Position Description

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING
Position Number: 00018023	Description Activated On: 5/21/2026 2:22:05 PM

Position Purpose: Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively.

Serves as Engineering District 5’s Press Officer responsible for performing and supervising the promotion of highway safety initiatives and the Department and District’s accomplishments through the media, public officials, community, and other means of communication.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Serves as Department news liaison and spokesperson for the District Executive; maintains contact with communities, special interest groups, property owners, public officials, and the news media on matters related to transportation planning, project design, construction, and maintenance activities in the District.

Prepares written correspondence for Letters-to-the-Editor of newspapers for the purpose of expressing Department's view or position on issues.

Initiates and develops citizen involvement activities; monitors and evaluates news coverage of PennDOT by the news media; identifies and reports on potential problems and issues determined through media contacts and media coverage. Promotes internal communication.

Maintains a roster of District speakers for presenting programs to service, social, and community organizations on a variety of transportation-related programs and issues.

Prepares publicity programs, newspaper advertisements, and other media forms used in community participation programs; coordinates with the District personnel responsible for projects to schedule public meetings and/or hearings and attends such meetings as a Department representative.

Promotes driver performance improvement efforts to include analyzing crash and injury data through non-engineering highway safety and corridor safety efforts; assists state and local police with enforcement grant activities; assists highway safety education efforts by schools, volunteer groups, and nonprofit entities to obtain program materials, speakers, promotional items and media coverage.

Develops and coordinates special community involvement programs for major transportation projects where significant or controversial community effects are likely to occur; works closely with District technical personnel to evaluate the impact of transportation projects on the local community, on mass media relations, and on local public official relations; and develops methods to effectively present this project information to these interested parties.

Maintains contact with area legislators to inform them of transportation developments in their district.

Supervises a Transportation Community Relations Coordinator 1 who serves as an Assistant Community Relations Coordinator responsible for the promotion of driver performance improvement efforts to include analyzing crash and injury data through non-engineering highway safety and corridor safety efforts; assists state and local police with enforcement grant activities; assists highway safety education efforts by schools, volunteer groups, and nonprofit entities to obtain program materials, speakers, promotional items and media coverage.

Recognizing that everyone is involved in the District’s and County’s actions to demonstrate sound environmental practices, each employee fulfills the maintenance unit business plan objectives related to the Strategic Environmental Management Program (SEMP).

Performs related duties as assigned.

Safety (all employees):
1. Assess your environment and be responsible for your safety, the safety of co-workers, and the public.

2. Attend required safety training and adhere to the requirements of all safety manuals, policies, and laws.

3. Immediately report to your supervisor any incident, unsafe practice, or near miss.

4. When in an enclosed environment (office buildings, confined spaces, flagger stations, equipment pinch points, etc.), know your evacuation process and escape route, your communication protocols, and appropriately react in the event of an incident.

5. Evaluate contractor operations:
-Immediately stop unsafe actions
-Engage in ongoing safety dialogue with the contractor’s leadership

6. Promote a CULTURE that emphasizes SAFETY as a core value:
-Immediately stop any unsafe actions. Incorporate safety into all discussions, deliberations, and decisions.

-Continuously communicate the safety direction.

-Inspire employees to be a MODEL for safety.

-Encourage and support safety initiatives and programs by participating and involving staff.

-Recognize safety daily.

-Acknowledge EXTRAORDINARY achievements.

-Learn and improve through After-Action Reviews (AAR’s)

-Enforce accountability.

Succession Planning: (Employees):
Take an active role in succession planning by completing a Career Development Plan in collaboration with the supervisor. In conjunction with the supervisor, participate in knowledge management/transfer by identifying key aspects of the job and sharing explicit and tacit program/technical knowledge with other employees.

Managers/Supervisors
Actively engage in succession planning by assessing potential vacancies; identifying current and future critical needs and competencies; and assessing the interest, availability, and readiness of current staff and candidate pools. Work with employees to complete and maintain a Career Development Plan. Engage employees and recognize employees and their accomplishments. Establish a mechanism to identify, capture, and share explicit and tacit program/technical knowledge among staff.

Department Green Plan Policy: As part of PennDOT’s MS4 obligations including NPDES Permit compliance and stockpile good housekeeping, all Construction Inspection Employee, Manager & Supervisor and Maintenance Employee, Manager & Supervisor PD’s must include the following statement: Commit to following the Departments Green Plan Policy (Pub 712) and the associated principals. Failure to comply with Department Green Plan Policy shall be documented in employee’s performance review.

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA):
For Supervisors:
Understand your responsibilities as a supervisor under the FLSA to ensure that employees are paid appropriately for hours they worked – i.e. all time spent furthering the business of the Department. Ensure that your employees are performing work only within their regularly-assigned shift hours, unless overtime has been directed and approved in advance of completed work. There should be no confusion as to when work has officially started or ended. Ensure that all hours employees work are fully accounted for on payroll sheets.

Decision Making: Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

This position is responsible for the release of the District’s activities through various media outlets and the promotion of safety initiatives. Work is reviewed by the District Executive and the Department’s Community Relations Office.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:

Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1.   N/A

2.   N/A

3.   N/A

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5.

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Essential Functions: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.

1.	Gather/research information, and prepare news and feature material for radio, television, and newspaper announcements.
2.	Communicate effectively by oral, written, and electronic means.
3.	Read, write, and speak clearly.
4.	Effectively convey presentations, briefings, and trainings; and speak to individuals/groups.
5.	Plan and produce press conferences and special events.
6.	Prepare and proofread correspondence and other documents.
7.	Use standard office equipment and software.
8.	Sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, reach, crawl, twist, and climb. Perform repetitive motions (typing, filing, answering the telephone).
9.	Travel as required and attend meetings, trainings, and seminars.
10.	Use required personal protective equipment and be responsible for its care, storage, and maintenance. Follow all safety policies & procedures.