Overview

Utah Transit AuthorityDescription Help shape the story of public transportation in Utah. As a key member of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) communications team, you'll lead media relations, public relations, and strategic communications that shape how the public sees, understands, and engages with UTA. From developing proactive media strategies and building strong relationships with news outlets to navigating breaking news, leading crisis communications, and uncovering compelling stories, you'll bring UTA's people, services, and community impact into the spotlight. Your work will help build public trust, shape public perception, and demonstrate the vital role public transportation plays in connecting communities and creating opportunities throughout Utah. In this role, you'll bring together strategic leadership, media expertise, and compelling storytelling to keep the public informed, engaged, and connected to UTA's mission. As the Senior Public Information Officer, you will:Coordinate Utah Transit Authority (UTA)'s media relations and public storytelling program and serve as UTA's primary media relations strategist and press liaison.Supervise social media and organic public story mining staff and set strategy related to education, events, news, data, incidents, and engagement across public communications channels.Develop and execute strategic, proactive media plans and manage the distribution of information to the news media in support of events, announcements, activities, campaigns, education, and issues.Write and edit press advisories, pitches, releases, talking points, social posts, op-eds, messaging documents, scripts, press event plans, stories, and other materials for proactive and reactive media response.Develop and maintain relationships with the news media.Interact with reporters, editors, photographers, editorial boards, and other members of the news media for disseminating information and publicity.Act as a source of public information for scheduled and unscheduled events, stories, or challenging, emotional, and sensitive crises.Work with the agency's Communications Director, communications and social media staff, government relations, executive team, UTA Police, and department subject matter experts to identify emerging media issues.Work with the Communications Director, executive staff, and agency management in developing strategy, messaging, and responding to media queries.Gather data and clipping reports to gauge public sentiment via media and social media engagement.Develop and maintain crisis communications response plans.Serve as UTA spokesperson, and train and prep subject matter experts to do media interviews, testimony, editorial visits, presentations, and other public appearances that may have media presence.Carry a highly trusted role in an actively changing environment, seeking opportunities to strengthen the public perception of the value of transit and UTA's operations and management.Supervise staff by developing goals, monitoring progress, coaching and evaluating performance.Coordinate with Incident Communications Specialist team on public response to incidents and general questions over social media platforms. This job is not eligible for telework. Requires regular and predictable attendance during set daytime hours Monday through Friday in the Salt Lake City UTA Frontlines Headquarters or in the field along UTA's service area. Requires media on-call availability that could respond during evenings, holidays, and weekends. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONSEDUCATION/TRAINING: Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications, or related field. EXPERIENCE: Eight (8) years related work experience with demonstrated competency in public relations with an extensive media relations background including two (2) years in a supervisory role. Professional experience must include at least two (2) years in a non-media outlet or outside of a newsroom or media organization. Experience in a public or govern