Description
The Public Affairs Department is expanding, and we’re excited to welcome a new Public Affairs Specialist to our dynamic (& self-proclaimed funnest) team!
In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our community engagement efforts — planning and coordinating events, developing impactful outreach and marketing campaigns, and helping to tell our story across multiple platforms. You’ll manage sponsorships and contributions programs, craft compelling social media content, design eye-catching graphics, and support media relations with press materials and messaging.
If you're a creative communicator who thrives on collaboration and wants to make a difference in the community, we’d love to hear from you!
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.
•Diverse and Engaging Work - Given the smaller size of our agency, Mesa Water offers a unique opportunity for this individual to contribute to a broad range of communications initiatives across multiple platforms. Rather than being limited to a single focus area, this role provides a comprehensive and hands-on experience in public affairs.
•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 communications 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 We're Looking For?
•Experience working on public sector communications programs
•Experience working with elected officials
•Experience with the following software platforms:
+ Adobe Creative Suite
+ Canva
+ Email marketing platforms
+ Social listening tools
•Strong creative storytelling experience
•Orange County media contacts
•Ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities
•Photography & videography skills
•Serve as a professional ambassador for the District
•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
•Coordinates Public Affairs Department event management of community engagement initiatives, which includes activities such as: creation of calendar of public outreach events, work plans, coordinates event logistics, secures location, obtains required inventory, communicates with stakeholders, prepares board event invite, and secures event staffing; represents the District and the Public Affairs Department to outside agencies, organizations, and the public through implementation of events.
•Plans, coordinates, and implements community outreach and marketing programs/projects (e.g., Welcome Program, Community Asset Branding, Customer Survey); prepares staff reports for Board approval of program; coordinates program implementation logistics (obtaining appropriate resources, prototypes, etc.); evaluates program success and adjusts accordingly.
•Coordinates and implements Districts’ Sponsorships and Contributions programs; assists with contract maintenance, creates purchase orders for payment; drafts and/or edits, researches, writes, formats, designs, and proofreads a wide variety of reports (including staff reports), types or enters data from rough draft or verbal instruction; independently composes correspondence and other written materials related to the Public Affairs Department.
•Assists in planning, developing and executing social media campaigns and works with vendor to implement appropriate website updates as needed; develops and implements strategic digital content plans, ad buys and calendars, and collaborates with stakeholders across the District on content development; tracks the analytics of social media and digital marketing plans to identify trends.
•Assists in producing artwork, graphics, and various digital formats for newsletters, news releases, billing inserts, brochures, photo displays, slide show, and video productions.
•Oversees promotional item inventory and tracking, including building and maintaining relationships with vendors.
•Creates and facilitates requests for proposals for long-term professional services and scope of work/contracts for smaller scale services; collaborates with internal staff and external stakeholders to create necessary materials for proposals.
•Assists with media outreach/tracking and the preparation of press releases, press kits, media clips, and other materials for press events as needed, and development of media outreach plans; assists in the development and implementation of communication and marketing plans for external audiences; assists in developing talking points and speeches for community events.
•Conducts research for various topics and projects critical to the Public Affairs Department and District; creates written material for reports, articles, other documentation for public viewing, and internal newsletter; Coordinates photographic services for District events, projects, and employee events.
•Assists in the preparation and administration of the department’s budget; submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
•Assists in providing direction to interns.
•Performs related duties as required.
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.
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
