| Location | Rockville, MD |
| Salary | $72,567–$99,808 Per Year |
Public Information Officer I/II, Grade N21/N25
Salary
$85,937.00 - $137,907.00 Annually
Location
101 Monroe St Rockville MD 20850 USA
Job Type
Permanent
Job Number
2026-00623
Department
Office of Public Information
Division
PIO 23 Information
Opening Date
10/15/2026
Closing Date
10/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA
Exempt
About the Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $72,567 to $99,808 if filled at the Public Information Officer I level; and $85,937 to $130,917 if filled at the Public Information Officer II Level, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience."
THIS IS AN INTERNAL "ONLY" JOB POSTING, AVAILABLE TO CURRENT MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
Public Information Officer I/II
THIS IS A MERIT TERM POSITION (WITH BENEFITS). THE TERM ENDS December 31, 2030.
THE TERM MAY BE EXTENDED AN ADDITIONAL 4 YEARS FROM January 1, 2031, AND EXPIRES December 31, 2034
WHO WE ARE
The Montgomery County Office of Public Information (PIO) is the communications hub for the County government, responsible for effectively conveying the County's vision, priorities, and initiatives to the public. Serving a diverse community of over 1.1 million residents, PIO develops and delivers timely, accurate, and engaging content across a wide range of topics.
Our team is made up of skilled professionals specializing in public relations, graphic design, website management, social media, television and video production, event planning, marketing, advertising, and photography. Together, we ensure that the Countys message reaches all communities through clear, inclusive, and impactful communication.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The Public Information Office is seeking a talented Public Information Officer focused on media relations, and internal and external communications related to public policy, community and government issues in Montgomery County, Maryland. This position will engage and inform residents, property and business owners, and regional and community-based nonprofit organizations. The work requires excellent communication skills and the ability to perform assignments independently.
What Youll Be Doing
This is professional communications work in the PIO Office, developing and drafting press releases, media advisories, executive remarks, digital content, and other written materials about public policy, government services, and executive branch departments.
If selected for an interview, applicants will be required to complete an on-site writing assignment.
Minimum Qualifications
For the Public Information Officer I Level:
Experience: Two (2) years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, or closely related field.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
For the Public Information Officer II Level
Experience: Three (3) years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, or a related field.
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Preference for Experience
Experience in communications, marketing, or media production, preferably for a government, nonprofit, or
equivalent organization, and covering areas such as community and public relations, media relations, and
Social media are strongly desired.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
Preferred Criteria:
The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:
Professional experience in government communications, particularly at the State or local level
Experience developing and implementing communications campaigns
Experience collaborating with elected officials, executive leadership, or public-facing departments to ensure accurate and strategic messaging
Experience engaging in successful marketing and outreach, including using newsletters, brochures, and social media to reach diverse populations
Experience with writing social media posts, press releases, scripts, talking points, speeches, copy, and newsletter articles
Experience measuring communications effectiveness using analytics, performance metrics, or evaluation tools
Preference for interviews will be given to applicants with experience in the following:
If selected for an interview, applicants will be required to complete an on-site writing assignment.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicants responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the Countys "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriffs office) are subject to the Countys ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
Leave Benefits
Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.
Retirement Benefits
All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.
Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness
Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.
Free Mass Transit Benefit
County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.
Reduced Child and Health Care Costs
Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.
Employee Wellbeing
We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.
Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01
THIS POSITION IS "ONLY" OPEN TO INTERNAL MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT (MCG) EMPLOYEES. Are you a current MCG employee?
02
What is your highest level of completed education?
03
Do you have a degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field?
04
Please list the specific degree major.
05
How many years of professional experience do you have working in journalism, public relations, or a closely related field?
06
Do you have professional experience in government communications, particularly at the State or local level?
07
If you answered "Yes" to the question above, in addition to the experience listed in your resume, please provide details of your experience in government communications, marketing, or public information experience in the box below. If you answered "No", enter N/A.
08
Have you developed and implemented communications campaigns?
09
If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide details of your experience developing and implementing communications campaigns and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below. .
10
Do you have experience collaborating with elected officials, executive leadership, or public-facing departments to ensure accurate and strategic messaging?
11
Do you have experience related to engaging in successful marketing and outreach, including using newsletters, brochures, and social media to reach diverse populations?
12
If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide details of your experience related to engaging in successful marketing and outreach and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
13
Do you have experience with writing social media posts, press releases, scripts, talking points, speeches, copy, and newsletter articles?
14
If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide details about your writing experience in this area and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below. Please provide details about your writing experience.
15
Do you have experience measuring communications effectiveness using analytics, performance metrics, or evaluation tools?
16
If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide a brief description of your experience, including details about your experience measuring communications effectiveness, what tools were used, and identify where on your resume the work was performed. If you answered "No", please enter N/A below.
Required Question
Employer Montgomery County (MD)
Address 101 Monroe Street
7th Floor
Rockville, Maryland, 20850
Phone 240-777-5000