Press Secretary

Salary: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 Annually
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 16550
Department: Commissioner Precinct 1
Division: Communications
Opening Date: 04/08/2026
Closing Date: 7/12/2026 9:06 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants: 200

Position Description
About the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis

There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county's government. Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents the constituents of Precinct One.
With approximately 1.17 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles. Precinct One's multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 33 percent African American, 38 percent Latino, 21 percent Anglo, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent other or multiple races. Precinct One stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct's territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium. Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex and the renowned Texas Medical Center. The Precinct is also the higher educational home to Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas. Precinct One manages more than 21 parks, 10 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents.
Commissioner Rodney Ellis' Office Mission Precinct One:

Commissioner Rodney Ellis' Office, is committed to becoming a national model for delivering responsive public service that utilizes inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approaches to improve the quality of life, advance equality of opportunity, and promote the fair treatment of all people in Harris County. Key Areas of focus for our organization include, but are not limited to:
Advancing more effective, fair and equitable criminal justice system.
Furthering economic justice, equity, and opportunity for all Harris County residents, especially those often and historically left behind by government programs.
Ensuring equitable outcomes in health and access to quality, affordable healthcare
Fighting for environmental and climate justice that keeps all communities safe and healthy.
Equitably investing in developing and maintaining resilient infrastructure and transportation for the 21st century
Building and defending voting rights and a democracy that ensures equitable representation.
Progressing equity and social and racial justice as common threads through all areas of public policy and public service.
Role and Goal of Communications Division in Our Organization:

The Communications Division of Comm Ellis' office develops and implements innovative and effective communications strategies and diverse content to advance our organizational mission.
Key Responsibilities: Media strategy: Develop and execute proactive earned media strategies that advance OCRE's priorities and elevate Commissioner Ellis's leadership.
Execution: Executes the Director's portfolio strategy day-to-day-owning pitches, reporter follow-ups, and first-wave rapid response within established frames and playbooks.
Integrated communications: Build strategic plans that link earned media with digital and social media efforts to amplify content and reach diverse audiences.
Media relations: Field incoming media inquiries while proactively pitching ~10 stories per week (with a goal of ~8 earned placements carrying our frame per month), cultivating relationships with local, state, and national reporters, and coordinating quarterly Houston Chronicle editorial board meetings, monthly media mixers, and pre-Commissioners Court reporter briefings.
Writing & messaging: Draft and edit press releases, advisories, op-eds, talking points, and other press-facing materials that translate complex policy into compelling, accessible narratives.
Spokesperson prep: Develop briefing materials, talking points, and speech support to prepare Commissioner Ellis for interviews and public appearances.
Crisis communications: Support the Communications Director and Media Relations Director in managing rapid response and high-pressure communications moments, ensuring initial responses are delivered within 2 hours during business hours and 4 hours after hours, with clear escalation per the approval ladder.
Collaboration: Align press strategy with Policy and Community Affairs & Advocacy; coordinate with digital/social to amplify coverage; collaborate to place stories in Spanish-language media.
Team leadership: Provide mentorship and oversight for a small team of press and outreach strategists as the division expands.
Media tracking: Monitor coverage, analyze impact, and provide reports and insights to the Communications Director and senior leadership to inform strategy
Representation: Accompany the Commissioner to selected events, including occasional evenings and weekends, to support communications needs.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements
Education: Bachelor's or graduate degree in public affairs, communications, journalism, or English is preferred but not required. Equivalent work experience or certifications may also be considered.
Experience: 3+ years of experience in communications, journalism, media relations, public relations, or a related field.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Proven success securing earned media and building and maintaining relationships with journalists.
Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex policy into accessible messages.
Experience developing integrated press and social media strategies.
Excellent judgment, focus, and work ethic, with the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Commitment to equity, justice, and the values of the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis, and experience developing or executing communications related to equity and justice, including work that engages or serves communities of color
NOTE : Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences Experience serving as a spokesperson or managing crisis communications preferred.
Government, campaign, or advocacy communications experience is a plus.
Spanish fluency is also a plus.
General Information
About the Position

The Press Secretary drives the day-to-day earned-media engine and executes a strategic coverage plan that advances the Commissioner's priorities. You translate policy into plain language, map beats, sequence pitches, and ensure our values show up consistently in headlines, leads, and quotes. You are the front line of rapid response, fielding inquiries, framing breaking developments, and coordinating first-wave outreach-while working closely with digital, creative, and community partners to ensure strong stories travel farther and faster.
A typical week might include briefing the Commissioner for an editorial board meeting, pitching an exclusive tied to a policy roll out, coordinating community validators for a breaking issue, and syncing earned coverage with a web hub and social amplification.
This role is ideal for a sharp, disciplined communicator who thrives in high-impact environments and wants to help build a modern public-sector communications operation.
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits Medical Coverage
Dental Coverage
Vision Coverage
Wellness Plan
Life Insurance
Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
Paid Time Off (PTO) Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
One (1) floating holiday per year
Paid Parental Leave*
Sick Leave
Retirement Savings Benefit 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions: Professional learning & development opportunities
Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
Flexible work schedule*
METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application. High School or GED diploma
Associate Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or higher
None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major? Public Affairs
Communications
Journalism
English
Other Related Field
Unrelated Field
N/A; No Degree

03

Please describe your educational background including level of education completed, area of study and completed major and minor programs.
04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable experience in communications, journalism, media relations, public relations, or a related field?(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history) Less than one (1) year
One (1) year but less than two (2) years
Two (2) years but less than three (3) years
Three (3) years or more
I do not have this experience

05

Please provide the dates of employment during which you obtained experience working in communications, journalism, media relations, public relations, or a related field. Provide the month and year that began and ended the experience ( Example: "January 2020 - December 2025" ) If this experience is not clearly documented in the Work Experience section, your application will be disqualified. If you do not have this experience, type "N/A" in the space provided.
06

Do you have experience serving as a spokesperson or managing crisis communications? Yes
No

07

Do you have government, campaign, or advocacy communications experience? Yes
No

08

Are you bilingual in English and Spanish? If yes, do you consider yourself fluent? Yes, I am fluent in both of these languages
No, I am fluent in only one of these languages
No, I am not fluent in either one of these languages

Required Question