Bioenergy Career Map: Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

• Advanced knowledge of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices
• Advanced knowledge of the practices and techniques of oral communications in developing and presenting briefings to print and broadcast media
• Excellent skill in writing news releases and feature articles for dissemination through print media
• Demonstrated experience in gathering and evaluating the appropriateness of information communicated through media
• Ability to speak with a diverse audience and participate in meetings to promote the dissemination of information concerning the agency’s public information program
• Demonstrated leadership in managing the public affairs programs of an organization.

The bioenergy industry needs communicators to convey the facts about research and development being conducted in the bioenergy sector. Since bioenergy is an emerging field, it is especially important to have individuals that are able to convey the breakthroughs and possibilities of bioenergy in a general way to educate the public.
 
Individuals in public affairs develop high-quality summaries, reports, memoranda, fact sheets, and presentations that can explain bioenergy science and technology in a more general way. They also establish and maintain effective working relationships with media representatives in disseminating information or answering inquiries about the science and technology. Public affairs also prepare scientists and engineers to talk about their research on broader scale through talking points and arranging speaking sessions.
 
 At the senior or supervisory level, the supervisory public affairs specialist is responsible for managing a team of specialists to develop and maintain the public interface of the organization. The individual is also responsible for establishing long-term goals and priorities for external affairs for the office, including publicity, marketing, product development, public programs, and special events. Supervisors lead in establishing partnerships with outside organizations for internal initiatives, and are responsible for overall implementation of activities.