Public Relations Officer (Bilingual - Chinese/English)- Public Works (1314 PEX) (155313)

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below.

Application Opening: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Application Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but no earlier than Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Compensation Range:  $112,736 - $147,576 annually
Recruitment ID: RTF0155313-01097055

Appointment Type: Permanent-Exempt (PEX), Category 18. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer and shall not exceed 36 months. 

San Francisco Public Works (Public Works) has a far-reaching portfolio with a $453 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,600-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

Please visit the “About Us” section of our website at https://www.sfpublicworks.org/about to learn more about the department’s core values, Racial Equity Initiative, leadership team, history, budget and more.

Communications and Public Affairs 

The communications and public affairs team keeps the public and our staff informed of the department’s services, projects and programs through print and broadcast media, social media, podcasts, videos, websites, community meetings and other platforms. The team oversees press relations; manages internal communications, external communications, government relations and community engagement. The team produces award-winning digital journals, videos and podcasts; briefs elected officials and crafts legislative proposals; provides construction outreach services; troubleshoots constituent concerns; oversees myriad volunteer program and conducts outreach and enforcement activities aimed at keeping the City clean. The team also organizes special events to celebrate project milestones and staff achievements.

San Francisco Public Works’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion extends to how we communicate with residents, businesses, community and government partners, elected officials and our own staff. This position, part of the department’s communications and public affairs team, plays a key role in advancing that commitment and keeping San Francisco’s diverse constituency informed about the work of our dynamic organization. 

Under the guidance of the Director of Policy and Communications, you will bolster media relations, public service campaigns, and constituent services. Illegal dumping and street cleanliness are major obstacles in Chinatown and other busy commercial corridors, affecting the vibrancy of neighborhoods and hindering economic recovery. This position will develop and implement a campaign to combat illegal dumping and ensure adherence to cleanliness codes. This role involves working with nonprofits, merchant groups, businesses, elected officials, and residents to maintain clean sidewalks and alleyways. 

Additional Bilingual Pay: Proficiency in reading, writing, typing, speaking, and listening in English and Cantonese/Mandarin is necessary for this vacancy. Selected bilingual candidates must pass language proficiency and proofreading tests, and upon successful completion will receive a bilingual pay stipend of $60 per pay period in addition to their base pay. 

Important and Essential Duties: 

As a Public Relations Officer, your duties may include but are not limited to the following: 

• Support cross-functional activities, including but not limited to assisting in public information campaigns; crafting social media content and press releases; developing targeted media pitches; and taking videos and photos. 
• Provide translation and interpretation services for Chinese-language communications. 
• Offer in-person community outreach and respond to inquiries from members of the public, other governmental agencies and elected officials and their staff. 
• Conduct door-to-door outreach in commercial corridors, develop media pitches, produce press conferences, hold community meetings, create content for flyers, newsletter stories, and social media, and coordinate with key Bureau of Street Environmental Services staff. 
• Lead a campaign focused on improving neighborhood vitality and economic recovery, starting with education and outreach efforts and progressing towards enforcement focusing on Chinatown with a potential to expand to other neighborhoods. 

Nature of Work: Some positions may be subject to adverse weather conditions, walking long distances, and driving a vehicle to project sites and meetings. May require work on nights, weekends and/or holidays. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:   
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university  

Experience: 
Four (4) years of verifiable full-time professional experience in editorial, newspaper, magazine, radio, television, public relations, public affairs, public information, social media, digital engagement, advertising, marketing, or similar work directly responsible for the preparation and dissemination of news and information in a variety of formats for internal and external audiences. This experience must include at least one (1) year of experience in planning and conducting a public relations, public information, or public education program. 

Substitution: 

1) Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year. 

2) Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in public relations, journalism, mass communications, marketing or a closely related field may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience. The degree may not substitute for the one (1) year of required public relations, public information, or public education program experience. 

Desirable Qualifications: The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring. 

• Bilingual proficiency in English and Cantonese and/or Mandarin languages; proficiency in additional Chinese dialects a plus.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain partnerships with community organizations, business associations and neighborhood groups
• Demonstrated experience in providing translation and interpretation services in Cantonese and/or Mandarin
• Experience in effective storytelling to communicate with a diverse audience using a variety of communications platforms, such as video, podcast, social media, websites, is highly desirable
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills to thrive in a fast-paced, high-demand environment
• Ability to translate complex, technical information into clear, accessible and compelling information for a general audience
• Keen interest in troubleshooting constituent concerns with the goal of providing excellent public relations
• A proven self-starter who also can work collaboratively in a team environment
• Strong commitment to public service
• Possess a curiosity and willingness to keep current on the topics most relevant to the San Francisco Public Works’ portfolio and an awareness of when issues should be elevated to department leadership.

Verification: 

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted. 

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  
 
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/recruitment-details#verification 

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications. 

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.  

Note: Falsifying one's education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. 

What else should I know? 

Selection Process 
Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be used to determine candidates' qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to move forward in the selection process. 

Supplemental Questionnaire - After submitting your application you will receive a request for additional information about your education and experience. You will be emailed a Supplemental Questionnaire with position-relevant questions about your work experience and interest in the position. Please check junk/spam folders to ensure you receive these information requests.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through all of the steps in the selection procedure. 

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco: 

• Information About the Hiring Process 
• Conviction History 
• Employee Benefits Overview   
• Equal Employment Opportunity  
• Disaster Service Worker 
• ADA Accommodation 
• Right to Work 
• Copies of Application Documents 
• Diversity Statement 

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst, Reshma Shelke, at [email protected]. 

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.