Communications Specialist

Hennepin County District Court welcomes applications for the position of Communications Specialist. This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated individual with experience in the areas of internal and external communications and branding, community outreach, media relations and public affairs.

This position is responsible for internal and external communications, including managing and coordinating media relations; overseeing publications/communication materials, managing website content and the SharePoint homepage, developing the annual State of the Court address, as well as coordinating swearing in ceremonies for newly appointed judicial officers.

The Communications Specialist will have an office in the Hennepin County Government Center, located in downtown Minneapolis. Typical hours for this position are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, but will vary depending on business needs.

Example of Duties:

• Develop, initiate, coordinate and execute public education efforts; develop resources and training for judges statewide 
• Develop and initiate educational outreach opportunities including tours and special events statewide and school and community organization visits; coordinate media relations of events; coordinate travel and other arrangements; photograph events 
• Respond to media and public inquiries for information or forward requests to appropriate spokesperson; analyze impact of media coverage; assist in managing media issues 
• Draft news releases 
• Assist in ensuring that the court system's response to media inquiries is in accordance with state access laws, court rules, the code of Judicial Conduct and current media standards 
• Prepare judicial officers and court leadership for interviews, press conferences, or other public events 
• Assist in developing and carrying out crisis communication plans 
• Research data, trends, and other information; draft speeches in full text and outline form; include uniform key messages where appropriate 
• Provide communications input into court initiatives, legislative proposals, task forces and policy matters 
• Manage the website content, SharePoint homepage and the Hennepin County District Court Twitter account 
• Develop internal communications and presentations for staff and judicial officer events 
• Organize and execute swearing in ceremonies for newly appointed judicial officers

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possession of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in English, journalism, communications or related field 
• 3 years' experience with media, communications or public relations 
• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of journalism and public relations; the methods, practices and principles of creative writing, journalism, and mass communications; and the English language and its use, including grammar, punctuation and spelling 
• Experience writing for journalists and in public relations materials; writing clearly, concisely and accurately in various formats (i.e. news releases, remarks, talking points, brochures, etc.) 
• Ability to plan, coordinate and execute public events 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, attorneys, representatives of other agencies, the general public, the media, and occasionally angry individuals 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to de-escalate difficult customer interactions and work respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds 
• Thorough knowledge of the legislative process and state government; structure, organization, and operation of state court systems; ability to apply and explain rules of court, state statutes, District Court Bench Policies, Bylaws, court and office policies/procedures 
• Ability to research, analyze and organize information 
• Detail oriented, with the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and to meet extraordinarily tight deadlines 
• Ability to handle stressful situations 
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, including authoring speeches, presentations, and talking points
• Selected candidate will be required to pass a criminal background check prior to appointment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's Degree in related field 
• 5 years' experience with media, communications or public relations 
• Experience with the court system or in a legal field

Salary:

$24.97 - $38.67 Hourly

$52,137.36 - $80,742.96 Annually