Community Outreach and Liaison Manager

Job Description:

Community Outreach and Liaison Manager

Description

CAREER DESCRIPTION

Community Outreach and Liaison Manager
(Public Information and Affairs Administrator)

SALARY INFORMATION

In addition to performance-based merit increases, this position is scheduled to receive a salary range increase on the following date:

Effective June 27, 2025 - 4.00% increase

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Public Information and Affairs Administrator positions within OC Animal Care. This eligible list may also be utilized to fill positions in similar and/or lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as the deadline to apply will be on

Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM (PT).

THE COUNTY
The County of Orange is a regional service provider and planning agency whose core businesses include public safety, public health, environmental protection, regional planning, public assistance, social services and aviation. Click here for more information.

OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES (OCCR)
OC Community Resources is a multi-faceted department comprised of OC Animal Care, OC Community Services, OC Parks, OC Housing & Community Development and OC Public Libraries. Click here for more information.

OC ANIMAL CARE
OC Animal Care's mission is to provide refuge and care for animals, foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost, owned, or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals.

OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County, California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then, OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange County's animal care community. OCAC serves 14 cities and the unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services, and in 2024, the agency accepted over 15,000 animals.

OCAC's goal is to deliver prompt, temporary care and refuge to homeless animals, reunite animals with their owners, facilitate adoption, ensure public safety, and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide a positive experience for animals and people alike, and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment, engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

THE OPPORTUNITY

OC Animal Care has an exciting opportunity for a proactive, results-oriented individual with community outreach, strategic communications, and public information expertise to join our team as a Community Outreach and Liaison Manager (Public Information and Affairs Administrator). This position will serve as a liaison to the community and be responsible for effectively developing and coordinating outreach events, robust volunteer program, and community relations programs. The incumbent will oversee two (2) Animal Care Public Education Officers each with specific specialties involving special events and volunteer program coordination.

Additional duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Act as a liaison between the community and department leadership
• Supervise and/or coordinate community outreach endeavors, tours, presentations, and special events
• Build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Develop strategies for increasing community engagement and outreach and methods for tracking efforts
• Meet with members of the community to field suggestions/recommendations
• Develop creative ways to effectively market to the community to educate and encourage volunteerism
• Supervise two Public Education Officers (PEOs) tasked with education/events and on-site volunteer program
• Work as a lead and in collaboration with the PEOs to launch and promote events and community engagement
• Provide training and conduct performance evaluations for subordinates
• Keep current on trends and ensure OCAC remains abreast of how the community is responding to programming and trends within the animal care industry
• Educate the community on current programs

OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES:

In addition to the experience stated in the minimum qualifications, the successful candidate will have at least two (2) years of leadership or supervisory experience.

Experience in the following is highly desirable:

• Working in an animal shelter environment
• Acting as a liaison for a variety of stakeholder groups
• Coordinating special events and volunteer programs

Candidates must be comfortable interacting with animals.

The successful candidate will also have experience and be knowledgeable in the following core competencies:

Technical Experience | Technical Knowledge

• Knowledge of principles and practices of strategic messaging and communication, media relations, marketing, public relations, website and social media execution, legislation analysis and special event planning
• Develop communication plans and presentations
• Articulately write and edit a variety of materials that are distributed to various audiences
• Develop and implement effective social media, messages and visuals across multiple platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
• Know and apply marketing, public relations and grass roots outreach theories and tools
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Suite and/or comparable programs

Strategic Planning | Prioritization

• Prioritize multiple competing work priorities and meeting deadlines
• Ability to identify, analyze, and develop a strategy to address legislative impacts to County operations
• Ability to maintain accurate records with measurable results
• Research and analyze data, formulate issues, and articulating recommendations
• Ability to conceptualize, plan, budget for, and supervise the coordination of successful events

Adaptability

• Understand changes in work tasks, situations, and environment, as well as the basis for change
• Think and act effectively under pressure
• Persist towards solutions and goals in changing circumstances
• Set, commit to, and maintain high standards for quality work and responsiveness in providing administrative services
• Flexible communication style across a variety of key stakeholder groups

Leadership | Supervision

• Work collaboratively with direct reports to align personal development and goal achievement with business objectives
• Provide guidance and direction to others to meet organizational strategic objectives, while encouraging openness, creativity, and innovation
• Actively promote teamwork by creating a culture and environment that supports individual and team empowerment

Effective Communication | Oral & Written Communication Skills

• Apply principles and techniques to effective oral presentations, public speaking, and written reports
• Work cooperatively within the department to identify needed project information and ensure the clarity and consistency of messages issued through all communication channels
• Align team and individual goals to meet and execute organizational goals
• Utilize effective communication skills to define and communicate strategic goals to internal and external audiences clearly, succinctly and persuasively
• Adapt the content, tone, style, and form to suit the needs of the reader, the subject, and the purpose of the communication

Relationship Building Skills | Interpersonal

• Utilize tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality in dealing with difficult and sensitive situations
• Work effectively as part of a team to tackle and resolve issues and provide creative solutions to problems that achieve program and project objectives
• Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, County elected officials (i.e. Board of Supervisors), City officials, and staff to ensure departmental goals are accomplished
• Resolve conflict and facilitate consensus across multiple stakeholders

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here to learn about the minimum qualifications for the Public Information and Affairs Administrator classification.

License Required
Possession of a valid California Class C Driver’s License or higher is required before the date of appointment.
Special Requirements

Upon appointment, incumbents will be required to complete the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Incident Command Structure (ICS) training modules.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

RECRUITMENT PROCESS:
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all applications to identify the qualified candidates for the position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the County. After the initial screening, the qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those candidates who meet the qualifications listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Recorded Structured Oral Interview (rSOI) | Weighted 100%
The rSOI is a timed oral interview conducted virtually through an online vendor. Applicants will be asked a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job. All applicant responses will be video recorded so that they can be evaluated against pre-determined criteria by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only the most successful candidate will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List:
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference (VEPP)

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

Email Notification
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com .

Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rula Dabit at (714) 480-2884 or rula.dabit@occr.ocgov.com .

EEO INFORMATION

EEO INFORMATION:

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Administrative Management *
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits -- such as a variety of health plan options, sick and vacation time and paid holidays -- we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as:

• Retirement: Benefits are provided through the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
  http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information .
• Paid Leave: Twelve holidays per year plus sick and vacation time
• Health & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental Insurance: County pays 100% of employee and dependent premiums
• Paid Life Insurance: $100,000 life insurance policy
• Paid Accidental & Death and Dismemberment Insurance: $100,000 AD&D insurance policy
• Paid Short & Long Term Disability insurance programs
• 457 Defined Contribution Program

*Effective 07/01/20, management employees who are sworn Public Safety Managers receive health insurance benefits through the AOCDS Medical Benefit Plans.

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

Closing Date/Time: 5/30/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$101,628.80 - $140,753.60 Annually