Communications Director, OPT - 23503

Position Summary: The Communications Director serves as point person for policy and school outreach and communications for the Office of Pupil Transportation, and oth er members of the Senior Leadership Team of the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and supports the vision and work of the NYCPS's transportation initiatives by overseeing a long-term media and communications strategy to effectively communicate and engage with a wide range of stakeholders. The position requires excellent writing skills, experience in public relations and public policy, and skills to develop and manage long-term planning and execution of policies and communications across multiple platforms, as well as the ability to rapidly respond to simultaneous inquiries/requests, manage multiple-projects, and work with a range of stakeholders at the NYCPS and externally in a fast-paced environment.

The Communications Director will perform complex organizational research as a means to implement change and streamline processes associated with communications both within the NYCPS community and outside. This work will be highly advanced and confidential in nature and work toward a comprehensive message regarding the improvement and transparency of the OPT . Performs related work.

Reports to: Executive Director, Communications and Engagement

Direct Reports: Senior Parent Access Manager, Systems Project Manager

Key Relationships: NYCPS Communications Office, Press Office, DIIT's Digital Communication Team, NYCPS Borough Office Liaisons, Borough Office Operations Directors, Chancellor's Office and Deputy Chancellor's Office, superintendents, Executive Superintendents, heads of divisions within the Department, and school principals.

Responsibilities

• Prepares advanced research and detailed reports on current policies within OPT while formulating plans to initiate policy changes based on findings. Manages the effectiveness of communications based on the findings.
• Oversees all new external communications, based on a success model from the studies and findings performed via organizational research, coming out of the OPT. This covers communications work in the following areas:
  • developing external and internal materials related to initiatives and events;
  • developing and managing the NYCPS's transportation pages on its website;
  • overseeing the development of a policy and information-sharing strategy;
  • establishing and maintaining contact with the NYCPS's press office as OPT's primary point covering transportation;
  • preparing policy documents and guides to schools and families;
  • overseeing and preparing communications and answers to press inquiries concerning pupil transportation at the NYCPS;
  • handling long- and short-term inquiries from other City agencies and government offices; and
  • responding to urgent requests and covering emergency situations.

• Leads long-range organizational research to ensure that progress is being made regarding findings and to ensure the ongoing enhancement of OPT bus services to the students of NYCPS.
• Reviews, supervises, and provides comprehensive feedback on OPT press releases and answers to press inquiries concerning the NYCPS/OPT.
• Closely coordinates with team members to ensure that information is rapidly disseminated to families and NYC constituents.
• Identifies news-worthy announcements for communication on social media.
• Ensures that organizational research prepared and acted upon remains consistent throughout OPT communication and the greater NYCPS communication.
• Ensures that OPT materials and statements are accurate, consistent, and aligned with broader organizational goals.
• Recommends policy and digital strategy, including how to depict and handle issues regarding pupil transportation in NYC.
• Works closely with the NYCPS press office to address issues related to the NYCPS.
• Manages organizational studies associated with NYCPS response time and improvement of services.
• Serves as a liaison with superintendents, NYCPS Borough Office executive directors, and school principals to facilitate easy access to information needed .
• Ensures that a representative of the NYCPS is available to respond to requests during the normal work day as well as in emergency situations.
• Manages policy studies related to student transportation for better efficiencies.
• Develops and maintains contact with the offices of the Mayor, other elected officials, agency officials, representatives of City agencies and City projects, and external partners.
• Available to handle all breaking news, including evenings and weekends, regarding pupil transportation.

Qualification Requirements:

Minimum

A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management; or in a related area. 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above; or

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of professional experience in the areas described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience, as described in "1" above.

Preferred

• Overall knowledge of the OPT and various operations of the NYCPS.
• Knowledge of public relations and office management procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Experience in media communications, market research, and fact-checking.
• Understanding of public relations in a public school environment.
• Highly developed expertise in the methods and procedures related to publication.
• Highly sophisticated understanding of public relations.
• Skills in directing media attention and scheduling public events.

Salary : $126,054 - $138,659

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

* New York City Residency is NOT Required *

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
DOE Non- Discrimination Policy
The Department of Education of 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 upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy .
Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ .