Yamhill County has one regular, full-time position for a Deputy County Administrator Public Information Officer/Labor Relations to assist the County Administrator in managing operations of the County including budget management, administrative oversight, supervision, and policy development. Serves as County’s Public Information Officer (PIO) and coordinates public information and intergovernmental relations by disseminating information and promoting communication between the County and the media, business groups, citizen groups and the public. This position has an external operational focus and will work closely with the County Administrator and Board of County Commissioners to identify and disseminate information. Provides direct supervision of Human Resources Division and represents County in administering agreements reached with employee organizations, preparing Memorandums of Understanding, supplemental agreements, and facilitating labor management meetings. Working with the Human Resources Director, serves as the initial resource for labor organization representatives for contract negotiations, dispute resolution, and meetings.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Works under general supervision of the County Administrator with considerable independent judgement.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Supervises division managers, program managers, staff, and volunteers as assigned by County Administrator. May serve as administrative officer of the County to exercise and perform the County Administrator's powers and duties during the County Administrator's temporary absence or disability.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF POSITIONS ASSIGNED TO THIS CLASSIFICATION. DEPENDING ON ASSIGNMENT, THE EMPLOYEE MAY PERFORM A COMBINATION OF SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DUTIES:

- Provides planning, coordination, policy development, and organizational oversight of administrative services divisions including direct supervision of division managers.
Interprets department policies and procedures.
- Participates in establishing work methods and modifying policies and procedures.
- Represents county administration at department, Board of Commissioner (Board), committee, and external agency or service partner meetings.
- Serves as a resource for departments regarding administrative and personnel policies and procedures.
- Evaluates plans, performance, and overall effectiveness of assigned operations.
- Conducts research and develops policy recommendations regarding a variety of County programs and services; develops related strategies and objectives as assigned.
- Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with County departments and divisions, and/or other jurisdictions related to media issues.
- Consults with County departments and divisions in the development of new communications and outreach activities, including assisting departments or divisions in development of marketing programs.
- Provides advice on messaging of County projects to align department goals and objectives with countywide standards.
- Establishes and maintains positive relations with media by providing accurate and timely information about the County. Monitor and report on media stories involving the County. Provides public and media relations advice to County staff, as well as educate and assist County personnel in working effectively with the media.
- Attends Board of County Commissioners meetings and track Board’s strategic priorities and initiatives and provide oversight of messaging for cross-departmental initiatives.
- Prepares and distribute informational materials such as media releases, fact sheets, annual reports, speeches, public records request responses, or public service announcements. Review, coordinate and disseminate internal and/or external County communications.
- Working in close coordination with departments, acts as public information officer for the County during internal and/or external emergency and non-emergency situations.
- Develops and maintains cooperative working relationships with union representatives, County leadership and departmental managers.
- Interprets, explains, and applies collect bargaining contract language, administrative rules, processes, procedures, and federal, state, and local laws, rulings, and policies.
- Confers with employee union organizations, and departmental management personnel to clarify the labor relations policies of the County and to provide information regarding the rights and obligations of the parties concerned and the recourse available to them.
- Participates in contract negotiations.
- Undertakes special projects as assigned.
- Serves as Acting County Administrator in the Administrator’s absence (as assigned).
- Performs other duties as assigned.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this classification with or without accommodation.

The Benefits

Yamhill County offers generous employee benefits:

- 15 paid holidays per year.
- 19.5 days of Flexible Earned Time (FET) accrual in the first year (based on an 8-hr day).
- PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) - 100% employer funded contributions.
- Full health benefit offerings with employee premiums starting as low as $58.82/month for 2024 to2025 plan year. *
* Benefits fall under the AFCSME Collective Bargaining Agreement (7/1/2023 – 6/30/2026). *

KNOWLEDGE OF:

- Practices, principles, and procedures of public administration including governmental, procurement, financial management, and labor relations.
- Principles and practices of organization, administration, information technology, fund budgeting, and personnel administration.
- Principles and techniques of public relations, including methods and techniques of broadcast and print media.
- Organization and operation of County and other levels of government.
- Community organizations and service providers involved in the delivery of public service programs.
- Principles of local government processes.
- Supervisory and management principles and practices.
- Principles and practices of governmental fiscal management including budget preparation, expenditure control, grant writing, and record keeping.
- Federal, state, and local legislation pertaining to labor relations and personnel matters.
- Principles, practices and techniques of public sector labor relations, collective bargaining, dispute resolution and strategic planning.
- Human resources management principles, concepts, regulations, and practices.
- English grammar and composition.

SKILL IN:
- Developing and maintaining professional relationships, coaching, and team building.
- Communicating effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Preparing and delivering written and oral presentations to individuals, small groups, and large audiences.
- Identifying and responding to politically sensitive issues and questions.
- Generating positive and fair media coverage of County issues even during incidents of negative exposure.
- Working effectively with County personnel and other jurisdictions to develop strategies to deal with changing informational needs and desires of the community and media.
- Negotiating and exchanging ideas, information, and opinions with others to formulate policies and programs and/or arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions, or solutions.
- Identifying administrative needs and setting and organizing objectives to accomplish relevant results.
- Delegating responsibility.
- Training and evaluating subordinate performance.
- Managing and coordinating services in a diverse and decentralized environment.
- Anticipating, planning, organizing, and managing change.

ABILITY TO:
- Develop and implement policies and procedures.
- Prepare clear and concise reports, press releases, and other written communications.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, subordinates and other county employees, representatives of other governmental agencies, employee representatives, and the general public.
- Plan, organize, and supervise work of subordinates.
- Interact effectively with the Board.
- Analyze complex data, problems, situations, practices, or procedures to define the problem or objective to identify relevant concerns or factors and facilitate logical and objective conclusions.
- Translate program needs into budget form.
- Interpret, explain, and apply collect bargaining contract language administrative rules, processes, procedures, and federal, state, and local laws, rulings, and policies.
- Plan, organize, and oversee assigned work programs and analyze/evaluate operations and develop and implement corrective action to resolve problems.
- Operate in the Microsoft Windows environment inclusive of using Excel, database management, and record keeping programs.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, communications, human resources, or related degree from an accredited university. A minimum of five years of department director/manager-level experience in local government, private sector or other organizations of similar size and complexity to Yamhill County. Five years of experience in public relations, communications, or related field required, with proven supervisory experience preferred. A satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the required skills, knowledge, and ability may be considered. Public sector experience is preferred.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to secure and maintain a driver’s license valid in the state of Oregon, or an acceptable alternative means of transportation. May be required to drive a County vehicle. Employees authorized to operate a private vehicle on County business are required to carry a valid driver’s license and liability insurance minimums as outlined in ORS 806.070.

May be subject to successful completion of a background check.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS SUMMARY:
This position works in the community and an office environment, and uses a computer, telephone and other office equipment as needed to perform duties. The noise level in the work environment is typically that of an office. Work also involves travel within the county and to other locations for meetings. Frequent interruptions may be encountered throughout the workday.

The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 20 pounds occasionally.

Contact with the public in office environments may risk exposure to irrational/hostile behavior, contagious diseases, or contact with domestic animals.

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by an employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned, to ensure workload coverage. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. This job description does NOT constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the organizational needs and requirements of the job change.

The job specification requirements stated are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform this job successfully. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may substitute for the above so that the employee will possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.