Description

Description

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is seeking a Public Information Associate to help tell the SIU Carbondale story via news stories and other vehicles, particularly those highlighting scientific research, people, and events related to STEM. The position requires writing press releases, often under tight deadlines; collaborating with colleagues in Communications and Marketing and throughout the university, and serving as a liaison between SIU experts and journalists. The ideal candidate has a passion for STEM and for explaining science and engineering to a general audience in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Examples of Duties

1. Researches and gathers information, including by interviews in person, by phone, by email or by Teams or other virtual meeting, about university research, faculty and staff, students, activities, programs, policies, and events;

2. Plans, compiles, verifies, composes, and/or edits informational materials; collects, prepares, interprets, and communicates informational material to support and/or promote university programs and services;

3. Plans and coordinates informational and public relations activities and researches media markets to determine proper audience;

4. Serves as liaison between campus news sources and outside media in responding to inquiries from the news media and the public concerning university activities, programs, or events;

5. Determines method of dissemination regarding information provided to local, regional, state, and national media and multimedia sources;

6. Provides expertise, project support, and counsels university staff officials in the planning, design, development, and management of strategic internal and external communication projects, initiatives, and events;

7. Establishes and maintains media and public information contacts;

8. Develops, coordinates, and implements press conferences, photo sessions, and/or other press and media events;

9. Assists with emergency response; develops and manages communication material and strategies for handling communication around issues and crises, as well as emergencies; implements communication protocols for use in specific crisis situations; works with outside communications counsel;

10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Note: The Director will be requesting 3-5 writing samples from each applicant.

1. Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, radio/television broadcasting, web/digital media, public relations or a related field.
2. Four (4) years of professional work experience in public relations, journalism, or closely related.

Note: Master's Degree in an area consistent with the duties of the position may be substituted for one (1) year (12 months) of work experience.

Supplemental Information

Illinois Residency Requirement: Pursuant to the State Universities Civil Service System, out-of-state candidates must establish Illinois residency within 180 calendar days of the start date for this position.

Tips for Completing a Civil Service Application:
1. To be eligible for the role, ensure that your application includes a complete and detailed employment history that highlights your relevant full-time and part-time work experience, including start and end dates of employment.
2. Relevant part-time work experience will count towards the qualifications for this position and will be converted to full-time equivalence to calculate the total length of experience.
3. Upload all official transcripts to meet the educational requirements. If the job description specifies a minimum number of college hours, transcripts are mandatory for the successful processing of your application.
4. Veterans who qualify for preference must provide proof of eligibility within ten (10) working days of submitting an application, unless the same proof has already been submitted in a previous application. The required proof of eligibility includes, at a minimum, a copy of the veteran's DD214/DD215 form (Department of Defense), NGB22 form (National Guard), or Discharge Orders or DD256 Discharge Certificate (Reserves).
5. After the position has closed, your application and supporting materials will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications, including any specialty factors associated with this position. Those who qualify will move forward for Civil Service Examination/Testing.
6. Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from info@schooljobs.com.
7. For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at sucss.illinois.gov

About Civil Service Examination/Testing: The Civil Service examination for this classification is based on your application materials and responses to the supplemental questions. No participation other than submission of application materials is required from applicants that qualify to take the exam. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, your application will move forward for examination/testing in which you will receive a score calculated based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register by exam score. This score will be emailed to the email address noted on your application. After the application deadline, the names within the top three scores will be referred to the department for interview.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available. For more information visit https://policies.siu.edu/policies/employment-non-us-citizens.php

Benefits

University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program.
SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents , a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni , and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP) .

For more information please visit: https://hr.siu.edu/benefits/