Assistant Director Public Information

Under the direction of the Director of Public Information in the Division of Communications, Outreach, Media & Messaging Strategy (COMMS), the Assistant Director of Public Information will lead media outreach, crisis communications, and multi-channel messaging on behalf of OASAS. The incumbent will collaborate with senior leadership to shape positive internal and external narratives and translate complex agency data into accessible public information.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate timely, accurate responses to press inquiries, working with team members, subject matter experts and leadership to gather facts, draft statements, and secure necessary approvals (including from the Governor’s Office when required).
• Serve as a liaison between executive staff and the press, providing background info, preparing officials for interviews, and coordinating live or remote opportunities.
• Identify, develop and pitch positive stories to press highlighting staff/providers.
• Accompany the Commissioner or other agency executives when attending press events. Interface with news media. Ensure media has accurate information about agency involvement and initiatives. May photograph/record leadership and staff at public events.
• Provide strategic guidance to executives, assist with event planning, and serve on an on-call rotation for after-hours/weekend press inquiries and crisis communications.
• Draft and edit a wide range of external collateral, including press releases, media advisories, statements, letters to the editor, reports, fact sheets, and print/web articles.
• Write internal memos, correspondence, briefing materials, and proofread written collateral developed across the COMMS team.
• Partner with leadership to research and draft remarks, talking points, and testimony for the Commissioner and executives, ensuring accuracy, data consistency, and alignment with agency initiatives.
• Create engaging, professional, brand-compliant social and web copy highlighting agency initiatives, data reports, and events.
• Partner with the Campaigns/Public Awareness and Digital Directors to support public awareness initiatives.
• Collaborate with medical directors to draft and distribute public health notices across digital channels, provider networks, and the press.
• Manage departmental and agency projects by establishing milestones, defining deliverables, and ensuring timely completion. Identify and incorporate new communication mediums ranging from digital to grassroots.
• Collaborate under supervisory direction with state agencies, the Governor’s Office, external partners, and elected officials on events and material development and distribution. Coordinate review and approval of all co-branded materials to ensure accurate agency representation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Nine years of experience in public relations, journalism, communications, media relations, advertising, or a closely related field.

Two years of this experience must have been at a supervisory level.

An associate’s degree may substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of specialized experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of specialized experience; a J.D. may substitute for six years of specialized experience; or a Ph.D. may substitute for seven years of specialized experience.

Degrees must be in the disciplines of public relations, journalism, communications, media relations, advertising, or a closely related discipline.

Ideal Candidate: A self-motivated, strong writer and strategist with a journalism or news-driven PR background, highly proficient in leveraging both traditional and social media.