Join the City of San Francisco's San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) as the Director of Communications!

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. The SFAC envisions a San Francisco where the transformative power of art is critical to strengthening neighborhoods, building infrastructure and fostering positive social change. We believe the arts create inspiring personal experiences, illuminate the human condition and offer meaningful ways to engage with each other and the world around us. We imagine a vibrant San Francisco where creativity, prosperity and progress go hand in hand. We advance artists’ ideas to improve the quality of life for everyone through a united cultural sector whose contributions are vital and valued. Learn more about our work at: http://www.sfartscommission.org/

The SFAC has adopted the following Racial Equity Statement: 

The San Francisco Arts Commission is committed to creating a city where all artists and cultural workers have the freedom, resources and platform to share their stories, art and culture and where race does not predetermine one’s success in life. We also acknowledge that we occupy traditional and unceded Ohlone land. Fueled by these beliefs, we commit to addressing the systemic inequities within our agency, the City and County of San Francisco and the broader arts and culture sector. This work requires that we focus on race as we confront inequities of the past, reveal inequities of the present and develop effective strategies to move all of us towards an equitable future.

Reporting directly to the Director of Cultural Affairs, the Director of Communications develops, organizes, directs and evaluates a comprehensive program to inform the public of the activities and objectives related to the San Francisco Arts Commission. These duties include but are not limited to the following:

General Duties:  Advises management on the public relations implications of the programs’ activities; and performs related duties as required.

1.    Press Relations: Responsible for developing and implementing public relations campaign strategy; communicating regularly with project managers and with representatives of newspapers, radio, television, and other mass communications and specialized media and trade groups for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an effective public relations program.

2.    Community Meetings & Events: In coordination with the community engagement director organizes meetings with the general public and stakeholders to facilitate a directed and focused discussion. Organizes public events, workshops and dedication ceremonies. Arranges for tours and orientation sessions for the media, visiting dignitaries, trade representatives and the general public.

3.    Agency Representative: Works with program staff to gain an understanding of the projects they manage in order to present artist proposals or projects, grant programs and funding mechanisms, and gallery and art vendors programs to other government agencies and community organizations; manages agency calendar of events and PR calendar.

4.    Public Relations Duties: Prepares press materials to publicize projects, meetings and new art opportunities, including but not limited to issuing press releases, calendar releases, and preparing the same for all district supervisors and district representatives to distribute for all dedication, workshops and public events. Reviews and approves all outgoing communications (postcards, ads, brochures, press releases etc.), reviews agency’s annual report. Manages tools such as Meltwater. Writes talking points for Director of Cultural Affairs and other officials as needed.

5.    Agency Communication: Designs project-based media campaigns; oversees agency social media content and strategy. Responsible for writing or reviewing and approving all outgoing messaging including all agency and program specific e-newsletters and website content. Ensures that all press releases and program updates and announcements are communicated via the agency’s website, Facebook, Twitter feed and any other social media platforms the agency adopts. Responds to press inquiries and designs strategies to ensure consistent messaging and reputation management.

6.    Outreach/Education: Analyzes the extent of public understanding and acceptance of the programs and determines the need for further public education; conducts an aggressive promotional program to increase acceptance of agency services; ensures the public is aware of Citywide directives and health orders as appropriate. 

7.    Public Information: Attends monthly citywide PIO meeting, weekly JIC meeting and quarterly  PR Roundtable meeting, oversees 311 requests, manages Next Request system and all public document requests, manages agency phone voicemail system.

8.       Event Marketing: Responsible for marketing all of presented and potentially produced events by SFAC.

9.    Disaster Preparedness Coordinator (DPC): Manages Everbridge Emergency Notification System and Out of Area Emergency Line, attends Monthly DPC meetings, creates and updates Continuity of Operations Plan with assistance from agency staff.

10.    Internal Duties: Leads internal Communications Committee, maintains agency style guide, assists with PowerPoint presentations for upper management as needed, manages contracts for Communications suppliers.

Minimum Qualifications 

Education:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public relations, journalism, English, mass communications, public administration, public policy or a closely related field.

Experience:
Four (4) years of verifiable full time professional experience in editorial, newspaper, magazine, radio, television, public relations, social media, digital engagement, or advertising. This experience must be equivalent to job code 1312 Public Information Officer for the City and County of San Francisco and must include at least one (1) year of experience in planning and conducting a public relations, public information, or public education program.

License and Certification:

Substitution:
1) Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis (up to a maximum of 2 years). Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

2) Possession of a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public relations, journalism, mass communications or a closely related field may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Salary: $98,722.00-$119,990.00 Yearly.   Extended salary range available based upon recruitment/retention, special skills, limited duration or exemplary performance.

Please contact Heather Johnson at [email protected] if you have question about this position.

This posting may be closed at anytime, but not before Friday November 12th.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.

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.