THIS IS A CITYWIDE RECRUITMENT FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY

This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the 1825 Principal Administrative Analyst II classification.

This is a Citywide Exam posting. Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam. If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification they may use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/

• Application Opening: April 6, 2026
• Application Deadline: April 20, 2026 (11:59pm PST)
• Compensation Range: $116,714 to $152,802 (Classification and Compensation Info)
• Recruitment ID: E2P-1314-164635
• FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is an Exempt to Permanent position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current exempt employees of the City and County of San Francisco, San Francisco Unified School District, or San Francisco City College, working within the posted classification

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Under general direction, develops, organizes, directs and evaluates a comprehensive program to inform the public of the activities and objectives of a city department.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

A 1314 Public Relations Officer is distinguished from a 1312 Public Information Officer by the scope and purpose of the public relations program and the extent of responsibility delegated to the incumbent, as well as supervision exercised. Class 1314 Public Relations Officer is delegated full responsibility for all aspects of the public relations activities of a department. The programs they are responsible for affect a large segment of the public or a specialized group who directly benefit from the services provided. An employee in this class is primarily concerned with promoting the product or service offered by the activity they represent, rather than only disseminating information.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May supervise staff in the preparation of public relations and marketing programs and/or projects.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties include but are not limited to the following:

1. Develops, carries out and interprets policy, methods and procedures relating to the conduct of a complete public relations program.

2. Creates and oversees the development and administration of public relations programs, campaigns and websites for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an effective public relations program, including multilingual and multicultural programs.

3. Analyzes the extent of public understanding and acceptance of the department's programs and activities through market research projects; this includes identifying specific demographic groupings for programs and activities, setting objectives, developing a detailed plan and strategy and analyzing results.

4. Prepares reports and a variety of written materials for internal and external audiences; writes press releases and advisories, maintains a current file of publicity and work-related information, media contacts, and other records essential to an effective public relations program.

5. Develops, prepares and implements marketing and promotional programs to increase support for and the use of department services through a variety of advertising and promotional strategies such as special events, press events and customer incentives.

6. Creates, develops, implements, and evaluates public information and public outreach programs, special events, projects and campaigns to keep staff, management, public, prospective users of services, interested organizations and trade groups informed of the department activities by conducting staff meetings, contacting individuals and groups and issuing information via the press, radio, television, magazines, trade publications, social media, podcasts and other communication media; responds to questions and requests from these various sources.

7. Plans, assigns and evaluates the work of subordinate staff in the preparation of public relations and marketing programs and projects.

8. Addresses civic organizations, neighborhood associations, trade groups and other organizations to explain the activities and services of the department. Organizes and convenes community meetings and focus groups and makes presentations.

9. Utilizes specialized computer software and online platforms to develop and administer websites and social media, and to create and edit videos, photos, and artwork for various publications.

10. Consults with and advises top management on the public relations implications of the department's activities. Meets with management individually and at staff meetings to advise of public relations implications on proposed actions, media strategies, communications and ongoing programs and activities.

11. Investigates complaints directed at the department's operation; recommends corrective action to preclude further adverse action or opinion; may prepare replies to such complaints.

12. Organizes tours and orientation sessions for the media, visiting dignitaries, trade representatives and the public.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of: Current best practices in communications, marketing and public outreach; methods and procedures used for developing, organizing, overseeing and evaluating public information, educational, marketing and promotional activities and programs of the department.

Ability or Skill to: Demonstrate resourcefulness and judgment in the analysis and solution of difficult and technical public relations problems; navigate through specialized software applications, computer programs and online platforms; plan, organize and coordinate programs and events while efficiently managing resources; evaluate programs and policies; implement best practices when feasible; interact courteously, effectively, and tactfully with others; speak effectively in public; communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing; write effectively for diverse audiences from a wide variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds; prepare complete, accurate, concise public relations data; supervise subordinates performing public relations work; and select the proper medium for the most effective news coverage.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

1. Current Category 16, 17, or 18 Exempt Employee in Class 1314 who has worked at least 2,080 hours in class 1314; AND
2. Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and
3. Experience: Four (4) years of verifiable full-time professional experience in editorial, newspaper, magazine, radio, television, public relations, public affairs, public information, social media, digital engagement, advertising, marketing, or similar work directly responsible for the preparation and dissemination of news and information in a variety of formats for internal and external audiences. This experience must include at least one (1) year of experience in planning and conducting a public relations, public information, or public education program.

License and Certification:

Education Substitution: Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

Experience Substitution: Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public relations, journalism, mass communications, marketing or a closely related field may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience. The degree may not substitute for the one (1) year of required public relations, public information, or public education program experience.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Nature of Work: Some positions may be subject to adverse weather conditions, walking long distances, and driving a vehicle to project sites and meetings. May require work on nights, weekends and/or holidays.

Verification of Education and Experience: Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/. 

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Special Requirements:

Special Qualifications including specialized knowledge, abilities, education, experience, or license may be established for individual positions.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to a lower score.

SELECTION PROCEDURES:

1. Job Application - Applicants must fully complete the job application. Information from resumes does not substitute for the information on the job application or preliminary questionnaire.
2. Preliminary Questionnaire – Training and Experience Assessment (100% Weight) - During the application process, candidates will be prompted to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire as part of the online employment process. Please answer the Preliminary Questionnaire carefully and thoroughly.  It will serve as the Training and Experience Assessment for this recruitment and will be used to determine your eligibility for this recruitment as well as your score and rank on the eligible list. Qualified applicants will be ranked on the eligible list based on the length of their exempt City service (in Category 16, 17, and/or 18) in the 1822 Administrative Analyst class, along with any additional qualifying points (e.g., promotive status), as outlined in Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules. All work history will be verified using official City records, which will serve as the final authority in determining qualifying service.

Eligible List/Score Report:

A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director. To find Departments which use this classification, please see the city’s Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.

Certification Rule: The certification rule for this selection process will be Rule of the List.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/. The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams 
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Where to Apply 

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. 

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Mahzer Rizalado at [email protected]. Please include the recruitment ID, E2P-1314-164635 in the subject line.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.