Risk Communications Specialist

We are a passionate and progressive team of content creators (media relations, web, marketing, public education, and digital communication professionals) who share CDPH’s mission to protect the health and wellbeing of the people and communities in California. The Office of Communications coordinates the CDPH’s communications activities. The Office responds to questions from the news media, reports public health data, and manages CDPH's social media and internal communications.

Under the direction of the Media Team Manager, the Information Officer II (IO-II), Risk Communications Specialist, analyzes public understanding of CDPH Risk Communication efforts and determines the need for further public information and education activity as it relates to risk communication, including the development, organization, and evaluation of public health communications activities. Additionally, the IO-II consults with and advises top management on public relations implications of CDPH’s activities in the area of emergency management and crises response. The IO-II responds to questions from the media and other state agencies on CDPH activities and topics, coordinates media interviews of Department officials and assists with the processing and tracking of Public Records Act (PRA) requests

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Understanding of basic principles of Risk Communications, including experience operating under an Incident Command Structure (ICS), in multi-agency crises or disaster response.
• Ability to translate technical and often complex medical and health terminology into common language that is easily digestible for the public at large.
• Ability to analyze situations, think critically, and provide recommendations on communications projects.
• Ability to work under stressful circumstances and manage multiple projects/priorities at once.
• Ability to take direction and parse priorities from multiple sources of input.
• Ability to work both independently, within immediate team, and across teams.
• Ability to carry out prescribed tasks and with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Be a self-starter, flexible, have a positive attitude.
• Adept with Microsoft 365 and its suite of programs and tools (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, etc.).
• Experience in communications, media, public affairs, and public relations is preferred.
• Knowledge of medical, healthcare and/or public health terminology is a plus but not required.

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.