Public Relations Specialist II
Salary
$49,000.00 - $62,816.56 Annually
Location
83 - STATEWIDE, MS
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
9112-0134-20261007STW
Department
0134 - DRS-SPINAL CORD AND HEAD INJURY
Opening Date
10/07/2026
Closing Date
10/20/2026 11:59 PM Central
Agency Minimum Salary
$49,000.00
Agency Maximum Salary
$62,816.56
About the Agency
The Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) is a state agency dedicated to helping Mississippians with disabilities to live and work independently. MDRS serves through four major programs: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind (VRB), Office of Special Disability Programs (OSDP), and Disability Determination Services (DDS). Services also include support through Assistive Technology, the Office of Business Development, and much more. It is the mission of MDRS to provide appropriate and comprehensive services in a timely and effective manner. Programs and services assist individuals with disabilities to gain employment, retain employment, and to live independently. MDRS is always looking for qualified and passionate employees to help fulfill its mission. To inquire about this position, please email @ careers@mdrs.ms.gov.
About the Position
The Public Relations Specialist II supports the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) Traumatic Brain Injury/Spinal Cord Injury Trust Fund by coordinating public awareness, prevention, education, outreach, meeting, and data activities. Under the direction of the Trust Fund Coordinator, the employee develops accurate and accessible communications, assists with statewide initiatives and community events, maintains program records and performance data, and serves as a professional liaison with partners, grantees, council members, stakeholders, and the public. - Essential Functions include, but are not limited to: • Initiative coordination and outreach: Assist with planning, scheduling, promotion, implementation, documentation, and follow-up for Trust Fund initiatives, including PROM, Dont Fall Yall, Protect the Player, MS Boost, Pass It Forward, and Be Good to Your Head helmet distribution, as well as future prevention and awareness activities. • Public information and communications: Research, draft, edit, and distribute approved educational materials, news releases, talking points, presentations, web and social media content, event notices, correspondence, and stakeholder updates consistent with MDRS policies and accessibility standards. • Community events and material distribution: Coordinate event logistics, registration, supplies, displays, inventory, participant materials, referrals, and distribution records; represent the program at meetings, conferences, schools, community events, and partner activities as assigned. • Advisory Council support: Assist with Trust Fund Advisory Council meeting calendars, notices, agendas, packets, presentations, attendance, minutes, action-item tracking, member communication, records retention, and meeting logistics in accordance with agency procedures and applicable public-meeting requirements. • Data collection and reporting: Create and maintain accurate tracking tools; collect, validate, enter, reconcile, and summarize initiative, outreach, distribution, referral, participation, and outcome data; support dashboards, quarterly and annual reports, legislative or leadership requests, and continuous quality-improvement efforts. • Partner and grantee coordination: Communicate with Trust Fund subgrantees, vendors, schools, health and safety partners, state agencies, and community organizations; gather program updates and documentation; route questions and requests to the appropriate staff; and monitor assigned deliverables. • Administrative support: Support the Trust Fund Coordinator with calendars, correspondence, purchasing and travel documentation, meeting preparation, contact lists, files, reports, presentations, and other program priorities. Maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive information. • Other duties: Perform related work as assigned, including travel and work outside normal business hours for approved events or meetings.
What youll need to be Successful
This position requires excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and public-presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex program information in clear, audience-appropriate language; Knowledge of public relations, community outreach, media and social media practices; Strong organizational and project-coordination skills; ability to manage multiple deadlines, events, partners, records, and follow-up items with limited supervision; Ability to collect, quality-check, analyze, summarize, and present program data accurately using spreadsheets, databases, forms, and reporting tools; Proficiency with Microsoft 365; experience with content-development, design, survey, data-collection, and social-media tools is desirable; Ability to work respectfully with people with disabilities, survivors and families, advisory bodies, public officials, service providers, educators, and diverse communities; Sound judgment, attention to detail, discretion, adaptability, teamwork, and commitment to accessible and inclusive communication.
Preferred Qualifications
Typically requires a Bachelors degree and 1-2 years of relevant experience. - Hiring Agency Prefers: A Bachelor's degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Public Health, Public Administration, or a related field. Experience with public awareness, health promotion, disability/rehabilitation, grant-funded, or community programs; stakeholder coordination; data tracking and reporting; social media and presentations; and event or inventory coordination.
No available description
Health/Prescription Insurance
Eligible employees have the opportunity to participate in the state's health and prescription insurance program. Employees may select either single or family coverage with affordable co-payments. More detail can be found at Know Your Benefits.
Wellness Benefits
Employees are eligible for a wellness and health promotion program. This plan provides annual benefits for certain services with first-dollar coverage with no deductible.
Life Insurance
All eligible employees receive an actual term life insurance policy upon employment. The policy coverage is two times the employee's annual salary to a maximum of $100,000. More detail can be found at Life Insurance Choices.
Optional Insurances
Many agencies offer discounted premiums for dental, vision, and cancer insurance.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Many state agencies provide opportunity for employees to participate in pre-tax spending accounts. These accounts allow employees to withhold childcare expenses and unreimbursed medical expenses prior to application of state and federal taxes.
Paid Personal Leave and Sick Leave
Full-time employees receive paid time off for personal needs and for sick leave. Leave begins accruing after one month of employment and may be used as it is accrued. Employees earn approximately 18 days of personal leave annually and 12 days of sick leave annually.
Military Leave
In accordance with federal law, all employees serving in the armed forces or the military reserves are entitled to 15 days per year for military training.
Holidays
Employees receive up to 10 paid holidays to enjoy many of our nation's celebrations with family and friends.
Retirement Programs
The State of Mississippi provides all its employees a Defined Benefit/Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Employees become vested in the State's retirement system after 8 years of employment. Both you and your employing agency contribute toward your retirement. More detailed information regarding the State's retirement program can be found at http://www.pers.state.ms.us
Deferred Compensation
State agencies offer several opportunities for their employees to participate in a deferred compensation voluntary retirement savings plan. More information can be found at Deferred Compensation.
State Credit Union
All state employees are eligible to participate in the Mississippi Public Employees' Credit Union. This organization offers state employees special savings and borrowing plans. For more information about this program, call 601.948.8191.
Tuition Reimbursement
Many state agencies provide opportunities for their employees to achieve higher education through tuition reimbursement. Common programs include medical and nursing fields, accounting, and business/administrative fields.
Career Development and Training
The Mississippi State Personnel Board offers several management and administrative certification programs, as well as professional development courses to enhance employee value to the agency. Individual agencies also offer technical training and allow membership in professional organizations to employees in their specific fields of employment.
Promotional Opportunities
Employees who have completed 6 or more months of service are eligible for promotional opportunities within state government employment. Minimum qualifications must be met.
Career Ladders
Many job classifications provide career-ladder opportunities based upon attainment of competencies. These career ladders can increase an individual's salary, provided funds are available within the agency.
01
How many years of experience do you have? (Refer to the job posting for an explanation of related experience.)
02
What is the highest level of education (or semester hours of college) you have completed from an accredited four-year college or university?
Required Question
Employer State of Mississippi
Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201
Phone 601-359-1406
601-359-1406
| Location | MS |
| Salary | $49,000–$62,816.56 Per Year |
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