Description

WHAT WE OFFER
The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. In addition to the salary of approximately $71,525.64 to $110,280.14 annually an employee within this position will also be eligible for the following:

• General Salary Increase - 4.0% effective December 24, 2023, and 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.
• New Hire/Retention/Referral Incentive - New hires may be eligible for a one-time New Hire Incentive up to 10% of the current annual base wage. (Subject to the section of the Management Resolution Secs. 625 – 627).
• Educational Incentive - An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate's degree.
• Bilingual Incentive - Incumbents may also be eligible for bilingual incentive depending upon operational needs and certification skills.
• Annual Leave - 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service.
• Annual Leave Redemption - The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours in the preceding twelve months.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans - Full time employees are afforded a flexible credit allowance for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans: Tier one for employee only is $497 per biweekly pay period, tier two for employee plus one is $678 per biweekly pay period and tier three for employee plus family is $825 per biweekly pay period.
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Choice of participation in the Flexible Spending Accounts which increase spending power through reimbursement of pre-tax dollars for IRS approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Pension Plan - Both the County and employees contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If eligible, reciprocity may be established with other public retirement systems, such as PERS.
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

VENTURA COUNTY
The County's 1,873 square miles include 1,846 square miles of land with 42 miles of coastline which is home to the following cities and points of interest: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

THE DISTRICT
The Air Pollution Control District (APCD) was formed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors in 1968, in response to the county's first air pollution study. and is classified as a Special District separate and independent from the County of Ventura agencies. Division 26 of the California Health and Safety Code establishes the APCD’s structure, operating procedures, and authority.

The APCD provides a full range of air pollution control activities, including permitting, facility inspection, air quality attainment planning, rulemaking, air quality monitoring, and incentive programs. Responsibility is shared with the California Air Resources Board for ensuring that all state and federal air quality standards are achieved and maintained within Ventura County.

The APCD has a staff of about forty-eight employees including inspectors, engineers, planners, technicians, and support staff. It works with business and industry to reduce emissions from new and existing sources. There are eight divisions including Fiscal and Administrative Services, Compliance, Engineering, Rule Development, Incentive Programs, Information Services, Monitoring, Planning and Evaluation

THE POSITION
Under general direction of the Air Pollution Control Officer, the APCD Public Information Officer (PIO) creates, plans, organizes and directs air quality public education and outreach for over 750,000 citizens of Ventura County.

The PIO works in a political environment promoting the mission of the APCD to protect public health and agriculture from the adverse effects of air pollution by identifying air pollution problems and developing a comprehensive program to achieve and maintain state and federal air quality standards.

The APCD Public Information Officer is Management classifications and is not eligible for overtime compensation.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
OPENING DATE: May 17, 2023
CLOSING DATE: June 7, 2023

Examples Of Duties

These may include but are not limited to the following:

• Establishes appropriate advertising campaigns to promote clean air awareness to county residents; develops print materials as needed to provide support for the District programs.
• Arranges and manages support for news conferences including development of themes, messages public outreach materials, visuals and press lists.
• Assists APCO in meeting District objectives by providing issues management communications support, media relations and public affairs campaigns when needed.
• Formulates and implements effective public affairs strategies to help achieve clean air objectives.
• Coordinates activities as needed with the EPA, ARB, and the CAPCOA Public Outreach Committee.
• Translates complicated technical issues into understandable language for a wide variety of publics.
• Represents the organization at significant events, often doing public speaking.
• Works with a diverse group of community and civic leaders to create strategic public-private partnerships for air quality education and outreach; works closely with the education community at the elementary, secondary and junior college level to disseminate air quality information to schools.
• Develops effective media relations strategies; analyzes and measures the impact of various communication strategies.
• Serves as a clearinghouse for press inquiries (but not exclusively).
• Acts as executive producer for District video applications.
• Produces division's annual budget.
• Ensures accuracy and continued maintenance of the District's news and media contact lists.
• Conducts focused public opinion research as needed.
• Manages staff, including student interns.
• Other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of education, training and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

The required knowledge and abilities can be obtained by:
five (5) years of experience in a political environment
OR
five (5) years of public affairs/relations experience or advocacy media relations experience
OR
five (5) years combined experience in political or advocacy public relations, and journalism; experience in an equivalent position.

Necessary Special Requirements
Possession and ability to maintain a California drive license.
Experience related to:

• Developing and implementing strategic public relations campaigns
• Media used to disseminate organizational messages to the public
• Establishing priorities and adjusting activities as appropriate to execute multiple projects concurrently

NOTE: Effective writing skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Desired
Bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related field
Experience with computer software programs and internet-based applications including social media applications.
Experience within:

• A California Air Pollution Control District
• A local government organization

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: strategic communications planning; public relations: media; community organizing skills with experience in developing and implementing community support campaigns to disseminate District messages; excellent oral and written skills; computer technology; local government organization.

Ability to: Work on several projects at one time; establish priorities and adjust organizational activities as appropriate; adjust personal style and communications to match situation demands; possess sensitivity in dealing with controversial issues; think creatively; be flexible, goal oriented and well-organized; be hands on.

Additional desirable traits: articulate; professional demeanor; confident; organized; politically astute; diplomatic; self-starter.

Recruitment Process

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%
A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.