Job Posting: Communications Specialist

Department of Public Health

JC-473073
-
Communications Specialist
INFORMATION OFFICER II

$7,280.00 - $9,046.00 per Month

Final Filing Date: 4/25/2025

Job Description and Duties

THERE IS ONE VACANCY BEING ADVERTISED ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES. THE INCUMBENT WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN THE COUNTY NEAREST THE RESIDENCE OF THE SELECTED CANDIDATE. THE COUNTIES ARE:  Shasta, Sacramento, Butte, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Richmond, San Mateo, Fresno, Kern, San Joaquin, San Bernadino, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles.

The incumbent works under the administrative direction of the Health Program Manager (HPM) III, Assistant Deputy Director of the Regional Public Health Office (RPHO).

The Communications Specialist (Information Officer II) assists in standardizing messaging, developing materials for public consumption including social media, public service announcements, info graphics and messaging that is culturally competent in addressing the population needs of the Public Health Region. The Communications Specialist position works closely in collaboration with CDPH’s Office of Communications and other Centers as needed. The Communications Specialist team members will be directly assigned one or two of the following Public Health Regions: Rural North, Bay Area, Greater Sierra-Sacramento, Central California, Southern California, and Los Angeles; and may rotate duties as lead liaison with the CDPH Office of Communications. The Communications Specialists will work collaboratively as a team to support and provide back up to their Communications Specialist counterparts as needed. This position requires up to 20% travel.

To be considered for this position, please submit your application, resume, and cover letter by the final file date. Fill out the application carefully and completely with supervisor contact information and employment history, as incomplete applications are removed from consideration. Need assistance filling out your state application? Check out our How to Apply for a Job at CDPH.

Please ensure you are currently on the Information Officer II exam list and carefully review the duty statement, state pay for this classification, and benefits to ensure it is the right fit for you.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information:

 

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

 

Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

 

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

 

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDPHRecruitment

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-473073
Position #(s):
580-012-5595-009
Working Title:
Communications Specialist
Classification:
INFORMATION OFFICER II
$7,280.00 - $9,046.00
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.

The position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan enhancing preparedness and response for emerging public health threats through provision of leadership, guidance, and advance coordination and collaboration across a variety of complex program areas including policy, equity, public health practice, communications, access to clinical expertise, epidemiology, and pursuit of funding opportunities. Watch We Are CDPH to learn more.

The Regional Public Health Office (RPHO) was established in March 2023. Our mission is to strengthen public health capacity across all regions by fostering trusting and collaborative state and local partnerships. We work closely with local health jurisdiction (LHJ) leaders to address complex public health challenges, pool resources, share knowledge, and promote communication and coordination. We offer technical assistance to rural and under-resourced LHJs in support of regional goals, priorities, and projects, particularly in the areas of epidemiology and communication strategies.? We also oversee the local allocation of the Future of Public Health funds and the California Strengthening Public Health Initiative.

Our Goals

  • Add value to enhance, not replace, existing state and local structures.
  • Facilitate regional discussions to address cross-cutting public health challenges.
  • Identify gaps, share best practices, and explore opportunities for regional coordination.
  • Elevate regional priorities to inform statewide policies and strategic planning.
  • Connect LHJs and regions to CDPH subject matter experts and resources.

We provide a dedicated team made up of regional program coordinators, epidemiologists, communication specialists, and program specialists who work closely with assigned public health regions to ensure seamless coordination, effective communication, science and data analysis, and funding support.

Discover why CDPH is an employer of choice by watching Choose Your Future with CDPH.

*The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

 *The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY).  Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

 

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # 473073 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

 

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

 

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 4/25/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Mailing
Attn: Classification & Certification Unit
P.O. Box 997378
MS 1700-1702
Sacramento, CA 95899-7378

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Public Health
CCAU Drop Off
Classification & Certification Unit
1615 Capitol Avenue Suite 73.430
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications - Please see Statement of Qualifications instructions below at end of posting.  Any applications received that do not provide a written response to the SOQ may be rejected.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

  • Minimum 2 years’ experience working with local and regional communities in California; including experience with or at local health departments.
  • Minimum 2 years’ experience working with media and drafting public communication materials including press releases, media advisories and talking points.
  • A skilled and proactive communicator who demonstrates commitment to quality work.
  • Able to handle pressure and manage multiple tasks concurrently.
  • A team player that approaches assignments with a positive attitude.
  • Have strong organizational skills, able to work independently and willing to learn new ideas and assist where needed.  
  • Able to work with and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Communicate with and convene a large group of internal and external stakeholders, including state and local program representatives and senior department leadership.
  • Ability to identify and resolve a broad range of complex governmental and programmatic challenges.
  • Demonstrate the ability to lead and manage multiple projects and daily tasks.
  • Equity-minded, responsive and sensitive to diverse populations.
  • Ability to assess issues and quickly identify the best possible solution(s).
  • Possess excellent and effective written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to collaborate with others.
  • Ability to establish and foster relationships with partners.
  • Ability to analyze program situations and develop effective courses of action to solve them.
  • Attentive to details.
  • Intermediate MS Office Suite expertise- Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT.
  • Proficient in virtual meeting platforms.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Human Resources Division
(916) 445-0983
apply@cdph.ca.gov
Hiring Unit Contact:
Traci Wacker
(279) 217-0865
Traci.Wacker@cdph.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
EEO Office
(916) 445-0938
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions:

Please provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for the hiring manager’s review. Your SOQ is essentially the first interview for this position. If your qualifications are competitive, you will be invited to a virtual interview. For more guidance, watch our video How to Write Engaging SOQs for CDPH. 

When completing the SOQ, please include all relevant experience, education, and training for each question. Explain your answers thoroughly and include, if appropriate, places/dates of employment and duties performed.

 

Note: Your answers should be single-spaced, in a 12-point font with standard margins, and not to exceed two pages. The hiring manager will not consider notations or references to other materials, such as a resume or the application form. Incomplete or missing responses to the information requested may negatively affect the assessment of your qualifications. 

 

Your SOQ must address the following:

  1. Your education, formal training, job, and/or personal experience that may have prepared you for this position (please review the duty statement).
  2. Your experience in media relations and digital media or a related field, including writing press materials (news releases, media advisories, speeches, etc.), materials for public communication, preparing talking points, and experience with professional social media and newsletter production.
  3. Your experience representing an organization, working with a local entity (city and/or county), and describe why you are interested in supporting in one or more of the following Public Health Regions: Rural North, Bay Area, Greater Sierra-Sacramento, Central California, Southern California, and Los Angeles.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job