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Police Public Info Officer

Employer
University of Colorado Boulder
Location
Colorado, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
May 7, 2021


Job Summary

Under the direction of the university's Chief Spokesperson and its Chief of Police, the Public Information Officer (PIO) is responsible for the spokesperson and messaging needs of the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department (CUPD). This is a safety-sensitive position, exercising a high degree of discretion, trust and confidence.

The PIO handles the day-to-day media spokesperson duties for the Police Department on proactive crime prevention, investigations, emergency management and other topics related to campus safety. The position is responsible for maintaining the CUPD website, social media channels and writing articles for the CU Boulder Today campus newsletter and other internal platforms. The PIO generates story ideas to proactively promote CUPD internally and externally in multiple communication channels.

The PIO works formally as part of the Office of Strategic Relations and Communications (SRC) to ensure that CUPD communications are consistent with overall university messaging and to take advantage of the campus's combined communication resources. The PIO works at the Police Department office and collaborates with the Chief of Police and other department leaders to develop public safety messaging, responses to media queries and promotional content. In order to accomplish this, they will have access to highly confidential law enforcement information including developing criminal investigations through the police department’s reporting system.

The PIO spends time in SRC reporting to the campus's Chief Spokesperson and staying current on university messaging platforms, emerging stories that could affect CUPD communication or campus communication. Who We Are

Strategic Relations and Communications facilitates an integrated approach to campus-wide marketing and communications to inspire greater CU Boulder engagement, affinity and support.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
Manages proactive communications for the Police Department, including, but not limited to:
  • In consultation with the Chief Spokesperson and the Chief of Police, sets Police Department media relations standards and strategy. Develops and implements strategies aimed at enhancing community knowledge of, and compliance with, public safety programs.
  • Develops comprehensive annual communications plan for CUPD. Tracks plan progress and provides regular updates to CUPD and SRC leadership.
  • Manages police department publications at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
  • Collaborates with SRC for development of media plans and news media releases regarding major events on campus with law enforcement components, e.g., dignitary visits, Bolder Boulder, natural disasters, etc.
  • Manages, monitors and responds to inquiries on the CUPD social media channels. Leverages social media presence to promote CUPD and build awareness of the department’s services and accomplishments.
  • Collaborates with the CUPD Records Division, the Chancellor's Office Custodian of Records and the Chief Spokesperson to facilitate fulfillment of Colorado Open Records Act requests.
  • Leads the development and management of content for the CUPD website, and provides administrative oversight of its content development, structure and posting.
  • Adds news releases and other messaging to the CUPD website.
  • Collaborates with CUPD's Human Resources staff with the development of marketing materials, such as social media advertisements, to support program development and recruiting.
  • Submits safety messaging and other relevant memos to SRC for distribution through CU Boulder Today and other platforms.
  • Captures photographs and videos of department events, trainings and other activities where officers and other CUPD staff interact with the public. This content is used for internal and external marketing and publication on the CUPD website and social media.
  • As requested by the Chief Spokesperson and Chief of Police or the chief's designee, serves on key planning committees for major events and emergency response.
  • Attends internal communicators liaison meetings to share information on proactive police messaging projects.
  • Keeps the Chief Spokesperson and Chief of Police apprised of news interviews involving CUPD personnel and of stories that may have an impact on CUPD and the broader university.
  • Establishes and maintains a visible and accessible public profile by attending public meetings as a representative of the police and through frequent contact with Boulder and Denver media representatives.
  • Remains aware of sensitive or political issues related to public safety issues and provides public relations counsel to the Chief of Police.
  • Trains department staff and other employees in media relations.
Manages media responses and spokesperson duties for the Police Department, including, but not limited to:
  • Works with SRC on the development of media responses related to campus public safety issues. These include responses to student, local, national and international news media. In addition, assists with the dissemination of investigative information, Clery Act timely warnings and emergency notifications upon approval from CUPD supervisory personnel and the Clery Compliance Coordinator.
  • Serves as the police spokesperson for criminal cases as well as routine public safety matters. Remains on-call 24/7/365 for this role and designates an alternative spokesperson or information source when scheduled to be away from the department, or when another information source is the more appropriate contact.
  • Responds to emergency scenes in which media are present to facilitate press conferences, interviews and broadcast live shots for police matters until the situation is resolved or media have left the scene.
  • Provides assistance, as warranted, to the Clery Compliance and Crime Analyst in the fulfillment of issuing timely warnings in compliance with the Clery Act. Prepares for media response related to such timely warnings.
  • Works with police personnel and information systems to gather facts and determine what information can be made public. Coordinates communication during situations that involve multiple agencies or departments. Writes and distributes news releases and makes follow-up calls to the media to update information in collaboration with SRC. Interacts with broadcast media to provide interviews if needed. Works with emergency personnel to provide ongoing information to the media.
  • Appears on camera to present police information to news media.
  • Assists in writing speaking points for staff and prepares staff for news conferences and interviews.
  • Participates in after-action meetings as necessary.
Collaborates with PIOs around the Denver metro region and attends training to build on PIO skills:
  • Collaborates with PIOs from the Boulder Police Department, Boulder Fire Department, Boulder County Sheriffs Office, Boulder County District Attorney's Office, Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife, American Red Cross and other agencies when related messaging may involve these departments.
  • Serves as a member and regularly attends meetings of the Emergency Services Public Information Officers of Colorado (ESPIOC) and Boulder County PlOs.
  • Attends training to remain current on skills related to news interviews, social media, Incident Command System, Colorado Open Records Act and the Clery Act.
Completes messaging on other projects (e.g. crosswalk safety, hazardous materials media response) that have campus safety components:
  • Supports messaging needs for the Department of Emergency Management.
  • As needed, serves as a media spokesperson and provides issues management for issues or safety matters related to the Office of Information Technology.
Other duties, as assigned.

