Deputy Press Secretary

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOHMH is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize DOHMH’s foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will work be supervised by DOHMH. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

The Office of External Affairs oversees many of the agency's most critical interactions with the public, from raising awareness and promoting healthy behaviors to advancing policies and responding to health emergencies. The office serves as the agency's in-house publisher, advertiser and marketer of trendsetting, culturally responsive campaigns, and initiatives, maintains a strong digital presence, and oversees press relations and government affairs. Under the guidance and direction of the Press Secretary, the Deputy Press Secretary will establish collaborative working relationships with other city agencies and New York City communities to develop proactive strategies that closely align with the agency's initiatives and announcements of major public health campaigns. The Deputy Press Secretary will remain abreast of current public health issues and brief senior staff accordingly.

Job description:

The Deputy Press Secretary will report to the Press Secretary, and work closely with the Communications team, Government Affairs team, and the Office of the Commissioner to plan and execute speaking events and media interviews. They will also manage a person responsible for research, logistics and drafting, as necessary.

Duties:

The Deputy Press Secretary’s responsibilities will be as follows:

• Provide ideas and advice to senior staff, in the event of press interviews outside the office in the five boroughs and attend community meetings where press may be in attendance.
• Coordinate the planning of community events and press activities, including press conferences, high-profile interviews, and town-hall meetings with city hall and constituents.
• Conduct internal research on public health initiatives as needed and collaborate with community-based organizations and city agencies to develop and implement media, communications, and public relations strategies.
• Develop a targeted press outreach plan for specific and community audiences.
• Stay current with all local media outlets and newspapers, including community papers and those targeting at risk and vulnerable populations.
• Advise the Commissioner on communications strategy, and work directly with him to generate ideas, shape arguments, craft language, and refine his delivery.
• Proactively seek out opportunities to amplify the Commissioner's message, including but not limited to speaking engagements, events, partnerships, and bylines as part of the Department's overall communications strategy.
• Maintain high quality, professional standards for all press responses, ensure response are in agreement with agency standards for professionalism and accuracy.

Qualifications:

• 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
• 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.
• Salary - $95,000 - $95,000

Additional Desired Qualities:

• Be an innovative thinker and excellent writer with a track record for interpreting complex policy ideas and strategies into motivating, persuasive language.
• Excellent judgment, editing, writing and interpersonal skills
• Must work well independently and as a team member
• Ability to handle multiple deadlines in a fast-paced and quickly changing environment
• Prior government experience, a plus
• Proficiency in languages other than English, a plus
• Must be available to work after hours, weekend and during emergencies as needed and participate.
• Ability to prioritize and execute multiple projects on tight deadlines.
• Contribute thoughtfully and respectfully to strategic discussions, often in rapidly evolving situations.
• Edit others' work to ensure quality and message consistency.

Additional Information:

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending in November 2027.
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date.
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties.
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies.

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and veterans.