POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Public Relations Specialist, West Plains
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1249
GRADE 42
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of University Communications
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Director of University Communications
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Public Relations Specialist gathers and disseminates Missouri State University
– West Plains news to the news media and helps develop and implement public relations
activities to promote the various aspects of the University. The Public Relations
Specialist also contributes to the production of various print and online materials.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or
a related area is required.
Experience: Either one year of relevant professional public relations writing experience
or a minimum of three semesters experience in a part-time position in a similar professional
setting is required. Experience working in college or university public relations
office is preferred.
Skills: Must possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills;
proven ability to write quickly and clearly. Organizational and planning skills are
required. Knowledge of word processing is required. Experience in Web Page maintenance
preferred.
Other: The scope of the job requires some evening and weekend work and occasional
traveling.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Promotes a positive image of the Missouri State University – West Plains by preparing
and disseminating news stories to area news media. Stories include feature articles
on academic programs and student and faculty/staff achievement.
2. Helps promote the Missouri State University – West Plains to alumni, donor and
community audiences by preparing news releases for the development office on friend-raising
events, major donations and feature stories for the alumni newsletter.
3. Supports the Grizzly Athletic program and the University/Community Programs by
developing and disseminating a wide variety of news stories focusing on the basketball,
volleyball, booster club and University/Community Programs events throughout the year.
4. Expands the public’s perception of Missouri State University – West Plains by developing
articles for the local newspaper.
5. Communicates student successes by distributing news stories announcing graduates,
scholarship recipients, and Chancellor’s List and Dean’s List recipients.
6. Promotes internal communication by developing the monthly Campus Connection and
weekly Take Note email messages to West Plains faculty and staff.
7. Assists with developing and editing copy for publications, other communications
pieces and electronic media.
8. Provides quality photographs for Missouri State University – West Plains publications
by taking campus photographs, as needed.
9. Facilitates the operation of the Office of University Communications by helping
to train and supervise student employees and editing and approving the work of student
staff.
10. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, maintaining
a current knowledge of desktop publishing, developing professional contacts with colleagues,
attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses
as required by the designated supervisor.
11. Contributes to the overall success of the department by performing other essential
duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Public Relations Specialist, West Plains is supervised by the Director of University
Communications, accepts input from client departments, and assists in supervising
student employees.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JANUARY 2025
JOB FAMILY 4
Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery
Level 2.0 - 900 Points: Entry-level professional knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, and methods of non-technical administrative and managerial functions. Knowledge permits the employee to carry out basic recurring tasks and routine portions of assignments or to carry out less demanding professional elements of assignments in areas including communications, social sciences, art and design, education, and related functions while gaining in familiarity with the University's policies and goals, business practices and/or accounting systems. This level of knowledge permits the employee to schedule and carry out the steps of a limited operation or project to complete stages of a multi-phase project. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in an unspecified field or a specific background in a non-technical area. Knowledge requirements may also include a limited amount of related work experience.
Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility
Level 1.0 - 50 Points: Typically, little, if any, supervision of others is required. The job may require irregular but occasional responsibility to direct the work of student workers and/or temporary or part-time workers. The nature of supervision is largely confined to assigning tasks to others and does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities. The amount of time spent on directing the work of others is normally a small portion of total work time.
Factor 3: Interactions with Others
Level 3.0 - 250 Points: The purpose of interactions is to advise or counsel others to solve recurring and structured problems, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees who are working toward common goals in situations where relationships are generally cooperative. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public. These types of interactions require normal interpersonal skills.
Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines
Level 2.0 - 250 Points: The employee carries out a group of procedures using the general methods and desired results indicated by the supervisor. Typically, standard operating procedures, handbooks, and/or reference manuals exist for most procedures, but the employee must select from the most appropriate of several guidelines and make minor adjustments to methods. Unforeseen situations are normally referred to others for resolution. Assignments are related in function and objective, but processes, procedures, or software varies from one assignment to another. Based on the assignment, the employee uses diverse, but conventional, methods, techniques, or approaches. Employees in jobs at this level may perform work that is moderately complex, but normally performed within a fairly narrow and specific functional area.
Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility
Level 2.0 - 400 Points: Work involves services including collecting, processing, and disseminating information and providing advice to others. Work activities may be complex and likely affect the accuracy, reliability, or acceptability of further processes or services to the extent that others rely on the advice given in order to make decisions. Work activities typically affect the efficiency of the department but have relatively minor effects on operations within the cost center. Individuals in jobs at this level are often responsible for actively documenting, monitoring, and controlling expenditures. Incumbents may recommend minor expenditures, but have no substantive authority over budgets.
