Job Description
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER - OAHU
(OHHI) Salary See Position Description Location Island of Oahu Job Type Various Job Number OHHI-26035
Department Various Opening Date 04/25/2026 Closing Date Continuous Max Number of Applicants 25 Description Benefits Questions Recruitment Information Recruitment Number OHHI-26035
- The current vacancy is with the Department of Agriculture & Biosecurity , located in Downtown. This recruitment is being conducted under the Operation Hire Hawaii (OH-HI) project, a targeted outreach initiative featuring an expedited hiring process, fast-tracking qualified applicants into job opportunities throughout Hawai'i. Applications received for this recruitment will be reviewed for Legal Authorization to work in the US. All applicants who pass the Legal Authorization review will be referred to the hiring department for consideration and an initial review of the application. Applicants who meet the initial review requirements at the departmental level may be contacted by the hiring program for an interview. All applicants interviewed by the hiring program will be notified of their selection or non-selection by the department. The application referral and potential interview conducted at the departmental level does not imply that applicants have met all Minimum Qualification Requirements. A thorough review of all applications received will be conducted by the Department of Human Resources Development and all applicants will be notified of the final disposition. THIS JOB POSTING WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 25 APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED. PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.
Salary:
$6,043 to $7,351 per month (SR-24, Step D to I). Note:
Hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors. Duties Summary The Public Information Officer develops, organizes, directs and coordinates a comprehensive statewide program to inform the public of departmental plans, activities and accomplishments; advises and instructs all levels of management and public information personnel on policy and other matters related to public relations, and maintains an effective channel of communication with other government, legislative and community agencies; develops and implements a program of internal information flow to all staff; and performs other related duties as assigned. This class is distinguished by responsibility for a statewide program of public information relative to the objectives, plans, programs and activities of a large department. A position in this class develops agency policy on public information and assures its implementation. Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 127A-8, all state and county officials, officers, and employees are considered "emergency workers" and shall perform functions as determined by their respective state or county department director during emergencies or disasters. May be required to work overtime which may include weekends, and holidays. This position requires travel for trainings, meetings and conferences. Minimum Qualification Requirements To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements: Legal Authorization to Work :
The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. Basic Education:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Specialized Experience:
Three (3) years of progressively responsible full-time professional experience organizing, planning and conducting a program to disseminate information about the activities and plans of an organization to the public-at-large or to individuals affected by or interested in the organization's work. The experience MUST include evaluating the style, manner of presentation, the effect of written materials, exhibits, photographs, etc., in terms of its public information value; writing and editing material designed for a specific information medium or a combination of media e.g., television, radio, newspapers, publications, etc. Non-Qualifying Experience:
A. Writing and editing experience is not qualifying if the experience has not also involved the determination of the appropriate information media to be used in order to reach a specific audience with the information so as to make the most effective use of a specific medium for information purposes. Examples of non-qualifying experience are writing and editing administrative manuals and instructions; or newspaper experience as a rewrite person, space contributor, or reporter that has involved neither the writing of interpretive stories nor the news coverage of related stories and subjects. B. Public relations and press agent experience which has been concerned with publicizing individuals or products without relating the publicity to public information objectives . Supervisory Aptitude:
Supervisory aptitude rather than actual supervisory experience may be accepted. This requirement will be considered to have been met when there is strong affirmative evidence of the necessary supervisory abilities and/or potential. Substitutions Allowed:
Relevant substitutions as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements, will apply. The information provided above represents a summary of the complete Minimum Qualification Requirements . To view the Requirements in their entirety , please CLICK HERE . 02956
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JT Other Information The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call 808-587-1111 for assistance. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
(PSLF) PROGRAM The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS
The Department of Human Resources Development (HRD) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs. Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings. TESTING INFORMATION
The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held. In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application. CLICK HERE
for Important Information about Equal Employment Opportunity, the Merit Civil Service System, Citizenship and other requirements, Reasonable Accommodation, Veterans Preference, Examination Requirements, and the State Recruiting Office's Levels of Review. YOUR JOB BENEFITS WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI'I
The State of Hawaii offers its employees who are members of the civil service a range of benefits. Some benefits are offered as a result of collective bargaining agreements and changes may occur. A summary of these benefits, which is based on full-time employment, is listed below. Note:
Benefits for NON-CIVIL SERVICE
