Bilingual Information & Communication Specialist

The Bilingual Information & Communication Specialist builds culturally competent strategic communication & public engagement campaigns to help connect Buncombe County residents who dont speak English as a first language to county programs and resources.

The Bilingual Information & Communication Specialist will:

- Develop social media content and short videos to support elections storm recovery strategic planning property assessment processes and more

- Create crisis communication strategies to connect to multicultural communities

- Build community relationships to ensure representation in key county decisions

- Provide oversight of the language access plan

- Be part of an award-winning Communications & Public Engagement team responsible for all internal and external communications public engagement media relations social media digital storytelling and website management.

Purpose of the position: The purpose of this position is to perform professional public relations and communications work within the community and across Buncombe County Government to ensure an integrated message that supports and reflects the mission and vision of the organization.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelors degree in English Journalism Communications or closely related field along with a minimum of two (2) years of experience in communications public relations or publicity work; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Develop effective internal and external messaging and communication materials that are consistent branded and targeted to the appropriate audience.
• Write and edit news and informational communication materials; prepare and disseminate news releases and feature stories through various public information media outlets.
• May perform public relations activities that involve developing relationships and coordinating activities with County staff other agencies divisions and private organizations.
• May assist in responding to public records requests and may serve as agency spokesperson representing the County or specific department at community public and private meetings or events.
• Create content for a variety of internal and external communication channels including social media web email print TV video and presentations.
• Develop and produce web-based communications for the internal County Intranet and on the County website keeping content up-to-date interesting and interactive; and ensure all content meets brand specifications and design standards.
• Conduct ongoing reviews and updates of communications materials to ensure information is current and meets the needs of the county clients and general public.
• Responsible for researching analyzing and compiling various data to support community communications.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Knowledge of journalistic communication and public relations principles and practices as well as public relations communications practices and state public information laws.
• Knowledge of the techniques for disseminating information to the public through a variety of news media.
• Knowledge of the methods of planning writing and editing publications.
• Ability to write according to correct English usage and accepted standards and magazine and press publications with an eye to graphic layout and design.
• Ability to edit and analyze information materials prepared by others.
• Written and verbal communication skills with ability to compose and communicate correspondence memos letters and reports with attention to detail and professionalism on all levels.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of vendors and other persons contacted in the course of work.

Organization Conformance Standards for all positions:

• Interact with other employees customers and partners in an effective manner with professionalism and cultural competency; work effectively and efficiently as a team contributor including interacting and communicating clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Maintain knowledge of the agency organizational rules policies procedures services and mission.
• Plan prioritize and organize work effectively to produce quality work with measurable results and within identified deadlines; Function in highly stressful circumstances and demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing priorities deadlines and directions; ability to maintain calm demeanor while dealing with stressful situations and customers.
• Demonstrate the Countys core values through performance and conduct. This expectation extends beyond the workplace and County systems to include off-site and off-duty conduct that undermines an employees creditability as a representative of the County; Conduct business in an ethical manner at all times while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Coordinate work efforts with other employees and organizations to accomplish a common task; responsible for managing matters affecting employment and completing personnel-related activities timely and according to County policy.
• Safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with ADAAA FMLA and other federal state and local standards including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Maintain regular punctual attendance consistent with ADAAA FMLA and other federal state and local standards.
• Ability to successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture one that fully engages all of our employees honoring and building on each employees unique experiences opinions and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race natural hair or hairstyles ethnicity creed color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin or ancestry marital or familial status pregnancy veteran status religious belief or non-belief age or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment hiring assignment promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.