Description
Help us shape the future of water education in Orange County!
Mesa Water District is making waves in the world of education! We've recently launched the Mesa Water Education Center, the first of its kind in Orange County, and we’re looking for a dynamic and driven Public Affairs Specialist to lead the charge in growing this innovative program.
This is a unique opportunity to take full ownership of a brand new initiative and build something impactful from the ground up. If you’re passionate about education, community outreach, and making learning fun, we want to hear from you!
What You’ll Do:
•Be the face of the Education Center and lead year-round tours, field trips, and educational programming.
•Develop and grow partnerships with schools, community organizations, and industry stakeholders.
•Promote the Center to increase awareness and visitor engagement across Orange County.
•Troubleshoot challenges and continuously improve the visitor experience.
•Help establish the Education Center as the go-to destination for water education in the region.
•You’ll be joining a supportive and energetic team (seriously, we’re the funnest team at Mesa Water!) where creativity and collaboration are encouraged every day.
Why Work For Us?
•Competitive Pay & Benefits - We offer strong compensation and benefits packages (including $2,400/mo. to spend on benefits) that are regularly evaluated to stay ahead of industry standards.
•Supportive Work Culture - At Mesa Water, we foster a fun, collaborative environment where meaningful relationships and teamwork thrive.
•Employee-Centered Environment - Our organization-wide engagement program reflects our deep commitment to keeping employees motivated, supported, and excited about their work.
•Unique & Exciting Work - Step into a rare opportunity to bring a children’s water education curriculum to life at Orange County’s first dedicated water education center. You’ll take ownership of program delivery and community engagement — introducing young learners to the importance of water through interactive, hands-on experiences. You’ll take ownership of the program’s implementation and growth — engaging with schools, community partners, and families to deliver inspiring, hands-on learning experiences. If you’re passionate about environmental education and want to be part of a groundbreaking initiative, this is your chance to make a lasting impact and shape the future of water education for the next generation.
•Innovation - At Mesa Water, innovation is at the core of everything we do. We value creativity and forward thinking, especially within the Public Affairs team. This role encourages a growth mindset and offers the chance to develop and implement fresh ideas that enhance our education strategy and uphold our reputation as a leading water agency.
•Career Development - The Public Affairs department is deeply committed to professional growth. Through mentorship, access to industry events, conferences, and targeted training, the selected candidate will have ample opportunities to refine their skills, discover new strengths, and build a strong foundation for long-term career success.
What Are We Looking For?
•Experience running an educational program or teaching
•Experience with public-sector communications programs
•Experience with the following software platforms:
+ Adobe Creative Suite
+ Canva
+ Email marketing platforms
+ Social listening tools
•Ability to command a crowd / public speaking
•Experience working with children
•Ability to build relationships with community members, draw visitors into the Education Center and establish consistent visits
•Ability to problem solve independently to ensure successful tours
•Innovation and forward-thinking approach to continuous development
•Someone who will bring their personality to their job and have fun with their work :-)
Interested candidates must submit their applications by 11:59 PM on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Qualified candidates will be invited to participate in a selection process that may consist of a skills assessment and interview panels.
The Position
This is the fully qualified journey-level administrative classification in the Public Affairs Specialist series in the Public Affairs Department. Position requires specialized knowledge of integrated marketing communications campaigns, and a basic understanding of water and the ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing. Work is exercised with independent initiative, discretion, and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Incumbents are expected to perform a full range of duties with instruction or assistance. Work requires collaboration, creativity, diplomacy, resourcefulness, and autonomy to accomplish goals and objectives. This class is distinguished from the Senior Public Affairs Specialist in that the latter provides technical and functional direction to the Public Affairs Specialist and is responsible for the more complex work, requiring more years of experience and expertise.
Public Affairs Department Organizational Structure
Representative Duties
•Conducts outreach to local youth and adult educational institutions to secure bookings (e.g., field trips, workshops, classes, tours, camps, etc.), at the Mesa Water Education Center, co-located at the Mesa Water Reliability Facility.
•Leads field trips, tours, and special events, including pre- and post-event logistics coordination.
•Oversees audio/visual displays and interactive exhibits at the Mesa Water Education Center and coordinates regular and emergency maintenance.
•Coordinates with the Senior Public Affairs Specialist and Public Affairs Specialist to develop collateral materials, website and social media content, draft newsletter articles and conduct media relations.
•Represents Mesa Water District to promote education center programs and effectively solicit program and event participants.
