Public Information Representative I: $110,385.60 - $141,315.20 Annually
Public Information Representative II: $121,888.00 - $155,979.20 Annually
Overview:
Are you passionate about educating students about the environment, sustainability, water conservation, flood awareness, and pollution prevention? Do you want to inspire local youth with your knowledge?
Valley Water's Public Information Representative I/II – Education Outreach role might be perfect for you!
The Public Information Representative (PIR) I/II plays an integral and exciting role in our civic engagement efforts that are meaningful in our Water Education & Volunteer Program under the Office of Civic Engagement. The incumbent will support an advanced level of public participation and civic engagement duties including developing projects, materials, and tour/school programming; assessing community perceptions and interest; recommending strategy; and managing and evaluating assigned internal and external engagement efforts.
This position is responsible for assisting the implementation and continuous evaluation of strategies that provide for effective education and engagement of internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent will work with the program lead (PIR III) to develop and execute a variety of advanced community and civic engagement activities with the public, employees, external community leaders, businesses, schools, youth, and civic leaders. This includes, but is not limited to, supporting public presentations and tours, hosting youth tours, and presenting in schools and classrooms, to internal and external stakeholders, and at other community outreach events. This position will also support staff training and guidance on key messaging and public speaking delivery and techniques to part-time staff and student interns.
In addition to a routine work schedule, this position regularly requires attendance at community outreach and public relations events that may occur during evenings or weekends.
Our Commitment:
We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.
About Valley Water:
Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.
Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Youth and Student Education Programming:
- Support the development and implementation of a variety of educational programming, curriculum lesson plans, and educational activities for students pre-K through grade 12, college students, and the general public.
- Assist with the delivery of educational presentations at schools, libraries, summer camps, outdoor classrooms, festivals, tabling events, and other youth-focused venues.
- Assist the planning, development and implementation of educational objectives and strategies to enhance outreach and programming to ensure equal access and reflect diversity throughout the county.
- Coordinate and schedule a variety of educational events and organize and arrange trainings for teachers, support staff and volunteers.
- Support the design and production of environmental stewardship materials and curriculum, including overseeing translations in multiple languages to reach broader audiences.
- Community Outreach and Communication:
- Work with program lead to proactively identify and outreach to schools and youth-serving organizations in Santa Clara County.
- Coordinate events and plan logistics for outreach initiatives.
- Raise public awareness of Valley Water’s outreach programs, flood awareness, water conservation, pollution prevention, recycled and purified water, and other water topics.
- Manage and coordinate logistics related to the organization’s mascot, including scheduling, maintaining costume condition, and relaying mascot performance standards for events.
- Help to maintain the education outreach web pages, including online registration system, and other outreach materials, including eblasts and mailers.
- Youth Commission:
- Provide support to the Board Advisory Youth Commission for high school students, including but not limited to leading project groups and supporting the annual retreat.
- Assist with the development, review, and implementation of project and team schedules, activities, and operations.
- Other duties as assigned.
Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:
Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.
Ideal Experience:
- Experience performing public information, education, or outreach activities.
- PIR I: One (1) year of experience in public relations, public information, community relations, or outreach activities.
- PIR II: Three (3) years of experience in public relations, public information, community relations, or outreach activities.
- Public outreach & communication: Implementing communication/outreach plans, social marketing campaigns, and developing persuasive materials, messaging, and outreach materials.
- Community engagement & education: Building relationships with agencies, organizations, and all communities across Santa Clara County; developing and delivering youth programming, educational activities, and presentations (virtual, in-person, tours, committees).
- Project & event management: Leading projects and coordinating events from planning to execution, including developing timelines, coordinating logistics, overseeing implementation, and ensuring successful delivery in alignment with program goals and organizational standards.
Ideal Skills and Abilities:
- Plan, coordinate, and implement communication and outreach efforts, marketing campaigns, and educational programs.
- Work collaboratively and effectively with the public, youth, and internal and external stakeholders, including various program and project teams.
- Quickly learn and absorb highly technical information and translate information into easily understandable terms, including tailoring information for different target audiences or grade levels.
- Make persuasive presentations to the public, youth, and internal and external stakeholders.
- Prioritize project activities in a fast-paced environment and complete tasks on deadline without sacrificing quality.
- Outstanding presentation and communication skills, written and oral.
- Collaborate and work effectively on project teams.
- Prioritize regularly in an ever-changing environment.
- Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and virtual presentation platforms.
Ideal Knowledge:
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) standards.
- Outreach, communication, and volunteer engagement strategies and tactics.
- Public information and education campaigns, marketing, and social media campaigns.
- Educational programming, including STEM, and latest school curriculum standards.
- Principles of project and event management.
- Advanced principles and techniques of research, investigation, and analysis.
- Journalism, PR writing techniques and social media platforms.
- Spoken proficiency in another language (bilingual) in either Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog, etc., is a plus, but not required.
Ideal Training and Education:
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, journalism, public relations, graphic and web design, education, or a related field. Directly related experience may be substituted for the college requirement on the basis of one and one-half years of experience for one year of education to a maximum of four years.
