Salary
See Position Description
Location
San Diego, CA
Job Type
Full Time
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2025-05-1903
Department
Public Affairs
Opening Date
05/28/2025
Closing Date
6/10/2025 5:30 PM Pacific
The Organization
JOIN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY!
We welcome veteran or transitioning military to apply
The San Diego County Water Authority is an independent public agency that serves as San Diego County's regional water wholesaler. The mission of the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable water supply to its 22 member agencies serving the region's $262 billion economy and 3.3 million residents.
The Water Authority is executing a long-term strategy to diversify the region's supplies, make major investments in the region's water delivery and storage system, and improve water use efficiency. Through dynamic leadership, thoughtful planning, and prudent fiscal policies, the Water Authority is cost effectively managing the region's water portfolio, while continuing to diversify supplies to enhance current and future reliability.
The Public Affairs Department
The Public Affairs (PA) Department establishes, fosters, and strengthens relations with business and civic organizations, community leaders, school-age children, members of the news media, and the general public to build and sustain support for Water Authority programs and initiatives. The department employs a range of tactics to communicate the Water Authority's priorities and messages. The department also implements regional programs to support member agency efforts to communicate the value of water, water-efficient practices and smart investments in regional infrastructure.
The department is also responsible for coordinating outreach on Water Authority Capital Improvement projects and promoting the Small Contractor Outreach and Opportunities Program.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be highly organized and adaptable with a strong ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure while maintaining high-quality standards and meeting deadlines. A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and a positive attitude are essential for success in this dynamic role.
Key Qualifications
- Exceptional digital communication skills, with proven experience in creating, producing, and editing both visual and written content for electronic media platforms. Proficient with content management systems (e.g. WordPress).
- Skilled in managing official agency accounts across social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and YouTube).
- Experience in graphic design for both print and digital formats, with working knowledge of tools such as Adobe Creative Suite or similar.
- Video production capabilities, including scripting, filming, and editing for public information, outreach, and engagement campaigns.
- Proficient in writing and editing content in a clear, concise, journalistic style suited for diverse audiences and platforms.
- Experience coordinating across departments to ensure consistent messaging.
Ability to create and schedule content that builds public trust, supports transparency, and encourages community involvement.- Bilingual abilities and/or experience in coordinating translations of public-facing content to ensure accessibility for diverse communities desirable.
This candidate will play a vital role in representing the agency’s mission and values through strategic communication efforts that inform, educate, and engage the public.
The Position
Salary Information
Public Affairs Representative I: $42.49 - $57.14 per hour ($88,368 - $118,847 Annually)
Public Affairs Representative II: $46.90 - $63.07 ($97,543 - $131,185 Annually)
The position may be filled at either level, depending on candidate qualifications.
The Public Affairs Representative I/II will play a key role in managing the Water Authority’s digital communications channels, including the website, social media platforms, and email outreach. This position is responsible for ensuring these channels are consistently updated, effectively maintained, and regularly evaluated for performance and engagement.
In addition, the representative will support the coordination of the Water Authority’s graphic services, contributing to the design and production of a wide range of materials such as fact sheets, digital and print advertisements, infographics, social media graphics, videos, brochures, e-newsletters, and other public-facing content. The role also involves assisting with public affairs initiatives, outreach campaigns, special events, and various communications programs that advance the agency’s mission and public engagement goals.
Responsibilities also include supporting other departments and acting as a liaison and spokesperson for the Water Authority, preparing reports and presentations, and engaging with executives, the Board of Directors, public officials, community leaders, and the media. The role also involves stakeholder outreach, legislative tracking, managing contracts, coordinating special events, and overseeing website and graphic services, along with other related duties.
Distinguishing Characteristics
Public Affairs Representative I is the entry-level class in the Water Authority's professional Public Affairs Representative series. For further details, please click on the following link to view the class specification: Public Affairs Representative I.
Public Affairs Representative II is distinguished from a Public Affairs Representative I in that the latter does not manage contracts or consultants and the Public Affairs Representative II has demonstrated greater responsibility and advanced proficiencies in a minimum of two of the five specialized areas of Public Affairs. For further details, please click on the following link to view the class specification: Public Affairs Representative II.
Representative Duties
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class.
- Develops, maintains, updates and posts items to the Water Authority's internet and intranet websites and social medial platforms, including new website pages, meeting agendas for the board of directors, directors' biographies, environmental and planning documents and collateral materials; maintains electronic distribution of informational materials; writes for internal and external publications; writes outreach materials including fact sheets, brochures, annual reports and other materials; manages the Water Authority's internal newsletter; manages vendor and professional service contracts; assists with various public outreach programs, including special events, marketing materials, and communications programs; supports other Public Affairs positions, as appropriate; manages various Water Authority social media accounts; manages the social media budget, promotions and campaigns; tracks growth and engagement on social medial platforms; develops original content for social media platforms including photos, videos and graphics.
- Manages the Water Authority's graphic services, including design, layout, production, printing, and adherence to style; creates concepts, layouts and final art work; produces publications including fact sheets, brochures, postcards, door hangers, newsletters, e-newsletters, and advertisements; manages contracts and production with outside vendors; assists in website file management, HTML programming, Dreamweaver web editing, file transfer protocol (FTP), and digital image management; assists with various public outreach programs, including special events and communications programs; supports other Public Affairs positions, as appropriate.
- Performs related duties as required.
For further details regarding the duties and responsibilities, and qualification guidelines for this class specification, please click on the following link: Public Affairs Representative I/ Public Affairs Representative II.
Optional Hybrid Work Schedule:
The Water Authority has embraced a hybrid work schedule to offer employees flexibility and work-life balance. An option to telework up to 3 days per week and work onsite 2 days per week is available for this position. Employees authorized to telework must be able to report to Water Authority facilities as needed, depending on the operational needs of the department and/or area of assignment. Additionally, employees assigned to work at the Kearny Mesa office work a 9/80 schedule, where the entire facility is closed every other Friday.
Qualification Guidelines
The qualification guidelines generally describe the knowledge and ability required to enter the job in order to successfully perform the assigned duties. Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.
Public Affairs Representative I
Public Affairs Representative I
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, public affairs, journalism, communications, public administration or a related field, supplemented by two years of progressively responsible professional experience in the public affairs specialty areas of government, community relations and CIP outreach, media relations, web site management, and graphic services similar to those administered by the Water Authority.
Public Affairs Representative II
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public relations, public affairs, journalism, communications, public administration or a closely related field supplemented by four years of progressively responsible professional experience in the public affairs specialty areas of government, community relations and CIP outreach, media relations, social media and new media communications, web site management, and graphic services similar to those administered by the Water Authority. This includes responsibility for writing, editing, making oral and PowerPoint presentations, interacting with the public on sensitive matters, planning special events, website and graphic services training or experience, or an equivalent combination thereof for the following areas:
Community Relations and CIP Outreach:
Community Relations- A thorough understanding of community relations techniques through training and experience or a combination thereof; possess an existing network of relationships with business, industry and community leaders and ability to expand on those relationships; experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization, coordinating speakers bureau, and event planning. Strong personal, oral and written communications skills.
Capital Improvement Program Outreach- A thorough understanding of community relations techniques through training and experience or a combination thereof; experience with outreach in areas dealing with construction or other sensitive community issues that require patience, logic, and negotiating skills. Strong personal, oral and written communications skills and event planning.
Media Relations and Coordination:
A thorough understanding of all aspects of media relations, social media and multimedia production; possess existing relationships with media executives, editors and reporters and ability to expand on those relationships; knowledge of AP Style; experience with serving as spokesperson for an organization, writing news releases, managing new media and social media channels, managing or producing videos and multimedia content, and organizing news conferences. Possess strong oral and written communications skills. Possess current knowledge of effectively using Web 2.0 technologies, including video for the web. Experience working with a web content management system. Experience using web multimedia and photo/video editing programs. Understanding of HTML, CSS, Web, Drupal, or other scripting language is desirable.
Website and Social Media Management:
A thorough understanding of web site intranet and internet management, Web 2.0 and social media platforms. Experience with website file management, HTML programming, Dreamweaver web editing or other web editing software, file transfer protocol (FTP), Paintshop Pro 7 or PhotoShop image editing, digital image management, cascading style sheets, and basic Javascript programming. Strong oral and written communications skills. Understanding of HTML, CSS, Web, Drupal, or other scripting language is desirable.
Community Relations and CIP Outreach:
Community Relations- A thorough understanding of community relations techniques through training and experience or a combination thereof; possess an existing network of relationships with business, industry and community leaders and ability to expand on those relationships; experience serving as a spokesperson for an organization, coordinating speakers bureau, and event planning. Strong personal, oral and written communications skills.
Capital Improvement Program Outreach- A thorough understanding of community relations techniques through training and experience or a combination thereof; experience with outreach in areas dealing with construction or other sensitive community issues that require patience, logic, and negotiating skills. Strong personal, oral and written communications skills and event planning.
Media Relations and Coordination:
A thorough understanding of all aspects of media relations, social media and multimedia production; possess existing relationships with media executives, editors and reporters and ability to expand on those relationships; knowledge of AP Style; experience with serving as spokesperson for an organization, writing news releases, managing new media and social media channels, managing or producing videos and multimedia content, and organizing news conferences. Possess strong oral and written communications skills. Possess current knowledge of effectively using Web 2.0 technologies, including video for the web. Experience working with a web content management system. Experience using web multimedia and photo/video editing programs. Understanding of HTML, CSS, Web, Drupal, or other scripting language is desirable.
Website and Social Media Management:
A thorough understanding of web site intranet and internet management, Web 2.0 and social media platforms. Experience with website file management, HTML programming, Dreamweaver web editing or other web editing software, file transfer protocol (FTP), Paintshop Pro 7 or PhotoShop image editing, digital image management, cascading style sheets, and basic Javascript programming. Strong oral and written communications skills. Understanding of HTML, CSS, Web, Drupal, or other scripting language is desirable.
Application Procedure
To be considered for this position, please submit an employment application and supplemental questionnaire by Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.
All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be evaluated in relation to the criteria outlined in this job announcement. The selection process may consist of an appraisal interview, writing exercise, and/or other appropriate screening devices.
To ensure timely and successful navigation, please consider applying early if you are new to the governmentjobs.com application system. For technical assistance with the online application system, please review the Government Jobs online application guide, or contact their toll-free applicant support line at (855) 524-5627. If you have questions regarding the position, please contact Patricia Duran, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (858) 522-6663.
The San Diego County Water Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy status), gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability (whether perceived or actual), ancestry, military or veteran status, citizenship status, medical condition, and/or national origin.
The San Diego County Water Authority welcomes veterans or transitioning military. If you have questions whether your Military Occupational Specialties or rating qualifies you for a job opening, please visit TIPS & RESOURCES FOR VETERANS APPLYING FOR JOBS IN WATER, on the Water Authority’s regional workforce development website, SanDiegoWaterWorks.org.
Should you have any questions regarding the recruitment process or require accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Patricia Duran, Senior Human Resources Analyst, at (858) 522-6663.
Employer
San Diego County Water Authority
Address
4677 Overland Avenue
San Diego, California, 92123
Phone
858-522-6660
Report job
