Assist with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations and drills.

Perform other duties, tasks, and special projects, as assigned by the Director of Emergency Services. Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Associate's degree in communications, public safety, emergency management or a related field; five years of experience in public affairs, communications, media relations, and/or emergency management, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the use of mass media, government, and community relations.

Demonstrated knowledge of emergency management and/or public safety.

Strong technical/computer skills to include experience with social media management and content scheduling platforms

Strong presentation development and public speaking experience

Working knowledge of the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act.

Accurate and detail oriented with excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills.

Ability to exercise sound judgement and coordinate resolutions to critical situations under all conditions.

Ability to interface effectively with all levels of county government, public safety agencies, and stakeholders.

Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills.

Ability to establish priorities and remain focused on daily and long-term operations

General understanding of fiscal planning, budgets, and grants

Exhibit tactful behavior with strong interpersonal and customer service skills.

Exhibits a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn new tasks.

Professionalism, integrity, and honesty with an ability to handle confidential matters.

All DES employees must successfully complete the following FEMA course within 6 months of hire:

IS100 - Introduction to the Incident Command System

IS200 - ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

IS700- National Incident Management System, An Introduction

IS800 - National Response Framework, An Introduction

IS2200 - Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in public safety, communications, or a related field.

Six plus years of job-related experience, strongest preference for roles in public information/media relations in a public safety environment.

Strong graphic design, photography, or video production skills.

Certification as a FEMA Advanced or Master Public Information Officer

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Professional Level certification.

Graduate of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Academy (Basic, Advanced, or Executive).

Strong working knowledge of the County's Policy for release of information.

PEMA Professional Certification.

Strong working knowledge and understanding of the Department of Emergency Services' mission, values, and goals.

Strong working knowledge of the Chester County Commissioners' Strategic Priorities and the County of Chester Strategic Plan - Managing for Results.

Strong working knowledge of Chester County public safety agencies, their mission, vision, and goals as well as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats Additional Information

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

Intermediate Office Suite Skills, (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Explorer).

Intermediate Outlook Skills (email and calendar)

Ability to learn County payroll system and onboarding database

Ability to quickly learn internal proprietary software used by the division, and the department of emergency services. (Everbridge, WebEOC, PowerDMS, etc.).

Advanced knowledge of social media platforms Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, lift 25 pounds to a height of up to 30 inches, carry 25 pounds for a distance of up to 300 feet, drive a vehicle, and talk or hear. Occasionally, the employee will need to reach or work with arms above shoulder height; bend at the waist while working; kneel, stoop, crouch, or squat; and work with an uncommon level of noise. On rare occasions, the employee will need to climb or work on ladders, push items, twist, or rotate at the waist while working, and taste or smell.

The special vision requirements for this job are as follows:

Close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less) - office work

Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors)

Ability to recognize and identify the audible and visual signals. Work Environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet but can be moderate to loud depending on the assignment. Work assignments can change rapidly.

Will occasionally be exposed to outside weather and adverse weather conditions.

Will occasionally need to inspect outside damage to structures and/or environment.

Will be required to operate a motor vehicle; at times this may include hazardous driving conditions.

Ability to attend meetings on site and off site (various hours). Other:

Will occasionally be required to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Driver's license required to drive from site to site to conduct department business

The County of Chester offers comprehensive benefits to our employees.

01

What is your highest level of education?

No formal Education

High School Diploma or GED

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Masters Degree

Doctorate or higher (includes Juris Doctorate and Medical Doctorate)

02

How many years of job-related experience do you have?

None

less than 1

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