Description

Description

BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Public Relations Representative III

Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA)

Number of Positions: 1

(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $75,336

This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City's collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) - BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.

BID INSTRUCTIONS: Apply on the bid site: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/103/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en AND

1. Check the box on your profile titled "Currently employed by the City of Chicago"

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled 'payee/employee number')

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CDT on 08/17/2026

THE POSITION

Under the direction of the Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Public Affairs, the Public Relations Representative III supports the Commission and District Councils by assisting in the development and implementation of strategic communications, media relations, and public outreach initiatives. The position oversees the Commission's website, social media platforms, and digital communications, and develops promotional materials to increase public awareness and engagement with Commission and District Council programs, services, and initiatives.

BACKGROUND

In July 2021, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance establishing a new model for police oversight, accountability, and public safety. The ordinance creates two bodies: a citywide Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, with power to advance systemic reform, and District Councils which are elected in each police district and work to improve policing and public safety in the district. The Commission and District Councils bring police officers and Chicago residents together to plan, prioritize, and build mutual trust; strengthen the police accountability system; give Chicagoans a meaningful new role in oversight; and explore and advance alternative effective approaches to public safety. The Commission and District Councils are supported by a City department, also called the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, with a full-time staff.

The Community Commission is a seven-member body whose members must be drawn from across the city and meet work- and experience-related requirements described in the ordinance. Commissioners are nominated by elected District Council members, selected by the Mayor, and confirmed by the City Council. Commissioners serve four-year terms. The Commission oversees the Police Department, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), and the Police Board. The Commission's powers include: playing a central role in selecting and removing the Police Superintendent, COPA Chief Administrator, and Police Board members; setting Police Departmentpolicy; establishing annual goals and evaluating progress for CPD, COPA, and the Police Board; and promoting community engagement and transparency.

District Councils have been created in each of the city's 22 police districts. Each District Council is made up of three people elected in regular municipal elections. Members serve four-year terms. The District Councils' roles include: building connections between the police and the community at the district level, where the community is a true partner in making the neighborhood safer, addressing problems, and setting priorities; collaborating in the development and implementation of community policing initiatives; holding monthly public meetings, where residents can raise and work to address concerns about policing in the district, increase accountability, and work on local initiatives rooted in community concerns and priorities; working with the community to get input on police department policies and practices; working to develop and expand restorative justice and similar programs in the police district; and ensuring that the Commission gets input from the community, so that the Commission's work will be based on what people in neighborhoods across the city are concerned about.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Participates in and oversees the preparation of news releases, media advisories, public statements, and other communications to inform the public about Commission and District Council meetings, initiatives, events, and programs.

• Prepares and oversees the development of content for the Commission's website, social media platforms, newsletters, brochures, flyers, reports, presentations, and other digital and print communications supporting the Commission and District Councils.

• Attends and coordinates Commission meetings, District Council meetings, community engagement events, press conferences, and stakeholder meetings to promote public awareness of Commission programs, services, and initiatives.

• Designs and coordinates the production of promotional and educational materials, including graphics, banners, posters, flyers, informational packets, and other outreach materials.

• Oversees and provides technical assistance to staff, consultants, and vendors engaged in the preparation and dissemination of Commission and District Council publications and communications.

• Prepares narrative reports and maintains records (e.g., calendars, photo files, contracts, emails, media coverage, digital assets) of public information and event-related activities

• Coordinates and schedules requests for staff, Commissioners, and District Council members to speak before community groups or news media to explain departmental programs and services

• Utilizes the Commission's website, social media platforms, email communications, and other digital tools to communicate Commission and District Council meetings, programs, events, reports, and public engagement opportunities.

• Responds to freedom of information requests and inquiries from the public and media regarding department programs and services

• Supervises the work of staff responsible for mass mailings, as needed

• Performs related duties as required.

Additional duties may be required for this position

Location: Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA)

Address: 2 North LaSalle, Chicago, IL 60602

Days: Monday - Friday

Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, Communications, English or a directly related field, plus three (3) years of work experience in the preparation and dissemination of public information

Should the above criteria not be fulfilled, the following options are acceptable:

• Seven (7) years of work experience preparing and disseminating public information

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's Degree in Journalism, Communications, English or a directly related field, plus five (5) years of work experience in the preparation and dissemination of public information

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree or higher in Journalism, Communications, English or a directly related field, plus two (2) years of experience in the preparation and dissemination of public information

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected.

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

City of Chicago :: Classification and Pay Plan

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor