We Value Equal Employment Opportunity!

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military, and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

About the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) 

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development advances equitable and shared prosperity for San Franciscans by growing sustainable jobs, supporting businesses of all sizes, creating great places to live and work, and helping everyone achieve economic self-sufficiency.

OEWD strives to create an economic climate where companies of all sizes can start, stay, and grow and so that our residents have access to ensure that San Francisco will always be what it is today: one of the best places on the planet to live, work, and play.  OEWD’s portfolio of work includes major programs and projects such as the Dream Keeper Initiative, the City’s Economic Recovery, Job Sector Training Programs, Neighborhood Access Centers, Community Economic Development in key corridors and communities, Small Business Grant and Loan Programs, and ongoing Business Development.

Appointment Type: Permanent-Exempt (PEX) Appointment. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive civil service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the appointing officer.

Position Description:  

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

A Director of External Affairs for the Office of Economic and Workforce Development who is responsible for the overall direction and management of communications and community outreach and engagement. An innovator who can lead in shifting the narrative towards San Francisco’s and OEWD’s successes. A strategic thinker, who can excel in high pressure situations.  A leader who can direct a team in achieving goals and objectives, and who can also deliver work alongside their colleagues.

A marketing professional who will strengthen and position the City’s brand, particularly as it moves post-COVID through economic recovery and into a re-imagined, revitalized and resilient Downtown.  A strong communicator who can promote OEWD’s mission, goals and objectives to internal and external stakeholders and directs staff in the implementation of strategic communications and marketing, media management, and community outreach and engagement.   

WHAT THE DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS WILL DO

The Director of External Affairs advises OEWD’s Leadership team on strategic communications, and reports to the Chief Operating Officer.  The Director manages a team of staff, consultant contracts, and works collaboratively with the Mayor’s Office, City departments, and community-based organizations to lead.

Provides leadership and direction in developing communications programs, public relations strategies and policies and procedures to promote and advance the mission, goals and objectives of the OEWD.

Specific Duties

• Monitors the work of and coaches a team to improve performance of the team and advises leadership on implementation of strategic initiatives
• Develops, implements and maintains procedures, administrative monitoring practices and controls in order to obtain smooth and effective operation of OEWD’s external affairs;
• Coordinates work activities of External Affairs Team to support the strategic goals and objectives of OEWD, and manages a portfolio work across 9 divisions within the department to prevent delays in required actions or to improve programs or services;
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of the External Affairs service delivery system, organizational structure, staffing levels, financial systems, and other internal operations; identifies and recommends alternative approaches or improvements; implements revisions, adjustments and changes.
• Advises strategic direction of OEWD by assisting in the identification, development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies, and priorities; assists in the determination of resource allocation and levels of service according to established policies.
• Advise senior staff on policy and legislative agenda development, and help to coordinate community outreach and engagement in the successful drafting and passing of critical legislation
• Develops a comprehensive communication strategy to ensure engagement with a variety of constituencies, agencies, stakeholders, community-based organizations, and government agencies; to inform, increase public understanding and obtain support and maintain positive relationships
• As part of that strategy, consider and cooperate with external parties to reclaim San Francisco's narrative into the future, particularly with regard to Downtown revitalization and the Mayor’s Roadmap to San Francisco’s Future.
• Represents OEWD and acts as a spokesperson to the media and the public; develops, manages and implements proactive and responsive media relations; directs external messaging which include responding to press inquiries, press releases, statements and publications; interviews and placements of stories, coordinating press conferences and media events for OEWD on the local, state, national and international levels.
• Directs staff speech preparation, special papers, testimonies, radio and television scripts and other documents for external engagement. 
• Coordinates media training to prepare staff, conducts media tours and arranges speaking engagements for OEWD staff as appropriate.
• Acts as a Senior leader responsible for working with leadership and staff throughout the organization to clarify purpose and develop strategy, and to ensure resources deploy for successful executions.
• Manages a team of communications and outreach professionals, consultants and other staff responsible for designing and producing communications materials and implementing outreach activities, including Special Events and Community Engagement; Internal Communications; Web-based and social media; and Digital Publications.
• Manages the production and dissemination of OEWD’s collateral material, brochures, newsletters, digital magazines, public service announcements, and advertisements for trade/business publications, and electronic media presentations that proactively market and promote OEWD and its attributes as a unique brand.
• Oversees the content and continuity of the OEWD’s social media channels and website with consistent messaging, accuracy of information and positive images that reflect the OEWD’s values.
• Lead the development and implementation of a community outreach strategy, and coordinate across OEWD 9 Divisions on a strategic outreach plan.
• Oversees and directs a team of community outreach specialists in all 11 supervisorial districts in San Francisco.
• Supervises staff, plans and oversees OEWD-sponsored press and community events that support the goal of promoting the San Francisco economic revitalization and resilience.  
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Public Relations, Mass Communications, Public Administration, Business Administration, Journalism or a related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience

Six (6) years of verifiable experience in communications, public relations, community engagement, marketing or closely related filed in a government, non-profit or public sector setting of which three (3) years must include experience in supervising professional staff engaged in the above work.

Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Desired Experience and Skills

The Ideal Candidate will have:

• Knowledge of public relations and media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform via written, oral, and visual media.
• Knowledge of principles of marketing strategy and tactics.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, employee supervision, organizational management, resource allocation, methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Knowledge of techniques and strategies related to external stakeholder and public relations engagement and outreach, including media and public relations.
• Experience developing and implementing policy that support and further the mission and values of an organization. 
• Willingness to serve OEWD’s leadership team, and to contribute fully to identification of challenges and opportunities, and to share responsibility for strategy and execution.
• The ability to analyze problems by collecting needed information, evaluating and prioritizing causal factors and effects, discarding irrelevant factors, producing solutions and taking action or recommending action to the Executive Director and senior management.
• Community and economic development that provides guidance and opportunities for equitable opportunities. 
• Awareness of issues and unique cultural nuances relative to local communities and stakeholder groups.
• Diplomatic and politically astute to understand and navigate local community and social politics.
• High level of emotional intelligence, ethical standards, professional transparency and integrity.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an approachable demeanor, consensus building skills and ability to communicate clearly and relate genuinely with people from varied backgrounds in a respectful and courteous manner.
• Ability to adapt, establish and maintain effective working relationships with city agencies, officials and representatives of local and community-based agencies, organizations and interested groups.

Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Agency will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview.

The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

VERIFICATION OF EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION: 

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/index.aspx?page=456

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. 

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Filing Deadline: Sunday, April 21, 2024- 11:59PM

• 0931- Manager III- Compensation
• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact: Anabel Simonelli-Kupelian, Chief People Officer, [email protected].

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.