appointments will be provided by the hiring department at the time of interview. With Civil Service modernization, effective July 1, 2002, employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. As a temporary member of the civil service, you will be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits afforded to members of the civil service, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force of a permanent member of the civil service. Paid Holidays You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year. Paid Vacation You may earn vacation leave at a rate that other employers find tough to match - 21 days each full year from the FIRST year of employment. This compares to an average of 10 days offered by private companies. You may accumulate up to a total of 90 days (720 hours) of vacation. Paid Sick Leave You may earn sick leave at the same rate as vacation - 21 days per year from the FIRST year, and there is no limit on the amount you can accumulate. Expectant mothers may also use sick leave for pre-natal or post-natal check-ups or any illness related to pregnancy. Plus, unused accumulated sick leave may eventually be used to increase your retirement benefits in certain situations. Other Leaves Reasonable time off with pay may be provided for jury or witness duty, a death in the family, some military duty, and donation to the Blood Bank. Leave sharing donations may be granted to eligible employees who have serious personal illnesses or injuries or need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member. Various leaves without pay may also be granted with full re-employment rights. Health Insurance The State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Dental Plan. For more information, visit the Employer Union Trust Fund website www.eutf.hawaii.gov for coverage and options. Group Life Insurance The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees. Retirement Plan The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees under the Hybrid Plan with 10 years of credited service and who have reached 65 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and have reached 60 years of age may retire and receive benefits. To find out more about the options you have, go to http://ers.ehawaii.gov. Premium Conversion Plan Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld. Flexible Spending Accounts Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX
basis. Transportation Benefits Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct qualified transportation expenses (i.e. eligible parking fees, monthly bus passes for TheBus, fare coupons for The Handi-Van, Vanpool Hawaii participation fee, etc.) through pre-tax payroll deductions. Deferred Compensation The State offers employees a voluntary pre-tax retirement savings plan designed to give employees a tax break today and an opportunity to build a retirement nest egg through voluntary payroll deductions. Several types of investment options are available. Temporary Disability Insurance Qualified employees may be eligible to receive benefits for a disability caused by a non-work related injury or illness under this program. Social Security As an employer, the State also contributes to an employee's social security account. Promotions & Transfers For employees with membership in the civil service, the State offers promotion and transfer opportunities throughout the State Executive Branch. Training & Continuing Education The State supports developmental activities related to an employee's work. In many departments there are numerous in-service training opportunities available. Sabbatical leaves with pay are available for qualified employees. Travel Expenses The State may pay for certain business related travel expenses including mileage reimbursement for use of a personal car during work, airfare, meals and lodging expenses for trips to neighbor islands or out of state. Incentive & Service Awards The State has a program that recognizes employees for their years of service and provides cash awards for their superior accomplishments and other contributions that improve State operations. Union & Collective Bargaining Employees have the right to join the union for collective bargaining with the State and employee representation. Some employee unions provide discounts, insurance and other opportunities. Employees may also decide not to join a union, however, employees are required to pay union service fees unless the employee's job is excluded from collective bargaining. The above information is solely intended as a summary of the benefits available to State of Hawaii employees and is subject to change. Whether or not you are entitled to a particular benefit will depend on your specific appointment and employment status (included, excluded, exempt, non-exempt). Please refer to the appropriate collective bargaining agreement or executive order and all applicable laws, rules, policies, or plan documents for further details. Nothing herein shall be deemed as creating an employment contract, promise of employment, promise of continued employment, or obligation of any kind on the part of the State of Hawaii. CLICK HERE
for more information on the State of Hawaii's Benefits At-A-Glance. The State of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Employer Revised 01/13 01 RECRUITMENT SURVEY (MANDATORY) Completion of this survey is mandatory. You must select one option; multiple selections permitted. The information you provide will be used to improve our recruitment efforts. We appreciate your cooperation. What led you to explore career opportunities with the State of Hawaii? State Recruiting Office Job Announcement Posting (Visit to the State Recruiting Office or Workforce Development Office) Job Fairs Consolidated Theatres TheBus Shopping Mall Advertisements Print Advertisements Word of Mouth (State of Hawaii Employee, Speaker at a Presentation, School Counselor, etc.) Army Partnership for Youth Success (PaYS) SkillBridge Program LinkedIn Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Governmentjobs.com Internships Other 02 EMPLOYMENT STATUS SURVEY
#1 Completion of this survey is mandatory. You must select one option. This information will assist us with our recruiting efforts. We appreciate your cooperation. Which of the following reflects your current employment status? Currently working in the private sector Currently working for a non-profit organization Currently working for the federal government Currently working for the State of Hawaii Currently working for another State Currently working for a local county agency (e.g., Maui County, City and County of Honolulu) Recent Graduate (e.g., high school or college) Currently unemployed for the past six months or more Recently laid off in the past six months (if you select this option, please indicate the employer in the next question). Other (if you select this option, please explain in the next question) 03 EMPLOYMENT STATUS SURVEY
