National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems

The Voice for Public Pensions

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Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award Judging Criteria

The Public Pension Communicator of the Year Award, presented by NCPERS, honors the communications staff person at a public pension who has demonstrated superior leadership skills; innovation and creativity; and created an impact with their communications endeavors in the preceding year.

The nominee will be judged based on the core criteria in the rubric below. Other factors considered by judges may include:

  • Resources available (i.e. size of team and/or budget available)
  • Support or recognition from peers and/or leaders (i.e. if the candidate is self-nominating, is there a recommendation or testimonial from a peer or supervisor?)
  • Going above and beyond given the individual’s role at the organization (i.e. a junior-level employee taking ownership of a project)
  • Progression of skills, professional development (i.e. the individual has learned new skills to elevate the organization’s capabilities to execute in-house)
Criteria
Example
Score (1=low; 10=high)
Demonstrated exceptional leadership skills
Nominee has provided mentorship and/or served as an excellent team player; successfully works with staff to meet organization’s mission and better serve its members through its communications strategies and initiatives; Nominee collaborates externally to advance communications in the public pension community.
Superior creativity and innovation; strategic communications
Individual successfully implemented creative solutions to improve organization’s communications or address a problem/gap; demonstrates creative skills and innovation with ongoing communications, continually striving to improve communications and the member experience in order to meet organizational objectives.
Positive impact on the pension & its members (and/or the public pension community)
Individual’s communications or strategies have had a demonstrably positive impact on the public pension community (members, public perception, internal communications, etc.).