Council Communications Specialist (Public Information Specialist)

Position is located in the Pierce County Council office Monday through Wednesday Monday to Wednesday and remote Thursday and Friday. The role is the Public Information Specialist, responsible for shaping how residents understand the work of elected officials through clear, engaging, and impactful communications.

Why It's a Great Opportunity
As the Public Information Specialist for the Pierce County Council, you'll help shape how residents understand the work of their elected officials through clear, engaging, and impactful communications. You'll serve as a trusted communications partner, developing everything from proclamations, newsletters, and legislative messaging to graphic design, photography, video, social media, and web content. Every day offers variety. From supporting community events and district outreach to translating complex policy issues into information the public can easily understand. If you're a communications professional who enjoys combining strategic thinking with hands‑on creative work, this is an opportunity to make a visible impact in one of Washington's largest counties.

Why It's a Great Organization
The Pierce County Council is the legislative and policy‑making body of Pierce County government. As a Home Rule Charter County, Pierce County operates with a clear separation between the elected County Executive and the seven‑member, district‑based County Council. Serving a population of more than 925,000 residents, the Council reviews and acts on hundreds of ordinances and resolutions each year, providing oversight and direction on a wide range of issues affecting the County. The Council also reviews and adopts the County’s budget, a critical process that allocates resources and sets priorities for County services.

Working in a fast‑paced, highly visible environment, the Council regularly engages with the public and receives briefings from executive departments and other elected officials to ensure transparency, accountability, and informed decision‑making. Through close collaboration with County leadership, partner jurisdictions, and the community, the Council plays a central role in shaping the future of Pierce County.

How to be Successful in the Role
We are looking for an experienced communications professional with exceptional writing, graphic design, and digital storytelling skills. You build trusted relationships, manage competing priorities with confidence, and translate complex legislative issues into clear, engaging communications for diverse audiences. You are collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable supporting elected officials in a fast‑paced, highly visible, nonpartisan environment.

Your Future in this Role
A career with Pierce County means joining an organization committed to your growth and success. Through our robust online learning and variety of training opportunities, Pierce County ensures continuous professional development throughout your journey. This dedication extends beyond individual advancement, and reflects a broader mission to foster welcoming communities, maintain safe infrastructure, and promote equitable access to opportunities.

Core Daily Responsibilities

Develop and implement communications plans, educational materials, and outreach initiatives that advance Council priorities while maintaining a nonpartisan, public‑serving perspective.

Under the general supervision of the Communications Director, draft, edit, and produce written and multimedia content including press releases, proclamations, talking points, newsletters, social media content, and public‑facing reports.

Manage and maintain the Council’s social media platforms, website content, and digital presence, monitoring for accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with Council policy direction.

Utilize industry‑standard software such as Adobe Creative Suite to produce visual materials that communicate complex policy issues clearly to diverse public audiences.

Build and sustain effective working relationships with elected officials, Council staff, department heads, media representatives, and community stakeholders, navigating the sensitivities inherent in a political office environment with professionalism and discretion.

Monitor media coverage and public sentiment relevant to Council activities; prepare summaries and briefings for communications leadership and elected officials as needed.

Support rapid‑response communication needs that arise from Council actions, public inquiries, or emerging community issues.

Occasionally administer or facilitate virtual Council and Committee meetings via Zoom or other platforms.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in communications, English, marketing, advertising, public relations, graphic design, business administration, or a closely related field plus at least two years’ experience directly related to the duties of the position.

Experience working in a public agency with elected officials is preferred.

Attach a resume and a cover letter. Required.

Include 2–3 examples of your communications work (such as writing samples, graphic design pieces, newsletters, web content, social media campaigns, photography, video, or an online portfolio). These materials will be used as part of the initial application review.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case‑by‑case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment
Pierce County is committed to fostering a welcoming workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

Guided by the County Executive’s Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees. County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping.

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