Public Information Officer

Salary : $118,414.00 - $147,620.00 Annually
Location : Redlands, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 02185
Department: City Manager's Office
Division: Public Information
Opening Date: 11/03/2026
Closing Date: 11/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
"Shape the City's Voice. Strengthen Community Connections. Lead Strategic Communications."

The City of Redlands is seeking a strategic, creative, and highly skilled communications professional to serve as its Public Information Officer (PIO). This is an opportunity to play a key role in how the city communicates with its community, employees, media, and regional partners.

The PIO will lead and coordinate the City's public information and communications efforts, working closely with the City Manager's Office, City departments, and executive leadership to ensure information is timely, accurate, accessible, and consistent. The position will help tell the City's story by highlighting programs, services, accomplishments, community initiatives, and important issues affecting Redlands.

The ideal candidate will be a strong communicator who can translate complex municipal information into clear and engaging messages for diverse audiences. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced public-sector environment, responding to press inquiries, managing communications during emergencies or high-profile events, developing content across multiple platforms, and advising City leadership on effective communication strategies.

This position offers an opportunity for an experienced communications professional to help shape and strengthen a coordinated, modern, and responsive communications program for the City of Redlands.

Examples of Duties
The Public Information Officer (PIO) leads and coordinates the City's communications, media relations, marketing, and community engagement efforts. Key responsibilities include developing strategic communication initiatives, managing media inquiries and press releases, overseeing digital and social media content, coordinating public information during emergencies, and promoting City programs, services, and accomplishments. The PIO also advises City leadership on communication strategies, oversees multimedia productions and publications, supports community events, and ensures consistent, accurate, and timely messaging across all platforms.

For a complete listing of duties, responsibilities, and qualifications, please refer to the full job description. Job Description
Please see brochure: Digital Brochure
Qualifications
A combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Education:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, public administration, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Three (3) years professional experience performing increasingly responsible public information, communications, media relations, public relations, journalism, community engagement, or related work.
• Experience developing communications for a public agency, governmental organization, or similarly complex organization is highly desirable.

License or Certificate

• Possession of, or the ability to obtain and maintain a valid Class C California driver's license at the time of appointment.

Special Requirements:

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

• Candidates should demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience developing content for websites, social media, press releases, presentations, and other communication platforms;
• The ability to establish productive relationships with media representatives, community stakeholders, employees, and executive leadership;
• The ability to communicate effectively during sensitive, rapidly changing, or emergency situations;
• The ability to attend meetings, community events, emergency incidents, or other assignments outside of normal business hours may be required depending upon assignment;
• Employees work in a standard office environment with the ability to travel to different sites and locations;
• While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand, talk or hear, both in person and by telephone, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist, climb, reach with hands and arms, and lift up to 60 pounds; and
• May work a variety of hours including response to applicable incidents and special events.

Supplemental Information
IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
Candidates must clearly demonstrate through their application materials that they meet the minimum qualifications of the position. All properly completed applications will be reviewed, and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. Examinations for the positions may consist of any combination of written, performance, and oral exams to evaluate the applicant's skills, training, and experience for the position.

The employment application must be completed and submitted online. Applicants must list current and past work experience. Do not indicate "See Resume".

Proof of education, such as but not limited to university/college transcripts and degrees, must be submitted online with your application. Applicants are responsible for attaching proof of education, certification, and/or license to each position for which they apply.
Please note, the City of Redlands' preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Julie Maher at or Sophia Diaz at
Benefits associated with this position include:

• Medical Insurance - City pays premium of $900 up to $2,200 per month for employees and eligible dependents depending upon coverage level;
• Dental Insurance - City pays monthly premium for employees and eligible dependents; 2 plans
• Vision Reimbursement - up to $400 per year
• State Disability Insurance - paid by employee
• Life Insurance - $25,000
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment - $25,000
• Deferred Compensation - $1,125 + 3% of salary per year
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• The City participates in Social Security
• Executive Leave - 120 hours per year
• Vacation Leave - 80 hours accrued in first year
• Sick Leave - 96 hours annually
• 14 Paid Holidays
• 20 hours of Floating Holiday
• Credit Union
• Education Incentive Pay - 3% for a Master's or Doctoral Degree
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program - $5000 per fiscal year
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) - 2% @ 55 for employees who are considered a "classic" member of Cal PERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired on or before January 1, 2013;
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) - 2% @ 62 for an employee who becomes a "new" member of Cal PERS for the first time on or after January 1, 2013 (and who was not a member of another California public retirement system prior to that date).

01

Please indicate your highest level of education completed.

• Less than high school diploma or GED equivalent
• High School or Equivalent
• Some College Coursework
• AS/AA (Associate Degree)
• BS/BA (Bachelors Degree)
• MS/MA (Masters Degree) or Higher

02

Do you currently possess, or have the ability to obtain upon appointment, a valid California drivers license?

• Yes, currently possess
• No, but have the ability to obtain upon appointment
• No

03

How many years of professional experience do you have in journalism, public information, public relations, or strategic communications?

• Less than 3 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7-9 years
• 10 or more years

04

Which of the following best describes your experience working with elected or appointed officials and media representatives?

• No direct experience
• Occasional interaction
• Regularly coordinate communications and respond to inquiries
• Serve as a primary liaison between an organization, elected officials, and the media
• Advise executive leadership or elected officials on media relations and public communications

05

Which of the following best describes your experience developing and implementing communications strategies?

• No direct experience
• Assisted with communications plans developed by others.
• Independently developed communications plans or campaigns.
• Managed an organization's communications program
• Directed comprehensive communications strategies involving multiple departments or agencies.

06

Which of the following media relations responsibilities have you performed? (Select all that apply.)

• Responding to media inquiries.
• Writing and distributing press releases and media advisories.
• Coordinating media interviews.
• Preparing spokespersons for media interviews.
• Organizing and conducting press conferences.
• Serving as the primary media contact for an organization.
• Advising executive leadership on media relations.
• None of the above.

07

Which of the following communications and digital media responsibilities have you performed? (Select all that apply.)

• Managing organizational social media accounts.
• Developing social media and digital communications strategies.
• Managing website content and updates.
• Creating newsletters, brochures, and public information materials.
• Developing marketing and public outreach campaigns.
• Monitoring media coverage and public sentiment.
• Measuring and evaluating communications effectiveness.
• None of the above.

08

Which of the following best describes your experience with emergency or crisis communications?

• Assisted with preparing emergency communications.
• Coordinated public information during an emergency or critical incident.
• Served as a primary public information contact during an emergency.
• Led crisis communications strategies and coordinated messaging with multiple departments or public safety agencies.
• No experience.

09

Which of the following media production activities have you performed professionally? (Select all that apply.)

• Professional writing, editing, and proofreading.
• Photography and photo editing.
• Video production and editing.
• Scriptwriting for video, audio, or public service announcements.
• Television or government access channel production.
• Podcast or audiovisual content production.
• Graphic design and publication layout.
• Speechwriting and executive communications.
• None of the above.

Required Question