Initial Posting Date: 10/25/2024

Application Deadline: 11/08/2024

Agency: Department of Fish and Wildlife

Salary Range: $5,483 – $8,416

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Public Affairs Specialist 2 (Communications and Engagement Specialist)

Job Description:

Make a Difference in Oregon’s Natural Resources!

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission: To protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

This permanent, full-time position is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) located in Newport.

What you will do:

• Develop strategies, build, and maintain relationships to ensure that Department science is useful to communities and that the department incorporates community and fishermen knowledge into ongoing research and monitoring efforts. Work with the Human Dimensions Project Leader (NRS-3) to organize and facilitate the collaborative process through which social monitoring data can be interpreted to affect policy decisions. Assist with planning, staffing, and facilitating public meetings in support of development and implementation of the Marine Reserves Adaptive Management Plan Provide public information support.
• Share information about Oregon’s marine reserves and nearshore scientific research. Determine best ways to share this information based on each community’s needs and interests. Listen and learn about community interests and concerns. Communicate interests and concerns with Marine Resources Program staff as appropriate. Meet with individuals and groups on a regular basis.
• Determine ways to best support community-based activities related to marine reserve implementation and nearshore management. Work with MRP staff to develop mechanisms(s) for supporting sustainable, long-term engagement of coastal communities in the stewardship of Oregon’s marine resources.
• Research and implement best practices for effective communications, outreach and engagement to support MRP. Coordinate and collaborate with other MRP programs/projects, other department teams, and external (non-ODFW) partners and experts to develop indicators to track the effectiveness of communications, outreach and engagement efforts. Develop and implement effective communications tools and outreach products based on communications planning and best practices.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

Working Conditions

• Office work 75% of time, mostly using personal computer. Regular travel by car (three to four trips in excess of 150 miles each month). Participates in out-of-town meetings and events.
• The duties of this position may include the use of a SPOTS Card for work-related purchases as a benefit to the agency.
• This position requires a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, and does not exceed forty (40) hours in a workweek.
• Work exceeding 40 hours per week requires prior approval by the supervisor.

Criminal Records/DMV Check
Applicants are subject to both a criminal history and motor vehicles check. Driving is required for all positions. Out-of-state finalists will be required to present a current certified driving record for review to be considered for the position. Be prepared to obtain as soon as possible. You are expected to provide the out-of-state certified driving record before an offer can be made unless extenuating circumstances exist. Adverse background and/or driving information may disqualify you from further consideration.

NOTE: Within three days of hire, applicants will be required to complete the U.S. Department Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. ODFW participates in E-Verify. ODFW is not able to support VISA sponsorships.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, Public Relations, Marketing, Journalism, the Behavioral or Social Sciences or related degree and two years professional level experience in Public Relations or Affairs; OR
• Five years’ experience developing and managing a variety of public information campaigns; two of the five years must have been at the professional level.

Requested Skills:

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills are a must to effectively work with diverse constituencies and foster relationships with the general public, fishing interests, environmental interests, academic partners, scientific community, local government representatives, agency personnel, and the media.
• Experience outreaching, leading, and working with community groups
• Experience in communications, in a natural resources field.
• Experience developing communication plans, writing articles and placing stories in various print and electronic media.
• Experience giving presentations before groups; conducting analyses and explanations of technical and scientific information; and basic understanding of video, audio, print and Web communications processes.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills are required to convey complex science to non-scientific audiences.
• A basic knowledge of marine science and natural resource social sciences (human dimensions), and ability to communicate these sciences to diverse audiences, is needed.

Additional Information:

Your answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by your resume or the “Job History” section in your application or you may not be considered for this position. You may be disqualified if your experience listed in your resume or the “Job History” section does not include information used to: 1) meet the minimum qualifications of the job and 2) back up your answers to the supplemental questions. If any of the positions listed in your application are part time or seasonal, be sure to include the dates you worked (month and year) and the average amount of hours worked per week in the duties section. Only those individuals who most closely match the requested skills will be invited to an interview.

Note: You will be required to provide a copy of your official or unofficial transcripts (online transcripts are acceptable) during the selection process that show your name, the name/address of the institution, coursework with passing grades, and degree conferred (including date), if you are using education to qualify. Transcripts and cover letters can be attached to your application in the Resume/CV/Cover Letter attachments field when you apply. Cover letters may not be reviewed unless it is stated as a requirement in the job posting.

Internal Applicants: The contact information that is prefilled on your application is typically your work email and work phone number. Be sure to check your state email and Workday notifications for your status regarding the recruitment process. If you are away from the office or unable to check your state email account for an extended period, contact the HR Recruitment Unit and the hiring manager to let them know your personal email and phone number where you can be contacted. This will help to ensure you do not miss out on any correspondence that may be related to an interview. If you apply for a position as an internal applicant and then terminate while the recruitment is still in process, contact the Recruitment Unit to have your contact information updated.

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you are experiencing difficulty applying for this position or have questions, please contact the ODFW Human Resources office at 503-947-6051.

This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

The employee in this position will be represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and will be subject to all terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement. Pay and benefits on all job listings may change without notice.

Veterans – If you are an eligible veteran and you meet the qualifications, veterans’ preference points will be added to your score.  For more information on veterans’ preference points visit www.oregonjobs.org and select Veterans resources under Resources. Please do not attach veteran documentation to your initial application, after you have applied you will be sent a task in your Workday account to provide your veteran documentation at that time.

More information about our agency can be found on our social media accounts and at myodfw.com and https://www.dfw.state.or.us/

If you are passionate about natural resources, we invite you to join our team and assist with furthering ODFW’s mission by partnering with communities and sharing how our work has a positive effect on Oregon’s fish, wildlife and their habitats. ODFW is dedicated to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforce as we strive to represent and better serve our neighboring communities. Our most important asset is our employees, and each person brings unique, different, and important contributions to the workplace and community we serve.  With Oregon’s changing demographics, a workforce that reflects this change will make us stronger and create an opportunity for better decision making. Consider joining our team as we lead ODFW into the future!

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer