Public Information Specialist 1 (NY HELPS)

Position Summary

Under the direction of the assistant director of Communications & Outreach, the Public Information Specialist 1 is responsible for creating strategy and written materials to communicate with and educate NYSTRS members, participating employers, and external stakeholders using various communications collateral.  

*Please refer to the section of this posting which explains the writing sample that is required to be considered. 

NY HELPS Program Information

• This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).
• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled with a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications, and any specialized requirements, of the title for which they apply.
• At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination.

Minimum Qualifications

EITHER: 1) Reachable on the Civil Service eligible list; OR: 2) Eligible for reassignment by virtue of having permanent competitive service as a Public Information Specialist 1 (SG-18); OR: 3) Eligible for transfer under the provisions of the Civil Service Law by virtue of having one year of permanent competitive service in an appropriate title; OR

To be appointed via the NY HELPS program, you must meet the following requirements:

Six years of experience in public or governmental relations, and/or in writing or producing content for various media.

Substitutions: An associate's degree in media, new media, English, communications, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, films, TV productions, or digital marketing can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor's in these fields can substitute for four years; and a master's degree in these fields can substitute for an additional year of specialized experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Superior writing, editing and communications skills
• Ability to work well independently
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Experience writing and creating digital content 
• Experience with web content management systems
• Desire to research and implement communications best practices
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Commitment to providing exceptional customer service

Work Modality 

Currently we have a hybrid work schedule which may be subject to change in the future.

Job Duties

The Public Information Specialist 1 will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following duties:

• Assist in content creation and developing and executing a multi-faceted communications strategy to educate and inform stakeholders about NYSTRS, its operations and benefit structure. 
• Write content for NYSTRS’ various stakeholder groups (i.e., teachers, retired members, employers, and the public) to keep them apprised of System news, retirement-planning information, benefits, and financial and investment topics. Content is written for various print and digital mediums, including publications, mass email, and the website. 
• Edit and proofread content for conformity to NYSTRS brand standards and editorial style guide.
• Work with other NYSTRS departments as needed to write and/or proofread their communications materials, presentations and reports.
• Assist with the distribution of press releases.
• Assist in maintaining and updating content on NYSTRS’ website.
• Other special communications projects and assignments as needed to support the mission of the department in educating internal and external stakeholders.

*Writing Sample Required

Please provide a sample of your professional writing work. Submit at least one but no more than three samples via Word or PDF. Please also explain if you wrote the material on your own or if you collaborated with others who contributed to or edited the piece. Failure to provide the required writing sample(s) will result in you not being considered for the role. 

Salary Grade

Grade 18

Salary Range

$78,669 to $115,477

Job Type

CSEA/Civil Service