08/01/1983 05790

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is professional work of a liaison, advisory and promotional nature in the field of community, media and legislative relations.

An employee in this class plans, develops, implements and coordinates a program designed to promote citizen participation and understanding in the planning, pre-design, design, construction, maintenance, protection, conservation and enforcement activities of the Department of Environmental Resources. Work involves serving as the focal contact person in dealing with the media, environmental and conservation groups, trade associations, community groups legislators and the public within an assigned geographical area of the Commonwealth. Work involves recommending policies and procedures governing community and media relations and implementing approved policies and procedures at the local level. Work also involves planning, developing and coordinating the implementation of community and media relations programs. Work includes preparing press releases, public service announcements, feature stories for periodicals, and video presentations; conducting press conferences and acting as the Department's spokes-person during public hearings and meetings or emergency situations. Work also includes participating in the review of controversial or highly sensitive issues or projects; assessing probable reaction by media, environmental and conservation groups, trade associations, community groups, legislators and the public; and developing and conducting effective media presentations to promote an understanding of Departmental actions and activities. Employees receive administrative guidance and supervision from the local regional manager with technical supervision exercised by the Deputy Secretary for Communications, who also functions as the Reviewing Officer for Performance Evaluation Report purposes. Employees exercise considerable independent judgment following established policies and procedures and work is reviewed through conferences and written reports.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, develops, implements and coordinates community relations programs designed to promote citizen participation and understanding in the planning, pre-design, design, construction, maintenance, protection, conservation and enforcement activities of the Department of Environmental Resources.

Serves as the focal contact person in dealing with the media, environmental and conservation groups, trade associations, community groups, legislators and the public within an assigned geographical area of the Commonwealth.

Recommends policies and procedures governing community and media relations and implements and interprets approved policies and procedures at the local level.

Prepares press releases, public service announcements, feature stories for periodicals and other media presentations covering items of special or significant interest for presentation to the local community.

Coordinates the scheduling and conduct of public hearings or meetings and acts as a Departmental spokes-person and representative.

Conducts press conferences and acts as the Department's spokes-person during emergency situations.

Participates in the review of controversial or highly sensitive issues or projects; assesses probable reaction by media, community groups, environmental and conservation groups, trade associations, legislators and the public; develops and implements effective medial presentations to promote an understanding of Departmental positions, actions, and activities.

Develops and maintains contacts between media, environmental and conservation groups, community groups, trade associations, legislators and the public at the local level to provide a forum for discussing and alleviating conflicts between them and the Department.

Develops and maintains a speaker's roster of Departmental personnel capable of presenting programs to service, social and community groups on a variety of programs and issues concerning Departmental activities; receives requests from groups for these services and arranges for presentations by Departmental personnel.

Develops and implements programs to train Departmental personnel in effective public relations and media methods and techniques to utilize in dealing with the public.

Reviews and edits press releases prepared by program personnel prior to release to ensure effective presentation of Departmental positions, programs, actions and activities.

Develops and maintains effective contacts with area legislators and keeps them informed of program developments in their area.

Performs similar work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles, methods and techniques utilized in public relations.

Knowledge of the methods and techniques utilized in community relations and organization.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental organization and administration.

Skill in writing and editing a wide variety of material.

Skill in public speaking.

Ability to discern, select and utilize newsworthy material.

Ability to develop, plan, organize and coordinate a local community and media relations program.

Ability to develop programs designed to promote citizen participation and understanding of the planning, pre-design, design, construction, maintenance, protection, conservation, and enforcement activities of the Department of Environmental Resources.

Ability to assess probable reaction to controversial or highly sensitive issues or projects by the media, community groups, environmental and conservation groups, trade associations, and the public and to develop and implement effective medial presentations to promote an understanding of Departmental positions, actions and activities.

Ability to coordinate the scheduling and conduct of public hearings or meetings and to act as a Departmental spokes-person and representative.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, media representatives, area legislators, governmental officials, community groups, environmental and conservation groups and the public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: A bachelor's degree with major course work in public relations, social services, political science, communications, environmental sciences, or a closely related field; and two years of experience in public relations work or community organizations work;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training.