PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSISTANT

Job Description:

PUBLIC AFFAIRS ASSISTANT

Description

DESCRIPTION

The Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) is currently accepting applications for a provisional appointment to the position of Public Affairs Assistant within the Communications Division. This recruitment is anticipated to close on Tuesday , May 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM .


About the Position:
Under the direction of the Public Information Officer, the Public Affairs Assistant will support a wide range of communications efforts. Key responsibilities include drafting and distributing press releases and media advisories, developing social media content, assisting with internal communications, monitoring news coverage, coordinating press conferences and community events, and maintaining media contact databases and archives.

The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of public communications, media relations best practices, and a strong interest in serving the community through effective information sharing.

The Long Beach Police Department is the second largest municipal police agency in Los Angeles County and provides law enforcement services to the 7th largest city in the State of California. LBPD is dedicated to professional, proactive, and innovative policing and is committed to fostering and maintaining positive relationships with the diverse community it serves. This is a provisional opportunity. All provisional appointments are temporary and valid until a priority or eligible list becomes available for the classification. Provisional appointments are valid for 150 days unless extended and approved by Human Resources. If you want to be considered for this position permanently, you must go through the Civil Service examination process. If you are not selected to fill the position on a permanent basis, your provisional appointment will be terminated. For City Employees: if you hold permanent status in another classification, you will be reinstated back to the position you held before the provisional appointment.

The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

This position reports directly to the Executive Communications Officer and, under general supervision, performs a range of administrative, technical, and professional duties related to public affairs. The role serves as a liaison for community and departmental matters, responding to emergencies, media inquiries, and newsworthy events.

Key responsibilities include coordinating and supporting special projects, events, and programs that require an understanding of community concerns and issues. The position supports citywide compliance and branding initiatives, including the distribution of media releases and social media content. It also helps ensure the safe and efficient use of Police Department (PD) facilities and services, particularly when conducting public tours and providing access to the community.

The role represents the PD at community events, trade shows, and national or regional committee meetings. It is responsible for producing PD-related literature, promotional materials, technical publications, and directories. Additional duties include problem resolution, procedure evaluation, and making recommendations on public affairs matters.

The position may oversee the department's internet, intranet, and social media content. It may also coordinate the activities, scheduling, recruitment, and training of personnel, volunteers, and tour guides. Acting as a liaison between the department, the community, and other city staff is a key function.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

EDUCATION

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Administration, Public Relations, or closely related field. Experience offering specific and substantial preparation for the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.

EXPERIENCE

• Two years of full time equivalent experience in public affairs/public information.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior experience working in public affairs, media relations, or community engagement, preferably within a government or law enforcement setting.
• Knowledge of public records laws, media relations guidelines, and confidentiality requirements in a public safety context.
• Experience creating content for social media, newsletters, press releases, or public presentations.
• Proficiency in using social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Nextdoor) in a professional capacity.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025 . To be considered, applicants must submit a resume and cover letter in PDF format. Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact (562) 570-7120.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer . We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.

The City of Long Beach is committed to maintaining fairness and transparency in our hiring practices. We believe in providing equal opportunities to all applicants and ensuring that every applicant is evaluated based on their qualifications and merit. If you believe that you have been unjustly disqualified based on minimum qualifications for an unclassified job opportunity, you have the right to appeal the decision. Find out more about the Unclassified Applicant Appeal Process by visiting Applicant Appeal Process (longbeach.gov) .

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-7915.In support of the City’s Language Access Policy, bilingual skills (Spanish, Khmer and/or Tagalog) are desirable for positions interacting with the public. For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (8 55) 524-5627.

Employee Benefits

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally.As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

• Medical and Dental Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Retirement Plan (P.E.R.S.)

• Paid Vacation, Personal Holidays and Sick Leave

• Deferred Compensation

• Credit Union Membership

• Free Bus Transportation (Long Beach Transit)

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Free Employee Parking
• Paid Parental Leave*
*Paid Parental Leave - after six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours/192 hours for sworn platoon) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).

Closing Date/Time: 5/27/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$31.79 - $43.16 Hourly