Public Information Officer

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y ? R espect. E quity. A ccountability. D iversity… YOU !!!
About
This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
Language Incentive
Referral Bonus
T uition Assistance Program
Description
The Senior Public Information Officer (PIO) serves as the Finance Department’s lead communications professional, responsible for developing and executing strategic messaging that enhances transparency, strengthens public trust, and improves understanding of the City’s financial operations. This position plays a critical role in shaping the public narrative around the City’s financial stewardship by translating complex financial information into clear, accessible messaging for residents, elected officials, media, and internal stakeholders. The Senior PIO manages communications related to the City’s budget, revenues, tax administration, financial reporting, audits, and fiscal policies; oversees Finance web content; monitors media activity; and supports departmental leadership during high-profile or sensitive financial matters. Operating within the Department of Finance, this role works in close coordination with the central communications office to ensure enterprise alignment while maintaining subject-matter expertise on financial issues.
Why This Role Matters
Finance departments are among the most publicly scrutinized functions in local government. Decisions related to taxes, billing, collections, audits, and budget priorities directly influence resident trust.
This Role Helps The City

Promote financial transparency
Reduce misinformation
Strengthen credibility
Improve resident understanding
Communicate fiscal responsibility
Support leadership during complex financial discussions
This position functions as a strategic advisor to Finance leadership on public messaging, community impact, and reputational risk. This position is UNCLASSIFIED and serves at the will of the Appointing Authority. **
Duties include but are not limited to
Strategic Financial Communications

Develop and implement a proactive communications strategy that improves public perception of the Finance Department.
Advise Finance leadership on messaging related to budget decisions, tax policies, financial performance, audit activity, and major fiscal initiatives.
Anticipate sensitive issues and prepare transparent, easy-to-understand communications.
Identify opportunities to highlight departmental improvements, modernization efforts, and service enhancements.
Budget & Financial Narrative

Translate complex financial data — including the annual budget, financial reports, revenue forecasts, and tax processes — into accessible messaging.
Develop FAQs, fact sheets, infographics, and educational materials that promote financial literacy.
Support communications throughout the budget development and adoption process.
Assist in preparing presentations and briefing materials for executive leadership and elected officials.
Media & Issues Management

Serve as the primary liaison for finance-related media inquiries.
Monitor media coverage, social platforms, and public sentiment regarding financial matters.
Draft press releases, public statements, and executive talking points.
Prepare Finance leadership for media interviews and public appearances.
Respond rapidly and professionally during emerging or high-profile issues.
Website & Digital Transparency Leadership

Lead the continuous improvement of Finance-related web content to enhance transparency, accessibility, and resident experience.
Ensure financial information is current, accurate, and presented in a user-friendly format.
Translate technical financial documents into clear digital resources.
Partner with IT and the central communications office to expand online transparency tools.
Executive & Crisis Communications

Support leadership during high-profile financial events such as tax changes, audit releases, billing concerns, or economic disruptions.
Assist in developing crisis communication strategies related to financial operations.
Provide communications guidance during periods of heightened public interest.
Internal Partnership

Collaborate with Budget, Revenue, Treasury, Procurement, and other Finance divisions to ensure messaging accuracy and consistency.
Coordinate with the central communications office to maintain alignment with enterprise messaging.
Advise departmental leaders on communication risks associated with operational or policy changes.
Performance, Analytics & Continuous Improvement

Track communications metrics including media sentiment, website engagement, and public interaction.
Evaluate effectiveness of communication strategies and recommend improvements.
Implement best practices that strengthen public confidence in the City’s financial management.
Qualifications, Special Certifications And Licenses
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge (some Combination Of The Following)

Thorough knowledge and understanding of municipal government structure and operations
Comprehensive knowledge of federal, state and local legislative processes
Comprehensive knowledge of television, video, and film script writing, direction, editing, and production
Understanding of and familiarity with media relations
Event coordination and execution
Significant political acumen
Command of public relations and communications
Understanding of latest creativity and innovation concepts in public information practices and marketing
Knowledge of social media platforms
Skills (some Combination Of The Following)

Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
Media relations
Television production
Event coordination and production
Writing, producing, and editing
Project management
People management
Effective oral and written communication
Interpersonal communication
Presentations
Public speaking
Strategic planning
Abilities (some Combination Of The Following)

Make decisions
Think quickly
Organize
Articulate appropriate responses
Problem-solve
Exercise sound judgment
Core Competencies

Exceptional writing and editing skills
Executive presence and sound judgment
Ability to simplify complex financial concepts
Strong media instincts
Political and organizational awareness
High attention to accuracy and detail
Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, or a related field.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, media relations, or strategic communications.
Demonstrated experience translating complex or technical information for public audiences.
An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification
Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting communications related to government finance, budgeting, taxation, utilities, or similarly complex operational environments.
Experience advising executive leadership.
Strong issues-management or crisis communications experience.
Familiarity with public sector governance and political environments.
Proficiency with website content platforms and digital communication tools.
Americans With Disabilities Act Requirements
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.
Physical Requirements and Working Environment: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly talk, hear, and see; frequently reach and perform repetitive motions; and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may not include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Human Resources Manager by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV .
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The City of Richmond Values Veterans. We are an official V3 Certified Company .
The City of Richmond is a proud partner with the US Army Partnership for Your Success PaYS Program.