Job Description The Agency You’ll Join: In November 2022, New York City voters overwhelmingly approved three ballot proposals that put racial equity and justice at the heart of city government, including the NYC Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). The first of its kind in the nation, the NYC Commission on Racial Equity is an independent 15-member commission responsible for engaging diverse communities to guide and assess the City’s racial equity planning process. CORE provides accountability for New Yorkers, regularly evaluating the City’s progress on its racial requirements and goals. CORE will be composed of diverse New Yorkers with equity expertise and/or relevant lived experience, serving as a conduit to bring historically excluded communities and voices into government decision-making. The Team You’ll Work With: CORE is an independent commission composed of 15 commissioners, including one Chair & Executive Director, jointly appointed by the Mayor and New York City Council Speaker. Other CORE commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, City Council Speaker, City Comptroller, and Public Advocate. The staff of the Commission is responsible for executing the day-to-day mission of the Commission and establishing its path to success. NYC CORE team takes the vision of the Chair & Executive Director and the Commissioners and translate it into action strategies and plans that implement accountability for racial equity in the city. Like the Commission itself, the Commission’s staff aims to be representative of New Yorkers from all communities and walks of life. Staff bring an accountability mindset into their work, ensuring that they are collaborating with city agencies and also voicing public concerns. The Problems You’ll Solve The Director of Communications reports directly to the Chair & Executive Director and leads the development and implementation of a communications infrastructure. Consistent, easy to understand, and trustworthy reporting of findings related to organizing, research, and policy is critical to the success of the Commission. You are a member of the directorship team that will define the new commission’s work, process, and success across the following areas: Communication Infrastructure - In collaboration with the CORE team, you will design and implement a communication infrastructure which includes but is not limited to the design and implementation of the Commission's communication strategies including press response, proactive communications, digital communications, advertising, branding, web presence, and more. You will leverage your knowledge of community concerns regarding racial equity, social justice, and government operations to ensure that communications align with the Commission’s values, resonate with New Yorkers, and embody the principles of access design, including plain language and language justice. Communication Strategy – You will lead the development and implementation of a narrative change strategy that centers the voices of the public. Strategy will be leveraged to building power of community voices in city government decision making. In the first year, the Communications Director will create a short public guide to building community voice on matters of racial equity. Organizational Leadership – As a director, you will inform and implement the office culture, moral, and key practices that support ongoing cross functional teams, performance reviews, professional development pathways. You will ensure that the Commission’s practices align with its fundamental values and serve as an advisor and support to the Chair & Executive Director. RESPONSIBILITIES - Develops the Commission’s overall Communication strategy. - Responsible for developing and implementing all strategies for communication with the public, the press, partners, and all other organizations. - Leads the dissemination of what community members have shared with Commission through all forms of digital and print media. - Conceiving and implementing a broad strategic public affairs plan and determining the most effective communications, public education, and engagement tactics - Ensures all Commission communications adhere to principles of access design, including plain language and language justice. - Direct the development and execution of creative, sophisticated and high-impact digital communications strategies and efforts that advance NYC CORE goals and visibility. - Develop strategies to use multimedia content, social media, SMS, website, and other digital media tactics to reach and engage a greater number of New Yorkers. - Establish aggressive short- and long-term digital goals, and work with the broader team to execute them - As needed, works with the operations team to identify and procure any vendors that are needed to assist with communication activities, and manages the collaboration with the vendors. - Manages the design and production of issue briefs, white papers, reports, as well as event promotion, registration, and swag. - Shaping the language, images, and multimedia that represent NYC CORE and its work compellingly, convincingly, and accurately. Ensuring consistent, clear messaging across all modes of communication, including traditional and new media, in-depth analytic reports, op-eds, fact sheets, testimony, text for video and podcasts, speeches, proposals, and presentations - Managing media relations, including story development, media targeting, pitching, and relationship management. Planning proactive media campaigns and outreach, as well as rapid-response work in reaction to breaking news. Monitoring the media for opportunities to engage. - Surfaces and documents stories from community engagement sessions and Commissioner meetings. - Create an effective and collaborative work environment that supports innovation and excellence while centering community voice. - Embeds DEI and racial equity practices and tools into the everyday functioning of the Commission. - Manages a minimum of (1) one staff and (1) one consultant. About You - Commitment to racial equity and are seeking a values-aligned role that involves significant creativity and challenge. - Community organizing and engagement or customer service management experience. - At least six (6) years of professional experience, including at least two (2) years of working with community organizing and/or engagement groups. - Experience supervising communications staff and at least two (2) year’s total experience managing staff. - Demonstrated experience creating strategic plans and operationalizing those plans towards success. - Experience working hand in hand with senior leaders as well as making executive level decisions. - Prior experience working on behalf of racial equity causes or alongside community organizations serving BIPOC New Yorkers is highly preferred. - Penchant for plain language. - Experience working with journalists. - Relevant formal education can be helpful, such as in sociology, social work, public administration, public policy, communications, ethnic studies, etc. - Background of living in, working within, or growing up as a member of communities facing historical oppression will contribute to your ability to guide the planning process. - Demonstrated commitment, competency and strong familiarity with issues affecting Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Pacific Islander communities in New York City, or other marginalized groups. - Demonstrated history of building relationships for your team to enable execution of a strategy that extends beyond the Office. - Technical skills or project management skills are a necessity. Salary The Commission on Racial Equity’s compensation package includes a market competitive salary and exceptional benefits. Our cash compensation range for this role is $104,000 -$110,000. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on candidate experience and expertise, and other factors. RESEARCH PROJECTS COOR(MA)-MGR - 0527A Qualifications 1. Do you have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university? 2. Do you have an associate degree from an accredited college or university along with two (2) years of experience with administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities? 3. Do you have a four-year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent approved by a state's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization along with four (4) years of experience as described in question "2" above? 4. Do you have a satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to that described in questions "1," "2," and/or "3" above? 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. Salary Min: $110,000.00 Salary Max: $114,000.00