SB County Public Information Officer*

Salary: $151,528.00 - $214,843.20 Annually
Location : San Bernardino, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 26-16410-01
Department: County Administrative Office
Opening Date: 02/14/2026

The Job
APPLICATIONS/RESUMES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL POSITION IS FILLED.

APPLY BY MARCH 6, 2026 FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION
Earn a base Annual Salary up to $206,523 Commensurate with Experience!

San Bernardino County is seeking a highly skilled and politically astute Public Information Officer (PIO) to lead public information and media relations for the County Administrative Office (CAO). Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, this position oversees the Public Information Office and serves as a primary spokesperson for the County, supporting the Executive Office and Board of Supervisors on complex, high-profile, and often sensitive matters.

This is a senior professional position requiring exceptional judgment, discretion, and executive presence. The incumbent will operate in a fast-paced, high-visibility executive environment involving elected officials, department executives, media representatives, and community stakeholders, often under tight deadlines and public scrutiny, which requires flexibility, discretion, and responsiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary point of contact and spokesperson for media inquiries related to County Administrative Office and Board matters
• Provide strategic communications counsel to executive leadership and elected officials
• Lead and manage the Public Information Office, including oversight of staff engaged in public relations, communications, and information dissemination
• Respond to and coordinate requests pursuant to the California Public Records Act (CPRA) related to County Administrative Office and Executive Office communications, working closely with County Counsel and County departments to ensure timely, accurate, and legally compliant disclosures.
• Develop and implement strategic communications plans aligned with County priorities and policy direction
• Manage media relations, including press releases, briefings, interviews, and crisis communications
• Write and review speeches, talking points, and official communications for government officials
• Navigate politically sensitive issues with sound risk assessment and message discipline
• Represent the County with professionalism, credibility, and composure in high-pressure situations

*Official Job Title: Public Information Officer
For more detailed information, refer to the job description.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS

To review job-specific benefits, refer to:

Summary of Benefits

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The County also offers an alternative Modified Benefits Option (MBO) that provides a wage differential.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Pre-employment Process: Applicants must pass a background investigation, which includes fingerprinting, physical examination, and credit check, prior to appointment.
Travel: A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out the essential job-related functions of this position. Mileage reimbursement and proof of automobile liability insurance must be maintained.

Sponsorship: San Bernardino County is not able to consider candidates who will require visa sponsorship at the time of application or in the future.

Work Schedule: Evening, weekend, or on-call availability may be required during emergencies, critical incidents, or time-sensitive matters.

At-Will Status: The Public Information Officer is an unclassified position; it is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the County Chief Executive Officer or their designee. The position reports to the Chief Communications Officer.
Minimum Requirements

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in English, Journalism, Business or Public Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, Mass Communications, or Television/Broadcast Production.
-AND-
EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of full-time equivalent experience performing media relations and public information dissemination for a public sector agency, large organization, or a news media outlet. Qualifying experience must include one or more of the following:

• Media and Public Information Dissemination: Experience preparing, writing, and editing official communications such as press releases, news stories, newsletters, and informational materials intended for public and media outlets
• Media Relations and Spokesperson Support: Experience responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews or press briefings, and serving as or supporting an organizational spokesperson
• Crisis and Sensitive Issue Communications: Experience supporting or managing communications related to emergencies, critical incidents, litigation-sensitive matters, or controversial public issues
• Executive and Interdepartmental Coordination: Experience working directly with executive leadership, legal counsel, or multiple departments to develop accurate, timely, and approved public messaging

NOTE: Qualifying degrees or coursework must be completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education. Degrees or coursework completed outside the U.S. must be accompanied with an evaluation report from a reputable credential evaluation service showing equivalency to degrees or coursework completed at a college or university accredited by any accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.(Must be attached if applicable.) For education evaluation services, refer to Naces
Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor's degree or higher in English, Journalism, Business or Public Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, Mass Communications, or Television/Broadcast Production from an accredited college or university
• Professional experience managing or supporting crisis communication efforts
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality press releases and official communications quickly and under extreme deadlines
• Experience working in breaking news situations involving sensitive and/or controversial media subjects
• A demonstrated understanding of news media operations, including editorial decision-making and newsroom workflows

Selection Process

Interested candidates must submit:

• Compelling cover letter;
• Comprehensive resume;
• Three (3) professional references.

Electronic version of all submittals is required to be sent to: ExecRecruit@hr.sbcounty.gov or candidates may complete the online application and upload the required documents.

Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established. This is a confidential process and will be handled accordingly throughout all stages of the recruitment process.

