It is a very exciting time at our agency, some of the things you can look forward to at the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy as an employee are:

• A brand new office building in 2020 with free parking, (building currently under construction).
• Flexible work schedules
• You will be doing work knowing you are making a difference for current and future generations.

The agency is seeking a Public Information Officer to join our team.  The job will be highly involved in developing and implementing public information activities for the agency to inform the public, news media, governmental/program officials, and State employees on issues and/or of the objectives, policies, and/or programs of the agency.  To apply go to statejobs.nebraska.gov

• Plans and coordinates public and internal information functions and/or activities within the agency to meet project deadlines, facilitate co-action with other program activities, keep the agency staff informed, and ensure that agency public information priorities and goals are achieved.
• Researches and determines the scope, nature, and target audience of agency public information functions and activities, to facilitate the development and implementation of an appropriate approach for disseminating public information.
• Writes, designs, composes, edits, researches, compiles, and/or selects copy and layout for informational/administrative publications, audio-visual material, media releases, displays, exhibits, and/or speeches, to organize data so that it will reach and be understood by the target audience.
• Arranges publication space or broadcast time and preparation of informational material to schedule and coordinate the development and dissemination of agency and program information to the public.
• Presents and/or schedules presentations of public information to news media representatives, governmental/program officials, or interested citizen groups to release information, educate people, and elicit feedback on the agency mission and programs and to stimulate participation and support for agency goals and activities.
• Assigns and reviews the public-information-related work of technical production and office support staff members to arrange for story subjects, facilitate completion of project assignments, and ensure accuracy and completeness of writing, typing, photography, and printing.
• Develops and recommends policies and procedures to agency management to increase the impact and effectiveness of agency public information functions and activities.
• Advises agency management on public relations to discuss potential and actual reaction to and impact of agency information releases and suggest alternative approaches for disseminating information.
• Reviews legislation, rules, and policy and program statements to determine the impact on agency public information functions and assess comprehension by target audiences.
• Confers with news media representatives to discuss agency public information needs, develop and maintain contacts, and facilitate the dissemination of agency and program information through the mass media.
• Coordinates promotional materials for newspapers, radio, television, outdoor and business and industry to develop appropriate preparation and dissemination procedures and ensure that they are followed.

Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, public relations, communications, advertising, creating writing or related field.  Experience in developing, planning and managing public relations/publicity campaigns, mass media communication activities or public information programs may substitute for the education on a year for year basis.

Other Requirements: Valid driver’s license or ability to provide independent transportation, minimal travel requirement; ability to lift 25 pounds; regular and reliable attendance required.

Knowledge of:  The principles and practices of visual reproduction, such as photography, graphics, or printing; the English language, including spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, word usage and grammar; the techniques, formats, and styles of public information dissemination; agency operations, rules, policies, and objectives; agency program legislation and goals; statewide and local media sources and operations, including appropriate contact persons, possible costs, and publication/broadcast deadlines; reference sources, including agency reference material and external information sources; the interrelationships of agency public information functions/activities and state/local program activities.

Ability to:  Communicate orally and in writing in individual or group settings with news media representatives, governmental or program officials, agency staff, and the public, at levels understandable to each audience; apply the principles and practices of public relations/journalism to operation of a public information function; operate audio and/or visual equipment such as tape recorders, cameras, and projectors; write/edit copy to fit assigned space in a layout; compare finished product with established standards and/or original to identify errors; evaluate the public information potential of written, illustrative, and related material for a specific project assignment; develop the information dissemination approach most likely to reach the target audience; assess the impact and effectiveness of specific public information  materials or activities in meeting the interests of the public or media and the needs of the agency; develop and apply agency policies and procedures for the public information function; assign and review the work of others; plan and organize the operations of a public information function.