<p>This is professional and administrative work planning, organizing, and creating messaging and promotion for public information and public outreach campaigns, meetings, and programs.</p> <p>An employee in this class performs communications and marketing work regarding special initiatives put forth by assigned City departments.</p> <p>Works under the general direction of senior staff with opportunity for use of independent judgment in completion of assignments. Work is reviewed for effectiveness and conformance to policy and professional standards.Plans, organizes, and creates messaging and promotion for assigned public information and public outreach campaigns, meetings, and programs. Writes and edits public information for press releases, advisories, alerts, public service announcements, publications, presentations, reports, articles, and videos. Creates and proofreads content that can be modified and disseminated across various platforms including social media, traditional media, video, websites, and presentations. Documents activities using photography, audio, and video recording equipment. Interfaces between City departments to produce creative and compelling communications, feature stories, and marketing and promotional materials. Creates multimedia projects including video, photography, print and web. Assists with City press releases pertaining to major projects. Prepares informational materials for meetings, presentations, and events. Organizes public meetings and forums. Assists with updates to City website and social media channels concerning public projects and improvements. Posts information on a regular basis including photographs and videos. Conducts routine City website auditing and makes recommendations for effective changes for assigned department websites. Ensures all messaging and designs are consistent with the City's branding. Projects a positive, professional image of the City. Compiles, documents, and maintains records of activities for use in reports and analysis. Coordinates production of advertisements and printed meeting and related promotional materials. Drives to meetings, events, and training. Performs related work as required.Graduation from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree in public relations, communications, journalism, marketing or advertising and a minimum of two years of professional paid experience in public relations, marketing, advertising, or journalism including social media.  College coursework may be substituted on a year-for-year basis with professional paid experience in public relations, marketing, advertising, or journalism including social media.  Possession of a valid State of Ohio driver's license.</p> <p>Knowledge of journalism, communications, and marketing principles and practices.  Considerable knowledge of current communications channels including traditional and modern media.  Considerable knowledge of website and social media guidelines and standards.</p> <p>Considerable skill in written and oral communication.   Skill in the professional use of social media platforms.  Skill in photography, videography, graphic editing, desktop publishing, graphic design and word processing software.    Skill in creating and maintaining databases used for recordkeeping and data gathering.  Skill in problem solving and creative decision making.  </p> <p>Ability to research, compose, edit, and proofread publicity materials.  Ability to write interesting and informative articles, news releases, and other publicity messages and materials.  Ability to plan, schedule and coordinate projects.  Ability to perform the basic functions of website content management systems.  Ability to organize and lead public meetings and forums.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals in the public and private sectors.  Ability to work independently and execute assignments with minimum supervision.  Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.  List of essential job functions available upon request.This is a classified position.  </p> <p>The selection process will consist of a competitive examination process with credit for education and experience.  A passing score must be obtained on the competitive examination process in order to receive credit for education and experience.  TEST WEIGHTS:  Competitive Examination 70%, Education 20%, Experience 10%.  </p> <p>Candidates must meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the announcement at the time of examination and at the time of appointment.</p> <p>NOTE: The competitive examination process may be suspended if shown to be impractical because of an insufficient number of qualified candidates.  The candidates will then be ranked in a standard manner based on 70% for qualifying, 20% for education, and 10% for experience.</p> <p>RESIDENCY:  Candidates who have been resident citizens within the corporate limits of the City of Akron for at least one year immediately prior to the examination and who continue to reside within the corporate limits of the City of Akron throughout the remainder of the selection process will have 5 points added to their passing grades.  VETERANS: A veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, honorably discharged from active duty, desiring a bonus of 5 points added to his/her passing grade, must submit proof of discharge in the form of a DD-214 with application.</p> <p>DRIVER'S LICENSE:  An applicant having a valid driver's license from another state will be accepted conditionally provided that, if selected, an Ohio Driver's License must be obtained prior to appointment.  Candidates having six or more points on their driving record at the time of appointment will be disqualified from further consideration.  </p> <p>NOTE:  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING YOUR APPLICATION STATUS THROUGHOUT THE STEPS IN THE SELECTION PROCESS BY VIEWING YOUR GOVERNMENTJOBS.COM ACCOUNT.  IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE UNABLE TO CHECK YOUR STATUS ON LINE, YOU MAY CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT 330-375-2720.  </p> <p>Email correspondence generated from our system will be sent from info@governmentjobs.com. To ensure you receive important communication from our office, be sure to make this address a safe sender.</p> <p>EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER</p> <p>The City of Akron is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, which includes building an environment that respects the individual, promotes innovation and offers opportunities for all employees to develop to their full potential. A diverse workforce helps the City realize its full potential. The City benefits from the creativity and innovation that results when people with different experiences, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds work together. In compliance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the City is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, language, religion, citizenship status, sex, age, marital status, sexual preference or orientation, gender identity/expression, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, membership in a collective bargaining unit, status with regard to public assistance, or political affiliation. The City adheres to these policies in both our hiring and employment practices.</p> <p>Applicants are required to meet the minimum qualifications for the position with or without an accommodation.  If you are a qualified applicant with a disability, please notify the Department of Human Resources at least one week prior to testing if requesting a reasonable accommodation for the testing process.  </p> <p>The City of Akron is committed to protecting the safety, health and well-being of all employees in our workplace and providing the community with the highest quality municipal services possible.  Alcohol, marijuana, and drug abuse in the workplace pose a significant threat to these goals.  In furtherance of its goal to maintain a drug and alcohol-free workplace, the City conducts pre-employment drug screening for illegal drugs, marijuana, and the illegal, unauthorized use, or intentional misuse of prescription drugs.  Any candidate who tests positive for marijuana or the illegal use of drugs will not be hired.</p>