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City and County of San Francisco · 1 day ago

Communications and External Affairs Director (0941)-Public Works (162563)

San Francisco, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Lead/Staff, Director/Executive

$197K/yr - $251K/yr

4+ years exp

The City and County of San Francisco is seeking a Communications and External Affairs Director to lead strategic messaging and community partnerships for the Public Works department. This role involves overseeing media relations, digital communications, and policy initiatives to effectively communicate the department's mission and engage with various stakeholders.

GovernmentSmall and Medium Businesses

Comp. & Benefits

Responsibilities

Direct and manage all media relations activities, including drafting and approving press releases, preparing responses to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, developing crisis communication strategies, and crafting proactive narratives that showcase departmental initiatives and achievements

Establish and guide the strategic vision for digital communications across social media platforms, newsletters, website content, and public-facing reports—ensuring brand consistency, accuracy, and transparency

Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Director and executive leadership, offering counsel on high-profile issues, public positioning, and reputation management strategies

Act as the department’s spokesperson at public events and high-visibility meetings, and function as a senior liaison with governmental agencies and community partners

Provide oversight for departmentwide policy initiatives, ensuring alignment with the San Francisco Public Works Strategic Plan and the Mayor’s priority objectives

Prepare senior leadership for major public appearances, hearings, and media engagements, ensuring messaging is clear, consistent, and strategically positioned

Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary external affairs team encompassing communications, public information, digital content, stakeholder engagement, and legislative/government relations

Oversee research and analysis of municipal policy issues, including legislation, regulatory developments, and emerging trends impacting Public Works operations

Direct research, briefings, and analysis related to external affairs priorities, including legislative updates, community impacts, and strategic partnerships affecting departmental operations

Qualification

Strategic communicationsMedia relationsCrisis communicationDigital communicationsPolicy developmentLegislative affairsPublic engagementStakeholder engagementPublic speakingTeam leadership

Required

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Four (4) years of managerial experience, of which all must include supervisory experience in providing strategic direction, and managing communications workflows including developing strategic messaging, managing media relations and crisis communication efforts, and directing digital/public affairs strategies

Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to 2 years of the required education. One year (2,000 hours) of additional qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units