#2 Completion of this survey is mandatory. This information will assist us with our recruiting efforts. We appreciate your cooperation. If you selected recently laid off in response to Employment Status Survey #1, please indicate the name of the employer from which you were laid off. If you selected other in response to Employment Status Survey #1, please explain. if these two options do not apply to you, please indicate "N/A." 04 APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT - REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS
The responses you provide to these Supplemental Questions will be used in combination with your application to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements and/or your final score. Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected or receiving a lower score. Please do not submit a resume only in place of completing the Supplemental Questions . A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. You must submit verification (e.g., copies of official transcripts or diploma as directed below) in order to receive credit for education. In general, proof of education downloaded from and/or submitted through the internet will not be accepted. Education obtained outside the United States must be comparable to education earned at an accredited school in the United States. We also reserve the right to request further information about your academic program, evidence of comparability, or an original transcript. To receive credit for substitute, temporary assignment, or volunteer experience, applicants must submit an official letter of verification. The letter should include the job title, employment dates, number of hours worked, a description of the professional duties performed, and a contact name and phone number. Any information you submit may be verified. Supporting documents must be either electronically attached to your application or submitted to our office at: State of Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development, 235 South Beretania Street--11th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Documents should be identified by job title and recruitment number. I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree to all of the above. 05 APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
(Continued) Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the date of the application, unless otherwise specified. In general, concurrent experiences and/or education will not be double credited unless otherwise specified. Your possession of the required amount of experience will not in and of itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. The overall paid or unpaid experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position. Our calculation of experience will be based upon a full-time, 40-hour work week. Part-time experience will be pro rated. Example :
Twelve months of experience at 20 hours/week will be pro rated to six months of experience. Also, hours worked in excess of 40 hours/week will not be extra credited. Example :
Twelve months of experience at 60 hours/week will be credited as one year of experience, not one and a half years. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to all of the above. 06 APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT - MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
(Complete information and details) A link to the Minimum Qualification Requirements (MQRs) has been provided in the online job announcement. Please review the MQRs in their entirety. I acknowledge I have accessed and read the complete Minimum Qualification Requirements via the live link provided in the job announcement. 07 BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT
Please indicate how you meet this requirement by selecting one of following choices. (Refer to the Minimum Qualification Requirements for more detailed information.) In order to receive credit for your academic training, you MUST SUBMIT
a legible copy of your OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
by attaching it to your online application, if you have not recently done so. NOTE:
If you are using relevant work experience in lieu of a Bachelor's degree to fulfill the Education Requirement, clearly describe this work experience in your application. In order to receive credit, this experience must be comparable in scope, level, and quality to knowledge and skills gained via completion of study leading to a Bachelor's degree as specified in the Minimum Qualification Requirements. I do not meet the Education requirement. I do not possess a Bachelor's degree, but possess excess professional work experience as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements. I have a combination of completion of partial university curriculum, and administrative or professional experience comparable to successful study leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university. I possess a Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university. 08 SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE
Please indicate if you are using one of the substitutions below to PARTIALLY
meet the Specialized Experience requirement (refer to the Minimum Qualification Requirements). In order to receive credit, you MUST SUBMIT
a legible copy of your OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
by attaching it to your online application, if you have not recently done so. I am not using the substitution. I have successfully completed the military Public Information Officer training with courses in Journalism, Photojournalism, Public Affairs, Broadcasting, and related courses. I possess a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from an accredited four-year college or university. I possess a Master's degree in Journalism from an accredited four-year college or university. 09 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
How many years of progressively responsible professional work experience as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements do you possess? This experience MUST involve active participation in organizing, planning and conducting a program to disseminate information about the activities and plans of an organization to the public-at-large : No Experience Less than 1 year of experience 1 year to less than 2 years of experience 2 years to less than 3 years of experience 3 years to less than 4 years of experience 4 years to less than 5 years of experience 5 years to less than 6 years of experience 6 years to less than 7 years of experience 7 or more years of experience 10 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
