Job Title: Public Information Specialist                                                              Wage/Hour Status Exempt 233 days

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer & Executive Director of Communications       Pay Grade: 101

Dept./School: Administration                                                                           Date Revised: 09/2022

Primary Purpose:

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is looking for a Public Information Specialist to manage public access to records requests. This position will manage the district’s responses to public information requests with support from the Chief Operations Officer and Executive Director of Communications. Additionally, this position will provide support for the Communications Department.

The purpose of the GCISD Department of Communications Services is to support the district’s mission, vision and core beliefs through a two-way communication approach with internal and external public that promotes the successes and accomplishments of the district and its students and staff; informs stakeholders of the objectives, policies, needs and procedures of the district; increases awareness of matters of state and national importance that affect the district; fosters community support and a positive image of the district and it’s schools and programs; and emphasizes the district’s commitment to continuous educational improvement and success for every student.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

The ideal candidate will preferably hold a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Business Management, Political Science, or similar field. 2+ years of experience in a professional office setting is required, and experience with a central administrative team or school district is preferred.

Special Knowledge/Skills:

• Experience with request management systems to manage requests and workflow required
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Working knowledge of privacy-related matters such as health information, personal information and student information
• Able to interpret policies
• Demonstrates the ability to reason and discern among competing rules or requests
• Ability to prioritize
• Strong ability to write and convey routine and complex information to a broad range of audiences
• Demonstrates the ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive records and sensitive information

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. Provide expedient and concise response to requests for information pursuant to the Public Information Act and other requests. Public Information Specialist will also review and redact documents produced in response to Public Information Act requests
2. Refine current systems, workflow and procedures
3. Work with the District’s COO and General Counsel on records requests that need an opinion from the Texas Attorney General’s Office
4. Keep District leaders aware of records requested
5. Maintain a comprehensive plan for organization of records database
6. Research complex requests and provide related information to the COO and General Counsel and district administrators 
7. Develop and conduct on-going cross training sessions for assigned staff related to PIAs
8. Assist with the gathering of information, documents, reports and physical evidence from various departments and campuses as necessary to respond to records requests
9. Manage centralized email inbox for the school district
10. Provide support to the Communications Department
11. Oversee brand management of official district logos and designs
12. Provide support to the Communications Department at Board of Trustees meetings
13. Model high standards of professional integrity and maintain confidentiality of privileged information

Working Conditions:

The Public Information Specialist position works in an office setting within the Administration Complex, often a fast-paced, bustling environment.

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

• Demonstrate patience, flexibility and professionalism when interacting with students, staff, parents, visitors, and members of the community
• Periods of sitting, standing, squatting, kneeling and other positions as necessary for photographing district news
• Periods of sitting as needed to complete writing projects
• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Work with frequent interruptions
• Occasional district-wide travel
• Ability to attend after-hours district and community events

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.