Press Secretary

DEPT OF YOUTH & COMM DEV SRVS

Full-Time

Location

MANHATTAN

Exam May Be Required

Department

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

Salary Range:

$66,066.00 – $181,807.00

Job Description

ONLY CANDIDATES WHO ARE PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST OR WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT FROM THE OPEN COMPETITIVE OR PROMOTIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST LIST WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION

IF YOU ARE HIRED PROVISIONALLY IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST TITLE, YOU MUST TAKE AND PASS THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT.

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) invests in a network of community-based organizations and programs to alleviate the effects of poverty and to provide opportunities for New Yorkers and communities to flourish. DYCD supports New York City youth and their families by funding a wide range of high-quality youth and community development programs, including afterschool, community centers, fatherhood, immigrant and literacy services, Office of Neighborhood Safety, runaway and homeless youth, and youth workforce development. As the Press Secretary at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), the individual in this role will have a minimum of 5-10 years of experience in Public Relations/Media Relations at a PR firm, broadcast or print outlet, in city government, or in the private sector. The Press Secretary will report to the Chief Public Information Officer, and work closely with the Chief Communications Strategist, the Communications team, Intergovernmental staff, and the Office of the Commissioner to plan and execute communications strategies, agency events, and media interviews. This is a fast-paced, demanding position that requires flexible work hours, and the ability to work with a sense of urgency to meet the demands of a 24-hour news cycle. It is an ideal opportunity for an accomplished, detail-oriented professional who can work quickly and write well under time constraints, think both tactically and strategically, and handle a variety of challenging responsibilities.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Helping to build awareness of the agency’s brand and initiatives through various public relations strategies.
Drafting and disseminating press releases and advisories.
Engaging with members of the media, including local and national press.
Advise the Commissioner and other staff on communications strategy, press interviews, and speaking engagements.
Managing press events.
Proactively pitching stories.
Attending symposiums, conferences, community meetings, and other external events where the press may be in attendance.
Creating talking points, statements, and quotes.
Develop the agency’s crisis communications plan.
Serving as the backup for generating and posting agency social media messaging.
Communications liaison to the other NYC agencies.
Liaise with City Hall Communications and Press teams.
Ability to manage weekly reports and submit to City Hall in a timely manner.
Monitor breaking news and other alerts relevant to the agency or its mission.
Maintain and update media list in Meltwater.
Develop, track, and assess metrics and success criteria for all media coverage via Meltwater.
Manage communications needs during off-hours, holidays, and weekends, when necessary.
Filling in for Chief Communications Strategist and Chief Public Information Officer, as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with 24 credits in English, journalism or public relations, plus five (5) years of full-time paid experience in public relations, journalism or advertising, including two (2) years in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity; or
2. A combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate study in English, journalism, or public relations may be substituted for up to one year of required experience. However, all candidates must have at least two (2) years of administrative, supervisory, or consultative experience in public relations, journalism or advertising.

Preferred Skills

- Excellent writing skills, including storytelling and speechwriting. - The ability to generate agency activity reports and weekly staff messages. - Event planning and management, including creation of “runs of show.” - Photography, videography, and basic knowledge of editing software such as Photoshop. - Sound judgement and decision-making under tight deadlines. - Experience in working with youth in a professional or volunteer capacity.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Job ID

643373

Title code

10033

Civil service title

ADMINISTRATIVE PUBLIC INFORMAT

Title classification

Competitive-1

Business title

Press Secretary

Experience Level:
Manager

Job level

Number of positions

Work location

2 Lafayette St., N.Y.

Category:
Constituent Services & Community Programs

DEPT OF YOUTH & COMM DEV SRVS jobs

Press Secretary