Public Information Officer 1

Who we are:

Did you know Ohio operates 76 state parks, manages over 750,000 acres of diverse wildlife land and more than 2 million acres of water? That’s just the tip of the iceberg of what we do at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as we seek to ensure a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all!

Across our 12 divisions and support services, we employ office staff, law enforcement officers, geologists, biologists, engineers, attorneys, communicators, managers, and so much more. Whatever your passion, we likely have a position to fit it and pathways for advancement!

Working at ODNR is a special experience. Our employees are afforded opportunities to participate in public events at parks, nature preserves, wildlife areas, and annually at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair! Our central office campus at Fountain Square is like an oasis on Morse Road with private, secured parking, wildlife, a walking path, and natural areas including a small prairie and wetland. We routinely have Lunch and Learn events at our Assembly Center which are streamed on Teams Live as are monthly updates with our Director.

Job Description

What we need:

We are seeking energetic, passionate people who enjoy the outdoors and want to play a key role for the position of Public Information Officer 1 within the Office of Communications, headquartered at Fountain Square Main Campus, in Franklin county. The address is 2045 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio 43229.  To learn more about the Department of Natural Resources please visit https://ohiodnr.gov/.

What you will do… 

• Write speeches and prepare briefings for the director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and other department officials for ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, and other public events.
• Write and edit copy for Ohio Department of Natural Resources signage, promotional materials, and other public facing media.
• Write and edit articles and scripts that tell the public about what's happening at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and how the department is furthering its mission.
• Prepare media responses and fill in as a substitute for the media and outreach specialist (press secretary)
• Starting hourly pay of $28.08/hr with multiple pay increases over your first 3.5 years of service, with an end salary of $35.07/hr.

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS:
May work evenings or weekends; may travel overnight. 

Why Work for the State of Ohio

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Qualifications

30 mos. exp. in field of journalism or communication dealing in public multi-media techniques & relations, public speaking, news writing, reporting & editing or technical report translation & communication dealing in public meetings; valid driver's license.

-Or completion of undergraduate core program in journalism or communication; 6 mos. exp. in public multi-media techniques & relations in field of journalism or communication; valid driver's license.

-Or 12 mos. exp. as Public Information Specialist, 64420; valid driver's license.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Communications, Technical Skills: Copywriting, Public Relations, Natural Resources, Professional Skills: Written Communication, Verbal Communication, Priority Setting

Supplemental Information

Application Requirements:
Please ensure your online application clearly indicates how you meet minimum qualifications (MQs).  Transcripts are required for all coursework, degrees or educational accomplishments claimed on the application.  Applicants must submit a transcript (can be unofficial until point of selection) by the posting deadline (attach in the Additional Attachments section of the application submission Step 6).  Should you have issues attaching, please email to: hr@dnr.ohio.gov.  “See resume” is not a substitution for completing supplemental questions. Answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education sections of the application.  Applications that fail to demonstrate how they meet minimum qualifications will not be considered. 

To request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability please contact Mohammad Yakubu, EEO Regional/Program Administrator at 614-265-6992 or mohammad.yakubu@dnr.ohio.gov.

Effective July 1, 2015 applicants must apply online for positions at all state agencies except the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD).

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. 

STATUS OF POSTED POSITIONS: Applicants can view the status of this position by logging into their user profile on the Ohio Hiring Management System [OHMS] Home page at the following link careers.ohio.gov, and selecting "My Profile". 

NOTES: 

Bargaining unit applicants will be given consideration for applicable positions, pursuant to collective bargaining agreement. 

Selection devices, proficiency testing and/or assessments may be used to determine if an applicant meets and is proficient in the minimum qualifications for this position.

Please do not upload attachments that have an anomaly or are password protected.

The final applicant selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis prior to an appointment to test for illegal drug use.  The State will decline to extend a final offer of employment to any applicant with a verified positive test result.  Also, an applicant with a positive test will not be considered for any position with the State of Ohio for a period of one year.

ADA Statement

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Drug-Free Workplace

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.