Position Type:
Classified - UBUE Personnel/UBUE - COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Date Posted:
7/22/2022

Location:
ADM: Community Relations

Closing Date:
08/13/2022

IMPORTANT NOTICE
THIS VACANCY IS ONLY OPEN TO ELIGIBLE INTERNAL APPLICANTS AND TO PERSONS ON THE ULSTER COUNTY CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLES LIST.
EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS FROM EXTERNAL APPLICANTS OR FROM PERSONS NOT ON THE ULSTER COUNTY C.O.E. LIST WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

The Ulster BOCES Community Relations department is seeking an experienced public relations/community relations professional with strong writing, proofreading, organization, and interpersonal abilities needed to develop and implement school communications efforts, both print and digital. The Anticipated Community Relations Specialist position is a full-time, 12-month position. Experience with PR planning and advising; writing media releases and feature stories; developing and publishing school newsletters and marketing materials; capturing engaging, high-quality photographs; managing social media; developing and posting website materials; and crisis communication needed. Adobe InDesign and Photoshop a plus. Must be able to work as part of a team and under intense deadlines. Frequent evenings and some weekends. Submit letter of interest, resume, and at least 3 samples of your work. All Civil Service laws, rules and regulations apply. Fingerprinting required.

Civil Service Classification: Competitive. Merit and fitness competitive examination applies.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position involves the responsibility of acting as a community information liaison among component school districts, community libraries, Ulster County BOCES or other agencies and their constituents by performing tasks related to public and community relations. The work involves the responsibility for performing duties related to the production and distribution of news releases and publications related to promoting the agency's programs and planning and coordinating the lay-out and design of presentations. An incumbent is responsible for creating brochures, newsletters and other publications and for coordinating media invitations and attendance at events. The work is performed under the general direction of the Community Relations Coordinator or another higher-level designated employee with leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in work methods. Does related work as required.

WORK SCHEDULE:
The position is full-time, five days a week, for 37.5 hours a week. The ideal candidate understands the nature of news and events and will have the ability to be flexible to cover special events that are scheduled outside of a set schedule or the normal work day (meaning some evenings and weekends are also required). As a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, workday flexibility is needed and overtime is necessary. Also, on occasion overnight travel for special events or conferences is necessary.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:
The typical work activities listed below, while providing representative examples of the variety of work assignments in the title do not describe any individual position. Incumbents in this title may perform some or all of the following, as well as other related activities not described.

1. Plans, develops, writes, proofreads, edits, reproduces, and distributes school district, community libraries or other community-based agency publications including newsletters, brochures, calendars and special marketing materials, which include photographic and graphic design components;
2. Writes and distributes news releases and accompanying photographs to various news media;
3. Cooperates with district administrators and other agency-wide staff members in publicizing and promoting performances, exhibitions, displays, dedications, or special programs sponsored by the school districts, community libraries, or other community-based agencies which are open to the public;
4. Coordinates and attends events to showcase agency achievements to the community;
5. Coordinates media invitations and attendance at events;
6. Organizes special publicity opportunities for participating districts and other community-based agencies, such as press conferences, features in the local newspaper or appearances on radio talk shows;
7. Maintains a clipping-file of new articles;
8. Attends various educational and community-wide events and activities for the purpose of gathering information and taking photographs for use in newsletters, publications and media releases;
9. Sets annual objectives for and evaluates the effectiveness of the community relations program of the agency;
10. Plans the annual budget for and monitors the expenditures in the community relations program of the agency;
11. Maintains databases of media contacts, including print, radio and television reporters and editors;
12. Acts as a pre-press liaison with printing service providers;
13. May act as a bulk-mailing liaison with districts and local post offices;
14. Acts as an information liaison with district and agency webmasters to make print publications and information available electronically.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Either:

1. Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English or a closely related field and one (1) year of work experience in public and community relations, which includes experience in writing and graphically designing promotional materials; OR
2. Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited college or university with an Associate's Degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English or a closely related field and three (3) years of work experience in public and community relations, which includes experience in writing and graphically designing promotional materials; OR
3. Graduation from high school diploma or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and five (5) years of work experience in public and community relations, which includes experience in writing and graphically designing promotional materials; OR
4. An equivalent combination of training and experience as indicated above.

Special Requirement: At time of appointment and throughout the duration of employment in this title, the incumbent must possess and continuously maintain a valid New York State Driver's License.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Our Mission:
At Ulster BOCES, our mission is to provide high quality shared educational, administrative, and technical services that will enable component school districts to develop the capacity of their students and adults to achieve higher standards of performance. With an emphasis on economic efficiencies, Ulster BOCES is committed to offering educational programs that enable all students to prepare for employment and/or post-secondary education.

The Ulster County Board of Cooperative Education Services is an educational agency serving eight component school districts. They are: Ellenville Central School District • Highland Central School District • Kingston City Schools Consolidated • New Paltz Central School District • Onteora Central School District • Rondout Valley Central School District • Saugerties Central School District • Wallkill Central School District

BENEFITS
Generous health insurance, dental and vision benefits. Paid time off. New York state retirement system membership and 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities plan. Flexible spending plan, disability benefits, employee assistance program and tuition reimbursement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services Non-Discrimination Statement

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Sole Supervisory District of Ulster County ("BOCES"), does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, religious practice, national origin, ethnic group, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), gender identity, sexual orientation ("sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or asexuality), political affiliation, age, marital status, military status, veteran status, disability, weight, domestic violence victim status, arrest or conviction record, genetic predisposition or carrier status or any other legally protected status in regard to employment opportunities or educational/vocational programs or activities which it operates. All inquiries regarding BOCES Non-Discrimination policies and/or complaints regarding violation(s) of these policies should be directed to the BOCES Compliance Officer, Dr. Jonah Schenker, Deputy Superintendent in one of the following manners:

By E-Mail: complianceofficer@ulsterboces.org
By Mail: 175 Route 32 North, New Paltz, New York, 12561
By Telephone: (845) 255-1400

Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulation and/or complaints regarding violation(s) of these provisions can be referred to the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005-2500, Telephone: (646) 428-3900, FAX: (646) 428-3843; TDD: (800) 877-8339; E-Mail: OCR.NewYork@ed.gov.