Digital Communications Specialist

Job Description:

Digital Communications Specialist

Description

Introduction

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play, and learn! For more information about Placer County, please visit www.placer.ca.gov.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Placer County District Attorney’s Office is establishing a Digital Communications Specialist position to support the growing need for sophisticated, accurate, and strategically crafted digital media for use across all units of the office. This 100% in-office position will serve as a trusted creator of digital content used in courtroom presentations, community outreach, public education campaigns, internal training, and web based communications. Working under the direction of the IT Supervisor-who is uniquely positioned to understand the digital, technical, and presentation needs of attorneys and outreach staff-the Specialist will design and produce graphics, videos, maps, charts, social media content, website materials, and persuasive digital presentations that support prosecution, victim services, and public safety initiatives. Responsibilities include managing digital branding, coordinating digital messaging to internal and external audiences, preparing visually compelling trial exhibits and summaries, and developing communication products that are accurate, timely, and effective. This position functions as a critical partner in supporting attorneys’ ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively to juries, the public, and community stakeholders.

BENEFITS

Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

Click here to view Placer Public Employees Organization (PPEO) benefits.

For more information regarding the benefits Placer County has to offer, please visit Placer County's Human Resources website.

DEFINITION

To inform, promote, and market Placer County or assigned department to internal and external audiences using digital communication tools; to develop high-quality digital content for websites and other social media platforms; to plan, develop, coordinate, and oversee day-to-day digital media communication strategies.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Digital Communications Specialist level recognizes positions that assume digital communication activities on behalf of Placer County or assigned department.

The Digital Communications Specialist is distinguished from the Visual Communications Specialist in that the latter assumes responsibility for visual communications activities with an emphasis on photography, videography, and graphic design.

This classification is further distinguished from Public Information Officer - I/II in that the latter assists with a wide variety of county-wide or department-specific communications projects in support of the County’s public information program.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direct supervision from department management staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over technical and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinate and manage digital communication to internal and external audiences.
  
• Oversee design and layout of county websites; develop media branding and digital marketing efforts.
  
• Prepare marketing and outreach strategies in a digital environment including social media, digital advertising, web-based communication, and digital newsletter preparation.
  
• Identify, create, and deliver digital messages to the public and employees via internet and intranet.
  
• Create digital applications for community engagement and outreach.
  
• Create graphic artwork and develop social media posts utilizing modern software platforms.
  
• Direct, research, and manage the development of messages and graphics for internet and intranet web pages.
  
• Plan, organize, develop, and direct the activities of communications made available on county websites and other social media sites.
  
• Write, proofread, edit, and update external and internal County websites and social media sites to provide clear, brand-consistent, strategically driven messages.
  
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
  
• Perform related duties as assigned.
  

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is typically performed in an indoor office environment with controlled temperature conditions and may require travel to and from other locations in a variety of outdoor weather conditions. Incumbents may be assigned to work odd or unusual hours during emergency or disaster situations or for special events requiring public information services.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below.

Experience and Training:

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible professional work experience in digital communications.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, video production, advertising, computer science, business, public administration, or related field.

Required License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver’s license as required by the position. Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of digital communication systems and coding languages to embed video, audio, graphics, and text into websites and other digital media.
  
• Web content management systems including text and embedded graphics, photos, video, and audio that display content and/or interacts with the user.
  
• Principles and practices of emerging trends related to digital communication.
  
• Mobile application development and related technology.
  
• Software applications including website development, graphic design, word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
  
• Pertinent local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations.
  
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
  
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
  

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; read, identify, interpret, understand, analyze, apply, recall, and explain complex and technical policies and procedures, numerical information, work papers, technical reports, special projects, and pertinent laws, rules, and regulations; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks with frequent interruptions; analyze situations and determine proper course of action; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or in meetings for long periods of time; intermittently walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel, or twist to reach equipment; perform simple and power grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write, and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job junctions; lift light weight.
• Keep apprised of cloud based digital communication trends and technologies.
• Keep abreast of digital trends and new technology.
  
• Analyze data and recommend strategies.
  
• Work closely with other County departments to coordinate media information for internal and external audiences.
  
• Interpret and apply department, county, state, and federal policies, procedures, rules, and regulations; interpret complex information regarding County or department programs and issues.
  
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
  
• Write, edit, and proofread content.
  
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
  
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
  

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

SUBSTITUTE LISTS

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification. For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

EMPLOYEES OF OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of the following characteristics: gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race (including traits associated with race, which include, but are not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, ancestry, religion (including creed and belief), national origin, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (including cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including parental status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decision making, the person’s use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, political orientation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or any combination of two or more characteristics stated herein. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

Conclusion

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Preciosa Ayala-Burkhardt, Administrative Technician, at [email protected] or (530) 886-4637.

Closing Date/Time: 5/26/2026 5:00:00 PM

Salary:

$50.91 - $63.58/hour; $8,824.40 - $11,020.53/month; $105,892.80 - $132,246.40/year