Chief Communications Officer, Chancellor's Office - 27007

Develops, leads, and directs the strategic vision for communications, marketing, and media relations for the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS). This strategy focuses on three core areas: informing stakeholders with critical information, celebrating the goals and successes of the nation’s largest school system, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders through mainstream, community, and ethnic media. The role requires strategic vision, strong writing skills, government or corporate communications experience, digital strategy expertise, team management, and the ability to execute media strategies across multiple platforms in a fast-paced environment.

About the Role

Reports to the Chancellor and oversees a team including the Deputy Chief Communications Officer, Executive Director of Communications and Media Relations, and Senior Advisor. Key relationships include the Chancellor’s Office, City Hall Communications Team, Deputy Chancellors, and Senior Cabinet members.

Responsibilities

• Develops the comprehensive and proactive communications, press, and marketing strategy for NYCPS, ensuring message alignment across all verticals.
• Serves as a top-level advisor to the Chancellor and senior leaders on all communications matters, providing recommendations and presentations as needed.
• Acts as chief liaison to the City Hall communications team and collaborates with other City agency communications leaders and external stakeholders.
• Leads and sets priorities for the Office of Communications, including short-term and long-term communication plans.
• Drives crisis communications and rapid response for NYCPS central, field, and district offices, as well as schools.
• Develops and implements a digital communications strategy to disseminate accurate information quickly to families, press, and stakeholders, with recommendations for expanding digital platforms.
• Creates and executes proactive communications strategies to convey strong, positive messaging to all stakeholders.
• Oversees writing and research assignments, such as speeches, meeting remarks, and op-eds, in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
• Develops and drives the agency’s internal and external strategic marketing and branding plan.
• Provides the Chancellor and Senior Leadership with performance analysis of communication planning and underperforming campaigns.
• Advises on internal communications strategy, including weekly written communications and content development for NYCPS platforms.
• Prepares and briefs leadership for interviews, events, and meetings; vets public-facing information for external stakeholders.
• Monitors relevant local and national media stories related to NYCPS initiatives.
• Manages external communications from the press office, including materials for media stories, initiatives, and events.
• Represents NYCPS at interagency meetings and public forums as needed.
• Fosters an inclusive, value-aligned environment to guide communication approaches.
• Supervises contracts related to communications initiatives, including public awareness campaigns and paid media budgets.
• Measures and reports progress and results of communications and marketing campaigns to senior leaders.
• Assigns high-priority special projects to staff as needed.

Requirements

• A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and ten (10) years of professionally responsible experience in public relations, journalism, advertising, or closely related fields; or a satisfactory equivalent.

Qualifications

• Commitment to improving public education and ensuring equitable access to high-quality schools.
• Management experience within a government agency or large, complex organization in a public relations and communications capacity.
• Familiarity with education issues and the NYCPS system.
• Experience managing large teams.
• Commitment to equity in communications, ensuring all families have equal access to information and tools.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and lead projects under uncertainty or ambiguity.
• Understanding of current communication trends, including web technologies, social networking, and media tools.
• Experience creating and managing social media platforms (e.g., X, Facebook, Instagram).
• Strong writing skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, complex environment.

Pay

$239,000 - $262,900 (Internal candidates who are selected for this position and currently hold comparable or less senior roles within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)