Job Posting: Public Information Officer Admin

Department of Water Resources

JC-518825
-
Public Information Officer Admin
ASSISTANT INFORMATION OFFICER

$5,014.00 - $6,276.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 8/24/2026

Job Description and Duties

This is a limited-term appointment for one year (12 months) with the potential to extend for an additional year (24 months total) with the possibility to become permanent.

The Goal: The Media and Public Information section of the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Public Affairs Office (PAO) is hiring an Assistant Information Officer (IO) who is a proactive communicator and enjoys being part of a creative team.

The Background: DWR is known for having a robust communications office, with specific teams that handle creating content for digital, photography, videography, and graphic design. As part of the Media and Public Information section, the Assistant IO would assist with the professional and technical tasks related to the media relations and public information, including writing, editing, project management, and research.

The Work: Much of DWR’s work is science-driven, since water is a vital resource for California. The Assistant IO should have the ability to take those complex, technical issues and distill the information for the general public’s understanding. The Assistant IO would work under the supervision of the Media and Public Information section supervisor and would primarily assist in areas of content creation, digital production, media and public relations, social media, newsletter production, website updates, community outreach, and internal communications.

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

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-518825
Position #(s):
840-411-5603-XXX
Working Title:
Public Information Officer Admin
Classification:
ASSISTANT INFORMATION OFFICER
$5,014.00 - $6,276.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time
Facility:
Mailing Address

Department Information

Public Affairs Office, Communication and Outreach Branch, Media and Public Information Section, Sacramento

Department of Water Resources (DWR) was established in 1956 by the California State Legislature. We manage California’s water resources, systems, and infrastructure, including the State Water Project, in a responsible sustainable way.

At DWR, we are embedding climate change response into every project we undertake. We have set standards to help evaluate how each project incorporates climate resilience principles and ensure consistency across the Department.  Our mission is to sustainably manage the water resources of California, in cooperation with other agencies, to benefit the state’s people and protect, restore, and enhance the natural and human environments.

DWR also strives to create a trusting and welcoming workplace where employees embrace diverse viewpoints and treat each other with civility and respect.  An important component of DWR’s equal employment opportunity program centers around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Department Website: https://water.ca.gov/

Free virtual career consultation services including one-on-one DWR career consultations, application/resume review, tips for applying, and mock interviews, provided by DWR’s Recruitment and Workforce Planning section can now be scheduled via https://water.ca.gov/About/Careers.

 

Special Requirements

Current Class C California Driver’s License is highly desired. The incumbent must be willing to travel outside of and/or during normal business hours. Job duties may involve working in the field including working at high altitudes and/or rugged terrain under varied and sometimes difficult weather conditions. Periodic statewide travel may be required.

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: 8/24/2026

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.

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 Water Resources
Mailing Address
Attn: Division of Human Resources
P.O. Box 1079
Sacramento, CA 95812

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

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

Department of Water Resources
Submit in Person
Certification Desk
715 P Street, 7th floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 04:30 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.
  • Other - Cover Letter
  • Other - See Supplemental Questionnaire information under Special Instructions below.
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:

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and qualifications:

  • At least two years of experience writing, editing, and producing content such as digital newsletters, website updates, digital articles, social media posts, fact sheets, news releases, and more for an organization.
  • Degree in communications or journalism.
  • Skill to proofread collateral, content, etc. to produce professional material
  • Ability to distill technical or scientific material into content a layperson would understand.
  • Intermediate knowledge of professional/commercial social media accounts and experience successfully managing such accounts.
  • Ability to think creatively, exercise initiative, and communicate information clearly.
  • Able to monitor and analyze social media performance metrics and provide actionable insights and regular reports.
  • Excellent organizational skills to manage competing assignments.
  • Ability to prioritize projects and responsibilities to meet deadlines.
  • Strong customer service skills to serve internal offices, department partners, and the public.

Benefits

The Natural Resources Agency is a state-of-the-art building with plenty of natural lighting and functionally designed workspaces including sit-stand workstations. Our LEED Platinum headquarters has a full-service cafe, an onsite free fitness center, indoor bicycle storage, and is walking distance to nearby restaurants.  Visit our Natural Resources Agency website for more exciting information: https://thrive.cnra.ca.gov/

In addition to state-of-the-art amenities, we offer an award-winning employee recognition program and ongoing learning and development opportunities. It is located right next to Light Rail for an easy commute – we even have a reimbursement subsidy program for public transit!  Click here to read about the array of amenities CNRA has to offer.

 

DWR offers a competitive pay schedule and work-life balance for all its employees.  The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment. Click here to read about the outstanding benefits offered to eligible employees.

 

Personal Leave Program 2025: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary wage reductions in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) accruals. The specific rate and hours earned were negotiated and agreed upon by each bargaining unit. The actual monetary impact of these temporary reductions can vary based on your bargaining unit and/or federal and state tax withholdings. For additional information please visit Human Resources Manual - CalHR

Contact Information

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

Hiring Unit Contact:
Kari Carroll
(916) 820-8091
kari.carroll@water.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:
Office of Civil Rights
(916) 653-6952
civilrights@water.ca.gov
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.

Special Instructions

To be considered, submit a complete State application (STD. 678), resume, cover letter, and the supplemental questions.  Applicants will be disqualified from the selection process if all required documents are not submitted. Please reference SAP Position # 50024553 and Job Control # JC - 518825 in the “examination(s) or job title(s) for which you are applying” section of your application. 

 

Supplemental Questions:

Please answer the supplemental questions for the hiring manager’s review. Applications received without the supplemental questions answered will not be considered. The supplemental questions must be typed in 12-point Arial font, titled “Supplemental Questions,” and each question must be included with its answer. The supplemental questions must not exceed two pages in length.

 1. What is your experience in planning, writing, and editing written materials such as newsletters, reports, blogs/articles, and fact sheets? Give specific examples of material that you wrote and what resulted from those deliverables.

2. What is at least one specific example of how you collaborated with experts on complex topics to share information with the public? What was created and how was it shared?

3. What is your experience with researching and analyzing data to develop and present a concise report on the topic?


The following basis of eligibility will be considered: List eligibility, transfer, LEAP, reinstatement, and SROA/Surplus.

Resumes, cover letters, and/or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. Candidates who do not follow all the listed application and Statement of Qualification instructions may be disqualified from the selection process. We will be carefully reviewing all submissions, and only the most qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. The hiring unit will receive only the documents specified in the Required Application Package Documents section.


Click here to complete DWR’s Recruitment Survey. This survey is for research purposes only and will not affect application status.

Examination/Assessment

For more information about the State hiring process, click here. To learn more about how to get a State job, click here.

 

List eligibility can be established by taking and passing the examination/assessment.

 

Click the examination(s)/assessment(s) information link:  (Exam link to be released Aug 10, 2026.  Link will be added)

 

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