What You Should Know
  • This position will serve as an on-call status and will need to respond to emergency scenes as needed.
  • Ability to attend night and weekend events as needed.
  • This position will need reliable transportation.


What We Can Offer
  • The hiring pay range for this position is $69,000 - $80,000.


Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements
Be Ambitious. Be Resourceful. Be Boulder.

What We Require
  • A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Journalism; Communications; Public Relations; Criminal Justice or a related field.
  • Five years in a combination of news management for a media organization and/or institutional communications for a college, university, or public agency/entity, or equal experience working for a law enforcement agency as a public information officer.
  • Because of the access to highly confidential and sensitive law enforcement investigation information and reporting systems as well as the requirement to respond to potentially stressful and disturbing critical incidents, demonstrated personal and professional honesty, integrity, and good judgment as shown in the successful completion of a background investigation including completion of a personal history questionnaire, criminal background check, motor vehicle records check, an Excluded parties List System check, polygraph, job suitability psychological examination, integrity interview, and reference check is required.


What You Will Need
  • Ability to present a calm and focused presence in print and broadcast interviews and to articulate complicated safety information in clear, careful and common language.
  • Ability to listen to others, quickly synthesize complex information and build consensus on public messages.
  • Ability to use discretion with confidential information.
  • Ability to respond to requests for information in a timely and customer service-oriented manner; demonstrate integrity and trust in dealing with confidential law enforcement information related to public safety matters and developing criminal investigations.
  • Highly effective oral and written communication skills, collaboration and problem-solving skills.
  • Demonstrated history of collaborative, collegial and cooperative working relationships with agency peers, agency leadership, professional peers, community constituencies and external agencies/entities.
  • Experience using common office equipment, desktop computer hardware/software, and familiarity with common administrative/office support software applications, e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint Access and Publisher.
  • Experience managing social media outlets/accounts in support of a prior employing agency's objectives.
  • Ability to write and edit in Associated Press style.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other campus employees, media representatives, the public and other interested and affected parties.
  • Ability to maintain a professional demeanor during stressful situations as this position may be exposed to individuals experiencing trauma as well as evidence that may be disturbing.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision on a continual basis.


What We Would Like You To Have
  • A graduate degree from an accredited college or university in Journalism; Communications; Public Relations; Criminal Justice or a related field.
  • Seven or more years of work experience as a public information officer for a law enforcement agency or a public university with experience in public safety as a significant part of the latter portfolio.
  • Experience working in a larger (20,000+ student population) university environment.


Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:
  1. A current resume.
  2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by May 21, 2021 for consideration.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: recruiting@colorado.edu


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