Public Information Officer

This job posting expires at 11:59PM on July 14, 2025. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on July 14, 2025.

Job Title:  Public Information Officer

Department: Communications and Public Engagement

External Hiring Range: $62,541.91 - $78,086.20

Compensation Grade: 3005

Pay Range: $62,541.91 - $99,848.16

Posted Internally and Externally

Join our team. Buncombe County’s Communications & Public Engagement team is looking for a dynamic Public Information Officer to help inform, empower, and connect our community to the information they need. In this role, you'll craft clear, compelling messages, manage media relations, public records requests, and support strategic outreach across all of our platforms.

Our team is divided into two portfolios and this position will serve our general government services. Your focus will be Elections, Property Assessment, Tax Collections, Libraries, Planning & Development, the Governing Body, and general administrative functions from Human Resources to Finance & Budget. We communicate through an inside-out style, empowering our employees with the knowledge to be Buncombe ambassadors, in addition to building on traditional grassroots community engagement-style relationship building. This position is considered essential personnel with on-call responsibilities, and FEMA PIO training is a plus.  

If you're passionate about public service, storytelling, and building trust through transparency, we’d love to hear from you!

Bilingual is a preferred

Purpose of the position:

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

Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelor’s degree in English, Journalism, Communications or closely related field, and a minimum of four (4) years of experience in communications, public relations, or publicity work; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Participate in media contact as a 24/7 liaison in situations that require rapid response.
• Assist with training personnel in proper media relation techniques that comply with policies and procedures.
• 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.
• Perform public relations activities that involve developing relationships and coordinating activities with County staff other agencies, divisions, and private organizations.
• 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, mass notification systems, 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.
• Develop crisis and emergency communication messaging and related response plans and procedures as needed.
• Attend events and meetings to ensure effective message dissemination and to support community engagement efforts.    
• 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/or publication principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the techniques for disseminating information to the public through a variety of news media.
• Knowledge of web development, video development and editing, and print and graphic layout