SALARY

$6,171.35 - $6,857.05 Monthly

JOB TYPE

Permanent Full-time

JOB NUMBER

2024-02517

DEPARTMENT

Game & Fish Commission

DIVISION

Communication and Education

OPENING DATE

10/31/2024

CLOSING DATE

Continuous

FLSA

Determined by Position

JOB CLASSIFICATION

PIPR10

Description and Functions

Open Until Filled

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking a Public Information Officer (PIO) in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This position is responsible for providing accurate and strategic information to the Director's Office, media, and the public. This position serves as the main liaison between the Game and Fish and the media, anticipating the communications needs of the department. This role requires a high level of expertise in media relations, strategy, and public communication across multiple platforms to forward public awareness of Game and Fish Department services, products, activities, and goals. As the Department continues to see a need to provide more information, engagement, and education services to the public, this position is pivotal in providing those opportunities. These duties demand high-level skills in writing, editing, digital marketing, and public speaking, and one has to have an in-depth knowledge of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. In addition to serving as the agency's PIO, this position has supervisory requirements.

Human Resource Contact: Alice Saldana / 307-777-4507

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The listed functions are illustrative only and are not intended to describe every function that may be performed at the job level.

• Ensures that all communication and public relations efforts are cohesive, consistent, and effective in supporting the mission and advancement goals of the Department.
• Plans, develops, directs, and coordinates comprehensive communication programs, including media, public affairs, and publications, in close collaboration with other institutional communications and/or public relations activities.
• Provides direct and proactive advice, consultation, and assistance to senior leaders, regarding public information matters, including providing direct assistance in researching, providing information, and developing messages.
• Works closely with the Director and Governor's Office on controversial and sensitive wildlife management issues in addition to providing support regarding high-risk matters.
• Develops weekly media packets, communicating the Department's top priority news.
• Responds to statewide communication topics, conducting interviews in person as well as on TV, radio, and digital meetings.
• Engages and directs media contacts on department-related emergency communications.
• Works with communications team and Department leadership to develop communication campaigns.
• Assists the communication chief in the development and execution of the Department's statewide communication plan.
• Assures quality and appropriateness of the Department’s communication programs and initiatives, whether internally or externally produced.
• Regularly writes and contributes to the Wyoming Wildlife Magazine.
• Works closely with the media team to coordinate regional news.
• Coordinates with the Director and division leadership to develop monthly e-newsletters communicating the primary messages of the agency.
• Confers with agency personnel to identify department-related topics and trends among key interest groups.
• Coordinate with licensing, and IT sections to develop direct emails to customers with specific information/messages related to a customer's product.
• Provide hunters, anglers, and wildlife enthusiast’s helpful information, analyzing and implementing the most effective forms of communication.
• Develop communication and marketing campaigns for hunter and angler recruitment with trackable performance measures.
• Works with marketing, education, and visual communications teams to create communication with measurable outcomes.
• Supervises the statewide information specialist and the Wyoming Wildlife Magazine staff.
• Planning, administration, management, and coordination for workflow processes and the budget directly related to the department media, public information, and email communications.
• Provide edits and support for email communications and the Wyoming Wildlife Magazine.
• Coordinates surveys, evaluations, and assessments of external communications activities to determine the effectiveness of the organization's communications plans.

Qualifications

PREFERENCES:

Preference will be given to candidates with a Bachelor's degree in a field related to communications, journalism, science communications, public relations, marketing, conservation education, or leadership.

KNOWLEDGE: 

• Knowledge and understanding of the mission, goals, and objectives of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
• Ability to establish and implement cohesive communication and public relations strategies and plans.
• Experience communicating with the press and other media.
• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Strong strategic planning and management skills.
• Knowledge of communication principles, media, and public relations techniques.
• Outstanding interpersonal and community relations skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, interpret operational needs, and develop integrated, creative solutions.
• Organizational planning, structuring, and staffing skills.
• Skill in financial planning and fiscal management.
• Ability to use independent judgment and gather, manage, and impart information to the media and other internal and external audiences.
• Strong knowledge of local and regional media contacts and/or a proven ability to develop such relationships quickly.
• Ability to provide effective advice and counsel on strategic and/or critical communication issues and to exercise effective judgment.
• Ability to write executive-level communications for internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Education:
Bachelor's Degree (typically in Public Relations)

 Experience:
1-2 years of progressive work experience (typically in Public Relations) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Senior Public Relations Specialist

OR

Education & Experience Substitution:
4-6 years of progressive work experience (typically in Public Relations) with acquired knowledge at the level of a Senior Public Relations Specialist
 
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:
None

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Statewide travel is required.

NOTES: 

• FLSA: Exempt
• Please upload a cover letter expressing your interest in the position and in working for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
• Please disclose if AI was used in any part of the application process, including cover letter and/or resume creation.
• Successful applicants for employment must pass a background check and credit check before the appointment.

Supplemental Information

040-Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Communications and Education Division

Click here to view the State of Wyoming Classification and Pay Structure.

URL: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/wyoming/default.cfm

The State of Wyoming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively supports the ADA and reasonably accommodates qualified applicants with disabilities.
Class Specifications are subject to change, please refer to the A & I HRD Website to ensure that you have the most recent version.