Chief Communications Officer

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission seeks a seasoned Communications Director to serve as the primary spokesperson and lead media relations for the agency. You will craft messaging, guide public communications, and support senior leadership on strategic communications across platforms.

The role requires deep federal, state, and local policy understanding, ability to navigate high-visibility environments, and a commitment to equity and accessibility in public service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-10 years of strategic communications/public affairs experience.
• Experience serving as on-the-record spokesperson or senior communications lead.
• Ability to develop and implement public-facing communications strategies beyond traditional media.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to simplify policy messaging.

Responsibilities

• Serve as TLC’s primary spokesperson for media interviews, events, and public communications.
• Manage proactive/reactive media relations and crisis communications.
• Build relationships with traditional, community, labor, policy, and transportation media.
• Advise the Commissioner and leadership on media strategy and branding for the agency.
• Lead a communications team and collaborate with HR, Policy, Operations, and Community Affairs.

Skills

Spokesperson experience

Strategic communications

Public affairs

Team management

Policy communication

Multilingual communications

Job description

*The proposed salary will be commensurate with the selected candidate's experience and preferred skills.

The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) oversees a transportation ecosystem that moves nearly one million riders every single day, which is the equivalent of the entire transit system of a medium sized city. The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) is the agency responsible for regulating New York City's taxicab and for-hire vehicle industry. With 180,000 licensed drivers and the iconic yellow taxi at the heart of our city’s identity, TLC is entering a new era of dignity, accountability, and collaboration across the for-hire vehicle sector. TLC continues to be on the front lines of a rapidly changing mobility landscape and our innovative efforts—whether requiring minimum pay for app drivers, ensuring wheelchair accessible service, making our licensed fleet more environmentally sustainable, working to eliminate traffic fatalities, or preventing discriminatory service—often serve as a model for other cities.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as TLC’s primary spokesperson and on-the-record Communications Director, including for media interviews, press events, and public-facing communications.
• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, including media campaigns, in coordination with the Mayor’s Press Office, including crisis communications and rapid response, message development, and reputation management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with traditional, community, ethnic, labor, transportation, policy, and non-traditional media.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s top communications advisor providing support on media strategy and build a positive brand identity for the agency.
• Lead and mentor a small collaborative communications team that punches above its weight and works closely with the Commissioner’s Office and with the Policy, Operations, and Community Affairs teams.
• Build and oversee an agency-wide internal communications strategy in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Oversee TLC’s digital platforms including social media, newsletters, web content, and other public-facing channels, ensuring they are engaging, accessible, accurate, and aligned with agency values.
• Create storytelling campaigns that highlight TLC’s work, including driver and passenger experiences, behind-the-scenes operations, and policy wins.
• Identify and develop proactive communications opportunities that elevate TLC’s public-facing initiatives and presence at events and community forums, including Commissioner facing events.
• Oversee agency press events with TLC staff and the Mayor’s Press Office.
• Support the Commissioner and senior leadership with speeches, talking points, and strategic messaging as needed.
• Ensure all communications are culturally competent, multilingual, accessible, and consistent with the agency’s tone and vision, including public hearings, town halls, TLC reports.
• Foster a creative, collegial, and fun communications culture that encourages experimentation, and bold ideas.

Additional Information

• This position requires regular travel throughout NYC’s five boroughs.
• This position also requires flexibility to work outside of regular business hours and may require availability during evenings and weekends, seven days a week, based on operational needs.

Work Location: New York, NY

PRESS SECRETARY (TLC) - 95786

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in strategic communications, public affairs, government, advocacy, or related fields.
• Experience managing a team of communications professionals with diverse portfolios.
• A track record of serving as an on the record spokesperson or senior communications lead with experience in reputation management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to take complex policy into simplified and succinct messages.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement public-facing communications strategies, beyond traditional media.
• Exceptional political acumen and the ability to navigate complex, high visibility environments with grace and clarity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines while collaborating effectively with senior leadership, internal teams, external partners, and other stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity, dignity, accountability, and excellence in public service.

Preferred Skills

• A communications leader who thrives at the intersection of policy, people, and storytelling.
• A creative mind, the candidate sees communications as a platform for storytelling, experimentation, and connection.
• Ability to cross-collaborate with multiple stakeholders and handle multiple deadlines.
• A collaborative spirit, the candidate will enjoy working across teams, building relationships, and elevating colleagues.
• Experience working with diverse communities, ideally including immigrant, multilingual, and worker centered populations.
• Comfort with data, digital tools, and innovative communications strategies.
• Proficiency in languages other than English a plus.

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.