Apr 27, 2014 | Items of Note, Lessons Learned, Member Activities
The following letter was sent to NIOA President Charlie Warner. It is reproduced by permission.
Subject: Membership to NIOA Extremely Beneficial
April 17, 2014
Dear NIOA,
Many folks think that NIOA is an organization just for those working in Public Safety. I’m here to say otherwise. I’ve worked for the Waste Management Division with the City of Portsmouth for 13 years. During that time the media has come knocking many times. I’ve answered questions pertaining to refuse fees, code changes, or services provided.
The reason I joined NIOA originally was because of the weather. Hurricane Isabel hit our area in 2003, leaving us with much debris to dispose of. Hurricanes are pretty rare for our area. Information about our division was being posted and it was coming from other departments, not ours. Our citizens consider trash and bulk collection a serious matter and someone needed to speak on behalf of our division with the right information. I attended my first NIOA conference in 2004. Since that time, I’ve developed good relationships with our Communications and Marketing Department and our local media.
These relationships proved very beneficial last year when we began a curbside recycling program. I sent out press releases and the media helped promote our program. Articles appeared in the newspaper, stories on our local TV news stations, and interviews on our city cable channel. Social media also played a role in getting the information out. Curbside recycling began on August 19 and a TV news crew even followed one of our new recycling trucks along the route.
Our program has been extremely successful. We expected a 20% participation rate, but we’ve seen over 50% participation each month. Instead of paying $125 per ton to have our trash burned, we are recycling instead. Recycling makes sense environmentally and economically. I’m certain the media, and establishing a relationship with them early on, helped play a role in our successful recycling program.
I’m grateful for the training I’ve received from NIOA. It’s helped tremendously this past year. Folks shouldn’t think NIOA is for emergency services employees only; it’s also beneficial for those who really do talk “trash” for a living.
Sincerely,
Donna Corbus
Recycling Coordinator
City of Portsmouth
Department of General Services
Portsmouth, VA
Apr 27, 2014 | Employment Opportunities
Two more employment opportunities have come to the attention of the NIOA. The first is in Maricopa, Arizona. The second is a thirty-day position to offer training in support of the ICITAP Mission in Bosnia/Herzegovina. Details for both follow.
Assistant to the City Manager – Maricopa, Arizona
This position provides the City Manager’s Office, and City departments, with communications and public information support while performing staff duties on a broad range of municipal management issues. This position assumes day-to-day operations of all City communications initiatives working to direct and/or support the collection of information, making statistical analyses, studying special administrative problems, and developing improved systems procedures. This position reports directly to the City Manager.
Download the Job Posting – Assistant to the City Manager.
ICITAP – Bosnia PIO
Engility Corporation is recruiting a seasoned Public Information Law Enforcement Expert to serve as a Trainer in support of the ICITAP Mission in Bosnia/Herzegovina. The training is a 30 day In Country training to familiarize the Command Staff of Law Enforcement Agencies in the Republica Srpksa on the professional media relations practices.
This position requires an experienced Public Affairs Technical Expert with a minimum of 15 years experience. The successful candidate must be able to develop a comprehensive training program to encompass all aspects of current law enforcement public affairs best practices and appropriate specializations to alter the existing paradigm of organizational media relations through comprehensive training courses. The selected candidate would travel to Bosnia to complete a 30 day training cycle for newly selected Public Information Officers, and provide a short term analysis on training action required to achieve standardization. In addition, the selected candidate may be requested to return periodically to train, mentor advise and evaluate the progress of this developing program.
ICITAP is a law enforcement development organization whose mission is to work with foreign governments to develop effective, professional, and transparent law enforcement capacity that protects human rights, combats corruption, and reduces the threat of transnational crime and terrorism, in support of U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
Visit the Engility Corporation careers page at www.engilitycorp.com to create a profile and also forward a copy of your resume if you are qualified and/or interested.
Apr 16, 2014 | Employment Opportunities
Media Relations Manager – traditional media, social media and crisis comms/JIC round out this Cleveland, OH opportunity.
Not specifically Public Safety but in my opinion, a FANTASTIC opportunity to give you a leap forward in a city focused on revitalization and new beginnings. Great networking and a chance to gain fast-paced, tangible experience – a challenge fit for that go-getter ready for the next level. [Provided by NIOA member Erica Creech]
Download the job description and visit the Cleveland website to get job requirements, responsibilities and more details.
Link to .pdf of Job Posting
Link to City of Cleveland Job Opportunity Page (this includes information/addresses for sending resumé and application files)
Closing date: 2 May 2014
Apr 16, 2014 | Employment Opportunities
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation in Rockville, MD is seeking a Community Relations Manager.
The position provides overall management and program direction for the department’s various public relations programs and is the overall spokesperson for the department. This person will oversee and manage key community-based programs and departmental interaction with the media.
For a full list of duties, responsibilities and qualifications, download this .pdf and/or visit Montgomery County’s career website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/careers. Click on Search Jobs.
Montgomery County DOT Community Relations Job Description
Closing date: 5 May 2014
Apr 14, 2014 | Employment Opportunities
The City of Murfreesboro has posted a position for PIO.
The Public Information Officer works with the Communications Director on planning, organizing, and implementing various activities to increase public awareness and understanding of City projects, programs, services, and policies in order to enhance the physical, cultural, and economic well-being of the community. This position will be subject to 24-hour call in to respond to a natural disaster or other emergency. The quality, quantity, proficiency, and timeliness of the employee’s work must be of consistently high caliber. The employee will be under the administrative direction of the Communications Director. All employees are responsible to the City Manager. This position is classified as Exempt for the purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act. As Non-Safety Sensitive, the employee is subject to reasonable suspicion, post-accident (incident), return-to-duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing.
Learn more about the position/duties and how to apply.
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 04/18/14 4:00 PM Central Time
