This is a professional to mid-career level position within the County’s communication services division, serving the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office with passion, integrity and expertise.

The PIO/Senior Communication Business Partner, with limited supervision, implements communication strategies and tactics and completes activities that support business goals, initiatives and projects for the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office. Responsibilities include developing outreach and engagement plans, managing media, community relations/event coordination, and day-to-day management of marketing, communications and public relations activities. This position is matrix managed, reporting to the District Attorney and the deputy director, communication services division.

• Creates, implements, and measures internal and external communication and community engagement plans and strategies that help meet strategic goals, initiatives and projects.
• Serves as chief storyteller for the 18th Judicial District, responsible for brand and reputation management across all platforms and channels.
• Develops and manages the 18th Judicial District’s media relations in support of the District’s goals and organizational initiatives.
• Manages daily media relations activities, including proactively checking with prosecutors and victim witness advocates for media requests and story ideas, pitching stories, responding to media questions, arranging interviews, prepping subject matter experts and conducting media training, assisting with interviews, drafting materials such as news releases, media advisories, and talking points, serving as spokesperson, and executing news conferences and briefings.
• Organizes and promotes internal and external engagement and education events, such as all-staff meetings, 18th Judicial town hall meetings, DA public appearances, presentations, community outreach, and seminars.
• Coordinates with law enforcement partners and community groups to identify and engage key stakeholders.
• Maintains the general inbox and forwards inquiries to the appropriate staff to ensure appropriate responses. Fields phone calls from members of the public.
• Facilitates Colorado Open Record Act requests from media and the public
• Maintains department’s website and intranet pages, including writing copy and updating site using CMS tools.
• Oversees, develops, and produces video content for a variety of platforms.
• Creates independent content for multiple communication channels, including external and internal newsletters and emails, websites, speeches, reports and presentations.
• Creates content and maintains existing 18th Judicial social media accounts.
• Informs District Attorney Office leadership and the deputy director of public attitudes and concerns, as well as developing issues, problems and opportunities within the organization.
• Coordinates with County communications professionals (webmaster, graphic designer, social media manager, PIO) to schedule and place 18th Judicial content on appropriate County channels.
• Attends weekly meetings with County communications professionals and monthly department meetings.
• Attends trials and sentencing hearings for high-profile cases as directed by the District Attorney.
• Prepares and develops budgets associated with the marketing and communication needs of the 18th Judicial District as directed by the District Attorney.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Demonstrated history of progressively responsible experience.
• High level of independent thinking and judgment is required to identify and anticipate issues and to ensure that all communication and information prepared and delivered is appropriate, accurate and consistent with County standards, policies and expectations.
• Ability to work autonomously and follow-through on expected duties in a timely fashion.
• Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing to employees, citizen groups, stakeholder groups, administrators and elected officials.
• Ability to present ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing to employees, citizen groups, stakeholder groups, administrators and elected officials.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, a bias for action, and a disciplined approach to the communications craft.
• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; a background in judicial, legal, or government writing. Strong knowledge of Associated Press Stylebook is required.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to influence by adopting a range of styles, tools and techniques appropriate to the audience and the nature of the information.
• Experience developing and executing strategic marketing and communication plans, organizing a program or event and producing collateral and other materials for training programs or public presentations.
• Ability to collaborate with peers to find common ground to solve problems and easily gain trust and support.
• Experience handling sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy as well as maintaining confidentiality of information.
• Service oriented: Dedicated to meeting the expectations of internal and external customers. Respond in timely and thorough manner, prioritize needs and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Integrity: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems or issues, holds self to highest ethical standards, maintains confidence and creates trusted relationships.
• Creative skills: Ability to devise communication strategies, including best practices and up-and-coming techniques. Familiarity with information technology, digital and video communication functions and Adobe Creative Suite is essential.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):
Accountability
Accessibility
Inclusivity
Integrity
Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in communication, mass communication, journalism, marketing or related field
• 5+ years of experience in public affairs, public information, communications, journalism or public relations.
• Any equivalent combination of education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job will be considered.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in communication, mass communication, journalism, marketing or related field
• Background in judicial, legal, or government

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.
• Weekend and evening work is required on occasion and as media stories necessitate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position.

• Spends 60% of the time sitting and 40% of the time either upright or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Below, please list any special physical demands associated with this position. For instance, exposure to hazardous environments, blood borne pathogens, extreme heat/cold, use of power equipment or machinery, wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment).

Definitions:
Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.