Alexandria Police Senior Public Safety Information Officer

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia, and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City ’ s square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for a position as our Police Senior Public Safety Information Officer.

An Overview

The Alexandria Police Department is seeking a highly qualified Senior Public Safety Information Officer (SPIO) to act as a media spokesperson and public representative for the Department. The SPIO manages the communication functions of the Alexandria Police Department. The SPIO is the public relations advisor to the department head, or designee, in the formulation of public information policies and is expected to disseminate authorized information to the media, other agencies and the public through written, oral communications and electronic formats including social media. The SPIO will also utilize social media platforms to engage with the community and market the department. The SPIO will ensure response(s) to requests from the media and department commanders on a 24-hour, 7 days a week basis, including requests to respond to emergency and crime scenes after scheduled work hours, to include weekends. The SPIO will be expected to prepare, edit and proofread news releases and research media inquiries that require the use of statistics, background information or interviews with other department personnel and approve and coordinate those interviews. The SPIO will also engage the media to ensure coverage of programs and activities of the department which serve the community and marketed the department.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in media and public relations with an emphasis on marketing and the public safety field. This position requires a great deal of interaction with the public, media, law enforcement officers and City agencies; strong interpersonal communication skills are a necessity. Knowledge of multiple social media platforms is important to the success of this position, especially a proficiency with Facebook and Twitter and various social media management tools similar to Hootsuite and Sprout Social. The candidate will have experience creating documents and graphic images using Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe design programs to prepare and edit publications informing the public of departmental services and activities and marketing for the department . The ideal candidate will be able to develop effective relationships with the media and community organizations, in order to broaden the reach of the Department’s outreach efforts. The candidate will be familiar with web content development and management. They will possess the ability to analyze and determine the relevancy of public relations to make appropriate recommendations to police command staff regarding high-profile police incidents. They will also possess the ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and relay upon critical thinking and problem-solving expertise.

The Opportunity - Examples of Work

• Develops and maintains a strategic plan to market the department through broadcast and social mediums;
• Makes decisions under pressure and deadlines regarding information that may be released to the media;
• Responds to the scene of major incidents and/or attends meetings and collects pertinent information for reports and media releases;
• Keeps Chief of Police, command staff and City Communications staff abreast of major incidents and issues;
• Provides public information and public relations advice and counsel to all divisions, units and individuals within the department;
• Provides oversight, management, and responsibility for department publications, website, and social media accounts and applications and marketing;
• Coordinates and provides information regarding emergency incidents and other sensitive matters to the news media;
• Plans, directs, and executes publicity campaigns designed to inform citizens about various city programs, events or legislation;
• Develops, manages, and maintains market platforms for all social media
• Performs related work as required.

About the Department

The City of Alexandria Police Department is a nationally recognized and accredited law enforcement agency providing services to a diverse community. A group of talented professionals, the Alexandria Police Department is a dedicated team of people who, in partnership with the community, work to create and maintain a safe and secure environment for our residents, merchants, and visitors. We are a diverse organization, reflecting Alexandria’s various cultures and offering many different career and promotional opportunities.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Two-Year College Degree; knowledge of and experience in public relations, public information or publications editing work; and completion of college-level courses in journalism, public administration , government, or a related field; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. The employee must posses a valid driver’s license issued by state or residence.

Preferred Qualifications

Four Year College Degree with a concentration in communications, journalism marketing, or related field; Four years of experience as lead public information officer; some experience in professional marketing of a business; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public information work and the organization and functions of local governments; good knowledge of the requirements of broadcast media and the ability to prepare material for their use ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with media, the public, City employees and other public and private agencies; demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to handle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment; Excellent verbal and communication skills; familiarity with the Alexandria community.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of the following pre-employment background checks:

• Polygraph
  
• Drug Screen
  
• Criminal Background Checks (local and federal)