Chief Public Affairs & Media Strategy Officer

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The NYC Department of Social Services seeks an experienced Deputy Commissioner of Public Information & Media Relations to lead press operations, brand storytelling, and digital strategy across DSS, HRA, and DHS. You will oversee a multi-disciplinary team, steer crisis communications, and drive measurable improvements in public outreach, transparency, and engagement for New Yorkers.

This role requires data-driven leadership, sharp editorial judgment, and the ability to coordinate rapid response

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college and five years of full-time progressively responsible experience in public relations, journalism, promotion, advertising, or a related aspect of the communications field; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to the above.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the administration and operation of the Office of Public Information. Direct the rapid-response press operation and set high-stakes communication protocols.
• Direct the multi-disciplinary communications team including the Press Secretary, graphic designers, editorial writers, and multimedia content creators; establish performance benchmarks and evaluations.
• Champion the agency’s digital ecosystem and direct content teams to improve audience acquisition and engagement metrics.
• Establish compliance guardrails for inclusive design and secure data privacy in the digital lifecycle.
• Lead branding and marketing campaigns, and set top-down messaging that clarifies complex programs; oversee campaigns to increase awareness and uptake of services.

Skills

Public relations

Press operations

Crisis PR

Media monitoring

Web analytics

Strategic communications

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Media monitoring suites

Web analytics

Job description

The NYC Department of Social Services seeks an experienced Deputy Commissioner of Public Information & Media Relations to lead press operations, brand storytelling, and digital strategy across DSS, HRA, and DHS. You will oversee a multi-disciplinary team, steer crisis communications, and drive measurable improvements in public outreach, transparency, and engagement for New Yorkers.

This role requires data-driven leadership, sharp editorial judgment, and the ability to coordinate rapid response