Questions should be addressed to: Aisha Weaver, HR Analyst III (Employment Manager) at
APPLICATIONS/RESUMES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL POSTION IS FILLED.
APPLY BY MARCH 6, 2026 FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION
If you require technical assistance, please click to review the Government Jobs , or contact their Toll-Free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer, or browser used to submit the application.
EEO/ADA: San Bernardino County is an and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant employer, committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants.
ADA Accommodation: If you have a disability and require accommodations in the testing process, submit the within one week of a recruitment filing deadline.
Veterans' Preference: Eligible veterans and their spouses or widows/widowers who are not current County employees may receive additional Veterans' Preference points. For details and instructions on how to request these points, please refer to the

For more important details, review the Applicant Information and County Employment Process guide.
Exempt Unit-Group B

San Bernardino County offers a range of benefit programs for employees and their eligible dependents. These include health, dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as a variety of other voluntary benefits. Programs and benefit amounts vary and are based on bargaining unit, family size, hire date, plan selection, and number of hours worked.

Please review the appropriate * for more information

Refer to the appropriate MOU, contact the County's Employee Benefits and Services Division at (909) 387-5787 or visit the for more detailed information.

*Retirement benefits subject to change.
01

Instructions: The information on the application and your responses to the following supplemental questions will be used to determine your qualifications for the position.

To be given consideration, experience listed on this questionnaire must also be listed and fully detailed in the work experience section of your application. Do not refer to a resume as they will not be reviewed.

• I have read the instructions above.

02

Education: Do you possess a Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Business or Public Administration, Marketing, Public Relations, Mass Communications, or Television/Broadcast Production from an accredited college or university? (I understand that if I do not possess a Bachelor's degree in one of the required fields, my application will not be considered further for this position.)

• Yes
• No

03

Indicate which of the following you have five (5) or more years of paid work experience: Select all that apply.

• Media and Public Information Dissemination: Experience preparing, writing, and editing official communications such as press releases, news stories, newsletters, and informational materials intended for public and media outlets
• Media Relations and Spokesperson Support: Experience responding to media inquiries, coordinating interviews or press briefings, and serving as or supporting an organizational spokesperson
• Crisis and Sensitive Issue Communications: Experience supporting or managing communications related to emergencies, critical incidents, litigation-sensitive matters, or controversial public issues
• Executive and Interdepartmental Coordination: Experience working directly with executive leadership, legal counsel, or multiple departments to develop accurate, timely, and approved public messaging
• None of the above

04

Qualifying Experience: Clearly describe your experience in the areas indicated in the above question. If you do not possess any related experience, indicate "N/A" in the answer field.
05

Writing Samples: The hiring authority requests a minimum of three writing samples of applicable professional work. Please attach samples to your application OR provide a website link to your professional portfolio OR LinkedIn page to view your writing samples. Indicate below that the samples have been attached to your application or provide the appropriate link.
06

Applicant Acknowledgement - Application Complete: Thank you for taking the time to complete this application and supplemental questionnaire. Please be sure to review all information provided prior to submitting it as you cannot update or revise it once submitted. Your submitted application will be reviewed and evaluated as is. Please do not refer to a resume or other documentation in lieu of completing the employment history section or responding to the supplemental questions; they will not be reviewed or considered.
Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email confirmation will be sent to the email address listed on your application. We recommend that you save and/or print these for your records. Please note: if you do not receive an onscreen confirmation and an email acknowledging our receipt of your application, we have not received your application.

• I acknowledge that I have reviewed my application and understand that I will not be able to update or revise any part of it once submitted.

07
**ATTENTION GMAIL USERS**

We have become aware of an increase in Gmail's spam filter sensitivity. Due to this change, it is possible that emails coming from San Bernardino County Human Resources may be marked as spam and will not make it into your Gmail inbox.

For your convenience, a step-by-step guide to create and apply filters within Gmail is available in the attached PDF. Once downloaded, follow the instructions so that you will receive future emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources.

Note: If you apply the filters and still do not receive emails from San Bernardino County Human Resources you can check your (Neogov) account inbox. All notifications will appear there.

• I understand

08

Applicant Acknowledgement - Notification via email: As part of our efforts to increase efficiency and promote conservation of resources, human resources uses email to communicate with applicants. Therefore, all future communications regarding this recruitment, including applicant status and testing notifications, will be made via email. Each applicant needs their own email address. We strongly encourage you, as an applicant, to ensure that the email address you have provided us with your application is current, secure, confidential, and readily accessible to you. Adjust Spam and/or other filters so that our emails are accepted. Please carefully read any notices that we send you and follow any instructions provided in a timely manner. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails (i.e., for the non-delivery of our emails or if you fail to check your e-mail on a timely basis).

• I acknowledge that I have read, understood, and agree to the above.

Required Question