(Continued) If you selected "No Experience" for Question #9 above, indicate "N/A" below. If you possess the required Specialized Experience, provide the following information to address your relevant background. Address each change in employer or position(s) with the same employer separately. The information for EACH employer should include: A. Employer, complete dates of employment (Month/year to Month/year), your official job title, and average number of hours per week spent collectively on duties below; B. Describe this employer, including the type of organization (e.g., government agency, private or publicly owned media firm, self employment, consultant, etc.), the major sections, the section you worked in, the number and type of professional staff you worked with, the activities or services provided, and clientele served. OR, you may submit an organizational chart; C. The primary function/focus of your position and your major duties and responsibilities. Avoid using vague terms such as "managed," "responsible for," etc., and instead use specific language to clearly show the scope and level of your responsibilities; D. Describe your experience, if any, in each of the following areas. Include a description of the programs, projects or campaigns you were responsible for or worked on, your specific role and authority, the steps you took in each area cited below, and relevant examples to show the scope and extent of your responsibilities. Address each area separately and in the order given. If no experience in an area, state No:
1. Organizing, planning and conducting a program to disseminate information about the activities and plans of an organization to the public-at-large or to individuals affected by or interested in the organization's work. Describe your role in organizing, planning, and evaluating the program . What was the nature of the program? Who was your target audience? What administrative policies, decisions, problems, obstacles, etc. did you have to consider? How did you determine which information should be disseminated? What kind of information about your company or organization did you provide to the public?; 2. Writing informational materials (e.g., press release, video scripts, reports, etc.) including on sensitive issues and critical events. Describe the types of material written, taped, or otherwise prepared. Describe how you were involved in evaluating the style, manner of presentation, the effect of written materials, exhibits, photographs, etc. in terms of its public information value . Describe the specific type of public information medium OR a combination of media (e.g., television, radio, newspapers, publications, etc.) that your written and edited material was designed for. What method of research did you utilize? For whom was this material written for?; 3. Preparing and editing copy for presentation. What types of materials did you prepare/edit (i.e., audio, visual, video, power point, speeches, etc.)? What was involved? What was the length of the production and types of equipment used? What kinds of problems did you encounter? How were they resolved?; 4. Dealing with the media, government, business or other community or interest groups, and members of the general public in representing your employer. What was the purpose? If any, describe if you were involved in coordination with government, business or community groups. Identify these groups; and 5. If applicable and not addressed above, describe your duties and responsibilities for the dissemination of information to coordinate public relations activities and/or programs on a departmental level. Also include, if any, budget responsibilities, including contracts monitored. E. Which best describes the level or work you performed: trainee, assistant, fully independent, or supervisor?; F. Did this employer have a separate public relations section (or professional staff) to provide such services? If Yes, what was your role, if any, in relation to this entity?; G. What degree of supervision did you receive in performing these duties? What kinds of decisions were you authorized and/or not authorized to make?; and H. What was the official job title of your supervisor? How did your duties and level of authority differ from those of your supervisor? Be specific and complete in your responses. To receive credit, the employer(s) and each position held must be identified in the experience section of your application. A resume submitted in lieu of answering each supplemental question completely will not be accepted. We do not make assumptions. If your write up is unclear, you may be asked to provide a copy of your official Job/Position Description and organizational chart. 11 SUPERVISORY APTITUDE/EXPERIENCE
Supervisory Experience is not required; however, Supervisory Aptitude is a requirement. It is the demonstration of aptitude or potential for the performance of supervisory duties. Do you possess supervisory aptitude OR experience? Yes No 12 SUPERVISORY APTITUDE/EXPERIENCE
(Continued) If you selected NO for Question #11 above, indicate "N/A" below. If you possess the Supervisory Aptitude, provide the following information to address your relevant background. A. Employer's name and your official job title; B. Dates you performed such duties (Month/year to Month/year); C. Describe this employer, services provided, and clientele served; D. Number and job titles of those you supervised, IF any. Did your experience include supervision over lower-level professionals? If Yes, provide number and job titles of those you supervised. If none, state so; E. Describe the professional duties you performed which demonstrated your supervisory aptitude or potential; and F. How did your duties and level of authority differ from those of your supervisor? Be specific and complete in your responses. Employers and each position held must be identified in your resume. We do not make assumptions. 13 RELATED TASKS List all the computer software programs, if any, that you are proficient in using (e.g. Graphic Design, Excel, Power Point, etc.). 14 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Thank you for your application. If you have additional information related specifically to this class of work that you would like us to consider, include the information below. 15 EMPLOYER USE ONLY. VETERANS PREFERENCE VP
Verified Required Question Employer State of Hawai'i Address DHRD - Employee Staffing Division 235 S. Beretania Street, 11th Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813-2437 Phone 808-587-1111 or 1-877-447-5990 (TTY) •Website http://jobs.hawaii.gov/
