About This Job

Office of Chief of Staff-Communications

Job Focus Area

At the Louisiana Department of Education, our mission is to ensure equity and excellence for every student. Our Division of Communications makes that mission visible — translating complex policy into clear, accessible information that families, educators, and the public can understand, trust, and act on.

We are looking for a Public Information Officer 2 to serve as a Communications Specialist within the Division of Communications, supporting the Office of Early Childhood and program offices across the agency. In this role, you will produce public-facing content across newsletters, social media, the LDOE website, and event-related communications keeping our message clear, accurate, accessible, and consistent. You will partner closely with the Office of Early Childhood on a core programmatic partnership, helping develop content, newsletters, and ongoing website updates, and you will support public engagement tools like the LDOE call center and the Ask LDOE Zendesk portal. Success in this role means strong writing and editing, an eye for plain language and accessibility, comfort with digital content tools, and a collaborative, service-minded approach. If you enjoy turning technical information into content people can actually use and want your work to reach families and educators statewide, this is an exciting opportunity to make an impact.

Applicants With The Following Experience Are Encouraged To Apply:

Experience producing public-facing communications such as newsletters, press releases, talking points, memos, and FAQs
Strong plain-language writing and editing skills, including translating technical or policy content for public and educator audiences
Experience managing organizational social media and creating platform-appropriate content
Proficiency with website content management systems and applying web accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG)
Experience creating basic graphics, photos, and short video clips for digital outreach
Familiarity with customer-support or public-engagement tools (e.g., a call center or help-desk/ticketing platform such as Zendesk)
Proficiency with Google Workspace (Google Suite) and Microsoft Office
Proficiency with Constant Contact
Experience supporting communications in a government, education, or other public-sector environment

Candidates with the following skills and competencies are encouraged to apply:

Accepting Direction: The ability to be open and willing to follow guidance or instructions.
Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
Thinking Critically: The ability to analyze information objectively, identify connections across sources, and form logical, well-supported conclusions.
Driving Results: The ability to set and pursue goals, maintain focus amid competing demands, and deliver results.
Thinking Strategically: The ability to anticipate trends, understand context, and align actions with long-term priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Four years of experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, content creation, social media management, or graphic design; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field plus one year of experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, content creation, social media management, or graphic design; OR

A bachelor's degree plus one year of experience in public relations, journalism, marketing, content creation, social media management, or graphic design; OR

An advanced degree in public relations, marketing, communications, journalism, or English.

Experience Substitution:

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties And Other Information

As a Public Information Officer 2, you will be a key voice connecting LDOE with the families, educators, and communities we serve. In this role, you will:

Draft, edit, and distribute public-facing content — newsletters (including the monthly Early Childhood Connections newsletter), press releases, talking points, memos, FAQs, and internal updates
Create and update LDOE website content, ensuring it is clear, accurate, accessible (WCAG and LDOE standards), and well-organized
Develop, schedule, and publish social media content aligned with agency priorities, and monitor channels and engagement
Translate technical or policy content into accessible, plain-language materials for public and educator audiences
Partner with the Office of Early Childhood to identify messaging gaps and develop proactive outreach strategies
Provide support for the LDOE call center and the Ask LDOE Zendesk portal during high-volume periods, and summarize inquiry trends for leadership
Create basic graphics, photos, and short video clips for digital outreach
Coordinate with program offices, IT, and Communications leadership to keep content accurate, consistent, and on-brand
Perform routine website audits to identify outdated or missing content and post time-sensitive updates
Track and report on engagement metrics, flagging emerging topics or misinformation

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational, Promotional, or Job Appointment. The person hired for this position is expected to regularly report to the Baton Rouge office. Current permanent classified state employees may be required to accept a probationary appointment, if selected.

Work Schedule: Work hours are Monday - Friday. Work hours will be determined.

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

Note regarding the advertised pay range: The maximum amounts listed are the maximum salary amounts a person can make over their career and not the maximum amount we are allowed to pay a new hire.

Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Louisiana Department of Education – Human Resources

PO Box 94064

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

ldoejobs@la.gov

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Mardi Gras,
Good Friday,
Memorial Day,
Independence Day,
Labor Day,
Veteran's Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement – State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others

01

I understand that information on this application may be subject to investigation and verification and that any misrepresentation or material omission, including on my responses to supplemental questions, may cause my application to be rejected, my name to be removed from the eligible register, and/or subject me to disqualification from future job opportunities and/or dismissal from state service.

02

Do you have experience writing and editing public-facing communications such as newsletters, press releases, talking points, or FAQs?

03

If you answered YES to the previous question, please describe your experience/knowledge and reference any work experience that is included in your application (not resume) that provided you with this experience. If you answered NO, enter "N/A".

04

Do you have experience creating and managing content for social media platforms on behalf of an organization?

05

If you answered YES to the previous question, please describe your experience/knowledge and reference any work experience that is included in your application (not resume) that provided you with this experience. If you answered NO, enter "N/A".

06

Do you have experience updating website content using a content management system (CMS) and applying web accessibility standards such as WCAG?

07

If you answered YES to the previous question, please describe your experience/knowledge and reference any work experience that is included in your application (not resume) that provided you with this experience. If you answered NO, enter "N/A".

08

Do you have experience translating technical or policy information into plain-language materials for general or educator audiences?

09

If you answered YES to the previous question, please describe your experience/knowledge and reference any work experience that is included in your application (not resume) that provided you with this experience. If you answered NO, enter "N/A".

10

Do you have experience using Google Workspace (Google Suite) and Microsoft Office to produce and manage content?

11

If you answered YES to the previous question, please describe your experience/knowledge and reference any work experience that is included in your application (not resume) that provided you with this experience. If you answered NO, enter "N/A".

12

ADi: Accepting Direction - How well do you accept guidance, follow instructions, and adjust when given feedback?

I resist direction, ignore feedback, and need reminders to complete tasks
I follow direction with reminders and often need clarification or support.
I follow direction reliably, adjust to feedback, and complete tasks on time.
I adapt quickly, follow through, and help others adjust as needed.

13

ADi: Accepting Direction - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

14

DR: Driving Results - How well do you set goals, stay focused, and follow through—especially when faced with challenges or competing demands?

I struggle to set direction, miss deadlines, avoid challenges, or resist feedback.
I set basic goals, make some progress, and accept feedback when supported.
I set clear goals, stay focused, take ownership of results, and use feedback to improve.
set bold goals, lead progress, push through setbacks, and help others learn from challenges.

15

DR: Driving Results - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

16

TCr: Thinking Critically - How do you analyze information and draw meaningful conclusions from it?

I miss key details or oversimplify information, and my conclusions may not be based on evidence.
I try to analyze information, but I may overlook the relevance or credibility of my sources.
I analyze key information, consider the evidence, and form logical conclusions based on credible sources.
I uncover deeper insights by connecting different sources, questioning assumptions, and identifying patterns.

17

TCr: Thinking Critically - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.

18

Are You a Current Employee Of The Louisiana Department Of Education? Please Note - Teachers And Other Employees Of The School System Are NOT Considered Employees Of The LA Department Of Education:

Yes
No
Required Question

State of Louisiana

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