What are the responsibilities and job description for the Deputy Director / Operations Officer V position at City of Baltimore, MD?
THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION
MAYOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
POSTING DATE: January 17, 2025
SALARY RANGE: $93,622 - $149,726
BACKGROUND CHECK
Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint must be successfully completed.
PROBATION
All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a mandatory 6-month probation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
OVERVIEW:
As a key member of the larger Mayor’s Office of Communications, the Deputy Communications Director is responsible for communicating the Administration’s vision, mission, and policies to residents and broader audiences throughout Baltimore. They will help craft and execute strategic communications plans, coordinate Public Information Officers (PIOs) across City Government, utilize various communications strategies and platforms to drive the Mayor’s Office messaging goals, and help lead the Mayor’s Office relationship with members of the media. The Deputy Director reports to the Director of Communications. Seeking a creative and strategic deputy communications director to help lead an active communications-press operation who will work closely with the head of communications. Responsibilities include managing a dynamic press operation, developing a strategic communications plan, serving as a point of contact for local and national media, serving as one of the on-the-record spokespersons, drafting speeches, deep dive research, op-eds, press releases, preparing the mayor for media appearances, and other communications projects to leverage news cycles.
Additional responsibilities include driving the mayor’s message by planning and executing a robust press plan across diverse media markets, working as a part of the senior staff to strategize messaging, and maintaining a cohesive communications team across the mayor’s and the city of Baltimore operation. The candidate will have experience in copy editing all published communications - serving as a grammar and style expert for the entire office, working closely with the communications head, the entire press team, and senior staff to assist with other writing and messaging needs as they come up. Candidates should possess strong writing and communication skills, be detail-oriented, and be capable of multitasking. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, organized, and a collaborative team player who will have at least 5-8 years of communications experience, strong political/government and messaging instincts, and experience developing strong media relationships.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
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RESPONSIBILITIES
Managing strategic communications for the Mayor’s Office and assisting in the coordination of strategic communications efforts for a portfolio of agencies, offices, and departments. - Managing the execution of Mayoral events, press conferences, and announcements.
- Staffing the Mayor at press conferences and public appearances.
- Drafting press releases, speeches, talking points, memos, op-eds, and other materials.
- Preparing agencies and City government leaders for hearings, press conferences, and public appearances.
- Provide message guidance to Mayor’s Office and agencies.
PERFERRED QUALIFCATIONS
Education and Experience
- 5 years related experience in public relations, journalism, or communication.
- On-the-record experience is preferred.
- Excellent writing skills, interpersonal skills, media knowledge required.
- Experience developing strong working relationships with media required.
- Experience crafting and executing communications strategies, including through earned media, digital platforms, and social media.
- Experience coordinating multiple team members to effectively execute strategic goals.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel required.
- Ability and experience to balance multiple demands and deadlines.
BENEFITS
The City of Baltimore offers a generous and competitive benefits package. You can learn about our benefits here:
https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits
Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Requests for accommodations should not be attached to the application.
BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Salary : $93,622 - $149,726
