Job Summary This position is located in the Department of Health (DC Health) within the Office of The Director, Office of Communications. DC Health promotes health, wellness, and equity across the District, and protects the safety of residents, visitors, and those doing business in the nation's capital. DC Health believes that all people - no matter their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, education level, age, language, religion, ability, or geographic location - should have the opportunity to live healthy lives.
The Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist is responsible for leading the strategic communications function for DC Health, including establishing and maintaining mutual communication between District agencies and the public and implementing a sustainable communication strategy that focuses on press outreach and media relations, digital campaign management, strategic development of DC Health's branding, messaging and communications, and stakeholder and community engagement.
Major Duties and Responsibilities Serves as a senior advisor to agency leadership on communications strategy, media relations, policy messaging, and anticipated public reaction to proposed initiatives, priorities
and programs. Develops and executes a sustainable, forward-looking communications strategy aligned with DC Health's mission and priorities. Targets audiences range from local and national public to media and highly specialized constituencies based in the District. Initiates, develops, and maintains collaborative partnerships with local, regional and national organizations, agencies and businesses to develop, implement and promote a variety of programs and projects consistent with DC Health's goals and objectives. Represents DC Health's priorities within these relationships. Provides crisis and emergency communications leadership, ensuring DC Health can rapidly and accurately inform the public during public health emergencies, outbreaks, or urgent policy changes. Serves as the press liaison to the Mayor's Office of Communications, as well as public information officers from other District agencies, on breaking news stories, press
conferences and major policy announcements. Develops and disseminate news releases, pitches, and other media advisories. Organizes and coordinates print and broadcast media interviews for the Director of DC Health and oversees all arrangements with the media involving agency activities. Leads proactive media and press outreach to highlight DC Health's programs, initiatives
and impact; cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional, and national press; disseminate information and answer inquiries about DC Health's operations and activities. Ensures consistency, accessibility and cultural competence in all public-facing materials, translating complex policy and public health information into clear, actionable content for varied audiences.
Builds and strengthens two-way, internal and external communication channels between DC Health and its stakeholders residents, community organizations, healthcare partners,
advocacy groups, DC Health employees, and other District agencies. Leads creative strategy discussions and concepting sessions for digital campaigns, guiding
cross-functional input into cohesive, audience-driven creative direction. Direct media buying strategy to ensure campaigns reach target audiences efficiently and in alignment with DC
Health's goals. Manages the day-to-day operations of subordinate staff in accordance with established standards and procedures; supervises, assigns, reviews, and approves work produced;
recommends hiring, firing, performance evaluations, training, work allocation, and problem resolution; approving/disapproving leave of absences; resolves staff grievances and
recommend corrective disciplinary action; and other related supervisory work.
Qualifications and Education Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower grade in the normal line of progression.
Licenses and Certifications None required.
Working Conditions / Environment The incumbent must be able to carry out official duties in a variety of settings and conditions. Routine work will occur primarily in an office setting.
Other Significant Facts Employment Sponsorship: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa currently.
Agency Wide Consideration: Qualified individuals that submit applications for this vacancy may be considered for other current open vacancies for which they qualify within DC Health.
Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday 8:15am - 4:45pm
Area of Consideration: Open to the Public
Promotion Potential: No Known Promotion Potential
Duration of Appointment: MSS At-Will. This is a Management Supervisory Service (MSS) appointment. Persons appointed to MSS positions do not acquire permanent status, but serve at the pleasure of the appointing personnel authority and may be terminated at any time.
Pay Plan, Series and Grade: M S-1035-14
Collective Bargaining Unit (Union): T his position is not in a collective bargaining unit.
Position Designation: This position has been designated as
Security Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests:
- (a) Criminal background check;
- (b) Traffic record check (as applicable);
- (c) Consumer credit check (as applicable);
- (d) Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and
- (e) Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.
Residency Requirement:(if applicable) If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.
