Public Information Specialist

Job ID

60077

Location

Professional & Supervisory

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

The mission of the Phoenix Police Department is to build and foster strong relationships with the community through our outreach and engagement, while adhering to the highest standards and traditions of the department. The Phoenix Police Department is committed to the Guiding Values of our P.R.I.D.E. Statement: Protection, Responsibility, Integrity, Dedication and Employee Excellence.

The Public Affairs Bureau is looking for a passionate and creative content creator who loves to use social media to tell stories. This Digital Engagement Specialist (DES) (aka. Public Information Specialist) will play a critical role in advancing the positive image of a major city police department. The position will be creating content for strategizing, designing, video capturing, writing, editing, and executing visual and written content for internal and external communication. Content will be executed in various forms to including news articles, social media, newsletter, and other formats. Candidates must have a demonstrated history of working professionally while under pressure to meet strict deadlines, delivering high quality products with minimal direct supervision.

Responsibilities will include video and photography gathering, graphic design, social media posting, staying current with trends and topics, social media monitoring and other multimedia services. The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for trends that can be appropriately applied to the branding guidelines and image of the Department.

The Public Information Specialist work is performed under general supervision of a Public Information Officer, Senior Public Information Officer, or other supervisor, and is subject to review for adequacy, accuracy, and adherence to departmental policies and standards. The frequency and depth of communications and direct contact with the media and public, as well as relatively limited involvement with the more technical aspects of producing various media and audio-visual material, distinguish this classification from Media Productions Specialist.

Applicants should have extensive professional experience in broadcast or print media and digital media production, as well as the applications of Adobe Pro and the entire Microsoft Office 365 suite, as well as mobile applications like Canva. Some duties may require attention during N-days and off-hours to accommodate a fast-paced dynamic media relations landscape and emergency public safety communications. Strong consideration will be given to candidates with working experience in journalism, mass media communications, or public relations. This position may include interaction with elected officials, city, police executive leadership teams, and news reporters.

Skills:

• Possess skills of a multi-media journalist
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Photoshop, and InDesign helpful.
• Strong creative writing and proofreading skills including stylized writing for social media and website
• Thorough familiarity with Adobe audio/video editing software programs.
• Safeguarding sensitive or confidential information in a professional setting, i.e. criminal or internal investigations, personal identifying information, records redaction, etc.
• Advanced writing and proofreading skills including writing for a website and various journalistic styles.
• Strong writing and proofreading skills including writing for social media and website.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of law enforcement helpful but not required.
• Knowledge of human resources principles and practices, including the handling of confidential and sensitive information

Ability to:

• Work effectively across departments, media organizations and the public to further the goals of the organization.

Pay Range: $64,604.80 to $95,451.20 annually.

Hiring Range: $64,604.80 to $86,590.40 annually.

Pay Range Explanation:

• Pay range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.
• Hiring range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.

Internal Only: Please understand that this is pay grade 054. If selected, your salary offer will be based on the applicable promotion or demotion worksheet in accordance with the City Pay Ordinance.

• Promotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade increase.
• Demotions occur when the last two digits of the pay grade decrease.
• Lateral transfers occur when there is no change to the last two digits of the pay grade.
• When there is a change in the first digit of the pay grade, there may also be a change to your classification or unit.

Your job classification can be found in eCHRIS > Personal Details under your name, located in the top left section of the page.

The pay grade and classification/unit of your current position may be found by looking up your job title on the job description page.

A comprehensive benefits package is offered which includes:

Traditional pension with employer and employee contributions,

• for more details: Pension Information
• 401(a) and 457 plans with employer contributions
• Choice of generous medical HMO, PPO, or HSA/HDHP plans
• Medical enrollment includes a monthly $150 City contribution to a Post-Employment Health Plan
• Wellness incentive of up to $720 annually
• Dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Employer paid long-term disability
• Free Bus/light rail pass
• Tuition reimbursement program up to $6,500 per year
• Paid time off includes 13.5 paid holidays, 12 vacation days, and 15 sick days and personal leave days
• Paid Parental Leave for eligible employees up to 480 hours (12 weeks) of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child during a 12-month period
• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness offered through Savi

For more details, visit: Unit 007 Benefits

• Three years of experience in journalism, mass media communications, or public relations.
• Bachelor's degree in journalism, mass media communications, public relations, advertising, marketing or a related field.
• Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.
• All finalists for positions are subject to a criminal background check applicable to the department or position.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
  For information regarding pre-screening and driving positions,- .
• The City job description can be found here.
• Positions in the Police Department must meet the background standards that are appropriate to non-sworn positions. The general factors for disqualification are listed here.

The minimum qualifications listed above, plus experience with/in:

• Creating engaging content for multiple digital platforms including social media, digital magazines or newsletters, etc.
• Two to three years' experience of professional storytelling experience with a media outlet or publication.
• X, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube.
• Responding to customers on social media on behalf of an organization.
• Expediting effective and accurate communications and disseminating the information appropriately.
• Graphic creation, Canva, and other digital imagery creation preferred.
• Responding to customers via public inquiries and public records requests, conducting investigatory research and analysis.

Recruitment closes December 10, 2025. All materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on this date.

This is a position-based recruitment and will not result in any ongoing eligibility list.This recruitment and any selection processes resulting from this recruitment may be used to fill other related vacancies within the organization now or in the near future.

Apply online by completing the required information and attaching, as one document, your cover letter and resume. Please include your experience as it relates to the qualifications stated above. Only the highest qualified may be posted to the eligible to hire list. The results of the resume screening process will be sent to your primary email address.

• Job interviews may be held by video or audio conference.
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• If you require assistance at any stage of the application process due to an accessibility issue, please contact the Human Resources Department by phone at or by text at You may also fill out and submit a Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

Public Information Specialist, JC:06420, ID# 60077, 12/01/25, USM, BL, Benefits:007.

Building the Phoenix of tomorrow.

City of Phoenix is an equal opportunity employer. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni who meet the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.