•Networks and maintains positive relationships with local school districts, agencies, organizations, and community groups regarding program offerings and coordination of services to promote the education center use.
•Recruits and maintains list of instructors, educators and speakers, conducts program evaluations and produces various reports.
•Provides oversight of education center bookings and events, including opening, closing, and securing the facility; supervises use of the space, assists with setup, and monitors materials, supplies, and equipment levels.
•Assists in preparing and presenting written and oral information to program participants, elected officials, school officials and community groups regarding program services and events.
•Attends and promotes educational outreach events.
•Develops, monitors, and recommends program budget revenues and expenditures, and procures equipment and supplies.
•Collaborates and provides guidance to consultants working on various education center projects.
•Monitors and measures education center programming and adjusts as needed.
•Performs related duties as assigned.
Minimum & Desired Qualifications
•Education: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in communications, public relations, journalism, English, or a related field.
•Experience: Three (3) years of consecutive and increasingly responsible experience in communications, marketing, event coordination and management, outreach, educational program administration or public relations profession.
•Teaching degree and/or credential is highly desirable.
Knowledge of:
•Public relations, community outreach, education, and integrated marketing communications; methods and techniques used to develop communications for internal and external audiences; general operational characteristics, services, and activities of the functions, programs, and operations of a public agency.
•Procedures for planning, implementing, and maintaining a variety of educational, recreation and leisure activities and programs for youth and adults.
•Principles and practices of research, writing, editing, and preparing a variety of informational publications, reports, speeches, bulletins, press releases, feature stories, scripts, and other materials; methods and techniques of photography and photo editing; principles and practices of social media and website design and editing.
•Methods and techniques of public relations and proper phone etiquette.
•Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
•Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and District staff.
•The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
•Working knowledge of Associated Press Stylebook.
•Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Ability To:
•Perform a full range of routine administrative and programmatic work in support of District communications and campaigns, involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative; perform a variety of administrative duties of a general or specialized nature; prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.
•Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for providing communications services. Identify target audiences and develop pertinent messages. Provide clear direction to other staff and consultants to achieve intended project results.
•Participate in the preparation of a variety of administrative and financial reports, and other written public relations related materials.
•Maintain sensitive and confidential information.
•Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
•Effectively represent the department and District in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional, and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
•Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
•Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
•Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
•Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
•Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Holidays – Mesa Water provides full-time employees with 107 holiday hours per year, comprised of twelve observed holidays (96 hours) and (11) floating holiday hours.
Vacation – Employees accrue between eighty-eight (88) and one hundred and sixty (160) hours annually, depending on tenure. Accrued time is available to use after six months.
Sick Leave – Employees accrue ninety-six (96) hours per year, with no maximum accrual cap.
Retirement – Mesa Water employees participate in CalPERS retirement.
Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired employees who are new CalPERS members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at age 62 defined benefit plan with a three-year final compensation in accordance with PEPRA. New members will be required to pay 8.25% of pension reportable salary as their full share of their member contribution.
An employee who is a "classic" member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 55 benefit formula with one-year final compensation. Effective 1/6/17, employees pay 7.0% of the employee contribution to CalPERS.
The District participates in Social Security. Please contact Human Resources if you have more questions.
Cafeteria Plan Benefits – Employees receive a $2,400 “Flex Credit” allocation per month to be used towards health benefits including medical, dental and vision. Flex credits not used towards benefits may be taken as additional taxable non-“Persable” income.
Deferred Compensation – A voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan (Section 457) is available to employees through Empower Retirement. Eligible employees may receive dollar for dollar employer match up to 3.5% of salary per calendar year.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – Employees may participate in either or both of Mesa Water's Section 125 plan flexible spending accounts: Dependent Care Reimbursement (eligible upon hire) and Medical Expense Reimbursement (after one-year).
Life Insurance – Full-time employees are covered by $200,000 in group term life insurance paid by District (benefit decreases at age 65).
Long Term Disability (LTD) – Full-time employees receive District-paid LTD insurance coverage equal to 2/3 of salary ($12,000 maximum monthly benefit) after a 90-day waiting period.
Short-Term Disability – The District participates in State Disability Insurance (SDI).
Automobile Allowance – Management employees receive an Automobile Allowance per month.
9/80 Work Schedule – Employees are offered a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.
Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Incentives
Salary Increases – Based on performance, new Mesa Water employees are eligible for merit step increases at 6-months and 12-months, and annually thereafter.
Costa Mesa, CA
full_time
$86,070-$118,622
