Summary

Description

About FPPA

The Fire and Police Pension Association was created by legislative mandate in the 1980’s. Our leadership team guides us in fulfilling our mission, vision and values while achieving our strategic objectives. We administer a statewide multiple employer public employee retirement system providing defined benefit plan coverage as well as death and disability coverage for police officers and firefighters throughout the State of Colorado.

We are located in Denver, CO. We work hard and have a culture that supports staff to establish a well‐balanced relationship between their personal needs and work commitments.

Position Summary

The Public Affairs Officer (PAO) reports directly to the Executive Director and leads FPPA’s public relations and government affairs strategy. The PAO works collaboratively across the organization to ensure proactive, accurate and transparent information about FPPA’s work, the decisions it makes and the reasons behind them, are transmitted to various stakeholders, legislative contacts, and media outlets as appropriate. The PAO monitors and analyzes legislative, regulatory and other public policy developments affecting FPPA and helps leadership assess their potential operational, financial and stakeholder impacts. The PAO also designs and maintains listening channels, so stakeholder voices reach FPPA leadership and the Board.

The PAO may serve as an official spokesperson at the direction of the Executive Director. The PAO works closely with FPPA’s lobbyists, legal counsel and executive team to develop government affairs strategies, coordinate legislative outreach and communications, and support FPPA’s engagement with elected officials, public agencies and stakeholder organizations. The PAO leads crisis and issues communications and may assist in the coordination of Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) responses with internal staff. The PAO collaborates with FPPA’s Content and Publications team to carry out strategies. At the direction of the Executive Director, the PAO may provide reports to the Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

Endpoint Management & Identity

Develop, carry out and evaluate a short- and long-term public relations strategy that advances FPPA’s mission, strengthens trust and supports transparency.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Director and executive team on communications risks, opportunities, emerging issues and public messaging.
Translate complex pension, actuarial, investment and policy topics into clear, accurate and accessible messages for different audiences.
Set communications protocols and key messages.

Spokesperson and Media Relations

Serve as an official FPPA spokesperson at the direction of the Executive Director, and handle media inquiries, interviews and public statements.

Build working relationships with reporters, editors and other media professionals across Colorado and the public pension field.

Prepare press releases, statements, talking points, fact sheets and speeches. Provide media training and coaching to executives and subject-matter experts.

Monitor media coverage, public sentiment and industry developments to inform strategy and anticipate issues.

Legislative and Government Relations Communications

Partner with FPPA’s lobbyists, legal counsel and executive team to develop and implement government affairs strategies and deliver legislative messaging, briefing materials, policy and fiscal impact summaries, talking points and testimony support.

Monitor, track and analyze proposed legislation, regulations, ballot measures, governmental actions and other public policy developments that may affect FPPA, its members and beneficiaries, participating employers, governance, funding, benefits or operations.

Communicate and maintain constructive working relationships with legislators, legislative staff, state and local officials, public agencies, stakeholder groups and other external partners, including through in-person meetings at the State Capitol.

As directed, attend legislative hearings, committee meetings, stakeholder meetings, public forums and other governmental proceedings as needed, and provide timely updates and recommendations to leadership.

Explain the purpose, impact and status of FPPA-sponsored legislation and other policy developments to members, employers, policymakers and the public.

Explain the purpose, impact and status of non-FPPA-sponsored legislation to executive team and potential impacts to FPPA.

Maintain organized records of legislative activity, stakeholder contacts, policy positions and related communications, and help ensure that lobbying, advocacy, public testimony and external communications comply with applicable laws, ethics rules, reporting requirements and FPPA policies.

Communications Planning and Response

Lead related communications planning, preparedness and response, in coordination with leadership, legal counsel and internal staff.

Assist with responses to CORA requests with internal staff and legal counsel.

Exercise discretion and sound judgment with confidential, sensitive or time-sensitive information.

Content, Channels and Partner Management

Set priorities, review deliverables and keep work aligned with FPPA strategy.

Set measures of success, track communications results and use data to improve outreach and engagement.

Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications Summary

Professional experience in public-sector communications, public affairs, public information, media relations or a closely related field.

A bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public administration, political science or a related field is preferred. Additional relevant experience may substitute for the degree.

Experience serving as an organizational spokesperson and managing media relations, including preparing executives for interviews.

Experience monitoring and analyzing legislation or public policy, communicating directly with legislators, elected officials or government bodies, and working with lobbyists or government affairs staff.

Experience preparing legislative summaries, policy briefings, talking points, testimony or other materials for executives, board members or public officials.

Experience leading crisis and issues communications in sensitive, high-profile or fast-moving situations.

Knowledge of the Colorado Open Records Act or comparable public records laws, and experience coordinating records requests.

Excellent writing, editing and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and accurately.

Ability to work independently as a senior individual contributor and to influence and collaborate across teams, executives, Board members and outside partners.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in a public pension, retirement system, financial services or other fiduciary environment.

Experience communicating with or presenting to a board of directors or other governing body.

Knowledge of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislative and administrative processes, and applicable lobbying, ethics or public-sector reporting requirements.

Training or experience in public participation and stakeholder engagement, such as IAP2 certification.

Experience communicating with first responders, public employers, labor associations or other member-based groups.

Experience managing outside public relations or communications agencies.

Master’s degree in communications, public relations, public administration, public policy or a related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strategic communications, public affairs, media relations and reputation management principles.

Digital, web and social media channels, and how to use analytics to measure engagement.

Knowledge of legislative and administrative processes, public-sector decision-making and stakeholder engagement, with political awareness to handle complex legislative and policy settings professionally and neutrally.

Strong judgment under pressure, high emotional intelligence and a commitment to transparency and integrity.

Project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and deadlines.

Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $120K ‐ $155K. Benefits include group medical, dental, vision, 401K, 457, defined benefit through Colorado PERA, life insurance and long‐term disability.