PIO-Media Relations - DPW-Communications

PIO-Media Relations - DPW-Communications

Salary

$24.69 Hourly

Location

City County Building, IN

Job Type

Full Time

Job Number

09780

Department

Department of Public Works-Policy and Planning

Opening Date

04/22/2026

Closing Date

7/21/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits

Overview

Position is responsible for department-wide media relations and serves as the subject matter expert on the communications team for all operations and fleet division activities.

Position Responsibilities

Oversees media relations and public information for the department.

Serves as the secondary point of contact on all media inquiries.

Prepares and edits press releases/media advisories, arranges news conferences, and assists with coordinating interaction between the media and the departments.

Assists with on-camera interviews.

Maintains media database and/or fax list.

Serves as the subject matter expert (SME) for operations and fleet division matters for the department. Operations division matters could include street maintenance, traffic, severe weather preparedness, etc.

Position collaborates with external partners, such as Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL), Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) on neighborhood clean-ups, etc., as necessary.

Advises director and staff on current media events and issues as related to primary duties.

Writes, edits, and produces brochures, catalogs, newsletters, and specialized publications as related to primary duties.

Assists with event planning and speechwriting for director as related to primary duties.

Works with the Mayor's Office and other city/county departments on joint projects and issues.

Each Department of Public Works (DPW) Public Information Officer (PIO) can expect to rotate through an on-call period for a week at a time (Monday to Monday) during snow/pothole seasons. During the on-call time this team member will take the lead on updating/sending a standard news releases regarding snow fight plans and/or pothole numbers. Additionally, they must coordinate with staff, respond to media inquiries, and provide interviews regarding snow/pothole operations.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Government or related field and three (3) years of related work experience. One (1) year of related work experience may be substituted for each year of required education. Effective communications, research/analytical, and computer skills are required. Excellent writing skills and verbal communications skills absolutely required. Knowledge of desktop publishing software preferred. Ability to coordinate several projects and work with deadlines.

Working Conditions

Work is conducted in a standard office environment with periodic travel to different meeting sites and department field offices. After hours and weekend work and meetings is common.

All rates are bi-weekly.

2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:67382b58-4d1a-4519-89d7-8453f91e19a1

Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month):

Basic: Employer Paid

Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)

Additional:

<25-29 $0.058

30-34 $0.083

35-39 $0.099

40-44 $0.132

45-49 $0.223

50-54 $0.363

55-59 $0.600

60-64 $0.795

65-69 $1.329

70 + $2.054

IMPORTANT PERF UPDATE:

• For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR

1. All employees hired/rehired after 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employees career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the members age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

2. Employees hired/rehired by the City and County between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2021 will be automatically enrolled in the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan. This plan is an annuity savings account (ASA) only plan and does not have a pension component. Any service that an employee has in the My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan will not count toward the service time requirements for pension eligibility in the Hybrid Plan.

With the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan, the ASA is split up into two parts:

Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Part two - This consists of an additional variable rate contribution paid by the City toward your ASA. This variable rate contribution is currently 1% of your gross wages. Vesting in the value of the variable rate employer contribution will vary by length of participation. You are:

• 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
• 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
• 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
• 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
• 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation

3. All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. Youre always vested in your ASA portion - its always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employees career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the members age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

4. City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.

The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten- percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employees compensation per pay period.

Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.

Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:

Indiana Public Retirement System

Public Employees Retirement Fund

One North Capitol, Suite 001

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

(888) 236-3544

Employer City of Indianapolis and Marion County

Address 200 E. Washington Street

CCB 1501

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46204

Phone 317-327-5211

Website http://www.indy.gov