Chief of Public Affairs

The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) advises the Mayor on public safety policy and is the Mayor’s representative to the courts, district attorneys, defenders, and state criminal justice agencies, among others.

The office designs, deploys, and evaluates citywide strategies to drive down crime, reduce unnecessary arrests and incarceration, and improve the system’s fairness.

MOCJ works with law enforcement and city agencies, non-profits, foundations, and others to implement data-driven strategies that address current crime conditions, prevent offending, and build the strong neighborhoods that ensure enduring safety.

About the Role :

The Chief of Public Affairs serves as MOCJ’s senior level member responsible for developing and overseeing all strategy for communication with the public, and the press.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Chief of Public Affairs advises the Director and ensures that MOCJ’s public affairs work is effective and advances strategic goals.

Among the tasks that this leader will need to execute are :

Conceiving and implementing a broad strategic public affairs plan to further the goals of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

Determine the most effective communications, public education and engagement, research dissemination, and community engagement tactics to implement this plan.

Shaping the language, images, and multimedia that represent the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and its work compellingly, convincingly, and accurately.

Ensuring consistent, clear messaging across all modes of communication, including traditional and new media, in-depth analytic reports, op-eds, fact sheets, testimony, text for video and podcasts, speeches, proposals and presentations.

Managing media relations, including story development, media targeting, pitching, and

relationship management. Planning proactive media campaigns and outreach, as well as rapid response work in reaction to breaking news.

Monitoring the media for opportunities to engage.

Overseeing the executive briefing process, which entails critically thinking about topics, compiling comprehensive issue summaries, and briefing executives.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Do you have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university?

2. Do you have an associate degree from an accredited college or university along with two years of experience with administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities?

3. Do you have a four-year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent approved by a state's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization along with four years of experience as described in question "2" above?

4. Do you have a satisfactory combination of education and / or experience equivalent to that described in questions "1," "2," and / or "3" above?

Preferred Skills

Qualifications : - A baccalaureate from an accredited college / university. A minimum of five years of full-time, relevant professional experience in public affairs and / or journalism.

Advanced degree in a relevant field preferred. - Outstanding written and communication skills, including proven ability to translate complex social science research and recommendations into engaging documents targeted to experts and practitioners, decision makers, journalists, and the public.

• Knowledge of the criminal and juvenile justice systems in New York City preferred. - Excellent organizational, time-management and multi-tasking skills, including the ability to take initiative, problem solve, prioritize duties, balance competing priorities, work independently and within a fast-paced and team environment, paying close attention to detail, meeting deadlines and working well under pressure.
• Effective and creative management skills, which includes leadership ability with the capacity to work both independently and cooperatively to effect key strategies.

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 class "jobad-residencyRequirement">

Residency RequirementNew York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County.

To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.