Speechwriter and Executive Communications Manager

ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE TITLE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES. ADD EIN# TO RESUME The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety.

The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody.

Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities.

The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

The Department of Correction seeks to appoint a Speechwriter and Executive Communications Manager who under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent action and decision-making will write remarks, briefing materials, scripts, statements and quotes for the Commissioner and agency leadership.

In addition, the job candidate must be able to adapt to a fast-paced environment, managing multiple competing priorities and using sound judgment in decision-making, while effectively disseminating Departmental information. The selected candidate’s responsibilities may include, but will not be limited to the following:

• Draft speeches, remarks, talking points, briefing packages, scripts and other written materials for the Commissioner and senior leaders.
• Work with internal and external partners to coordinate scheduling and other details of agency participation in events.
• Staff and support agency leaders at events.
• Work with subject matter experts and others within the agency to ensure that information is accurate and represents the voice of the Department.
• Provide additional support as needed to colleagues, including, but not limited to, the Assistant Commissioner of Social Media Platforms, internal communications teams and the press office.

Preferred Skills

• Strong writing, editing and proofreading skills and the ability to write quickly and clearly under deadline pressure.
• Experience working with executive leaders a plus.
• Must work well independently and as a team member.
• Ability to handle multiple deadline assignments in a fast-paced and quickly changing environment.
• Prior government experiences a plus.
• Must be available to work after hours, weekend and during emergencies as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services, including one year at the administrative or managerial level; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above.

Graduate education or a license may substitute for up to a maximum of three years of experience in the area of social services, but not for the one year of experience at the administrative or managerial level as described in "1" above, as follows: (A) A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, child welfare, counseling, economics, education, finance, human resources, labor relations, management, management science, nursing, operations research, organizational behavior, personnel or public administration, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics, and/or urban studies may substitute for two years of experience; and/or (B) Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university in the area(s) listed in “2(A)” above for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years; or (C) A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) may substitute for three years of experience.

However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position