Public Info. Officer (MOLA)

  • Manages media relations, including pitching stories and responding to inquiries

  • Develops and implements a comprehensive public information strategy for the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs

  • Builds relationships with government agencies and community organizations


About the Company

The Bowser Administration seeks an energetic and qualified candidate to serve as the Public Information Officer of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA) in the Executive Office of the Mayor. The mission of MOLA is to improve the quality of life of the District's Latino residents by addressing a broad range of social and economic needs through strategic management of public and private partnerships, expertise on policy, community relations, civic engagement and community-based grants.

About the Job

The Public Information Officer is responsible for managing the creation and implementation of strategic communications for the Mayor, MOLA, and the District of Columbia to engage, empower, and improve the quality of life for Latino constituents. Working with the Executive Office of the Mayor Communications team and with MOLA leadership, the Public Information Officer will use a variety of tools and strategies to ensures the presentation of a strong and positive message to the public regarding the Administration’s policies and programs.

Responsibilities

  • Establishes and maintains excellent relationships with local and regional media outlets, including print and broadcast journalists, and bloggers; responds to media inquiries; proactively engages with local and regional media to pitch stories

  • Plans, directs and executes a comprehensive public information strategy on the initiatives and functions of the Mayor's Office on Latino Affairs collaborates with senior leadership to plan and develop goals and objectives for implementing long and short­-term communications

  • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with District government and community agencies

  • Analyzes communications issues, and advises the Director and Deputy Director public perceptions to the agencies’ programs and activities

  • Develop and manage send of the weekly MOLA newsletter in English and Spanish

  • Develops and utilizes a variety of communication outlets to inform, involve, and engage employees in the agencies’ mission, values and programs

  • Evaluates communications efforts and achievements, and recommends appropriate modifications

  • Creates briefing memos, talking points, articles, websites, social media postings, and other communications on a wide variety of issues

  • Uses feedback and evaluation systems to evaluate effectiveness of communications activities

  • Participates in senior staff meetings and serves on committees, as appropriate

  • Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Minimum three (3) years’ experience in public relations, communications, public policy or a related field

  • Bilingual in English and Spanish

  • Demonstrated connections to and past interactions with members of the local and regional press corps

  • Mastery of the principles, methods and techniques of effective communications

  • Mastery of the methods, practices and procedures used in public relations, marketing and research, mass media, advertising, special interest groups, community relations, and government relations, as they relate to large organized projects and initiatives

  • Strong analytical, strategic and creative skills to develop and implement public outreach programs; and skill in developing strategies to disseminate information

  • Superior ability to manage multiple priorities and fast-paced work

  • Ability to effectively develop, organize, and present ideas and concepts to diverse groups, including government officials, journalists, analysts, and District residents

  • Superior writing, verbal and presentation skills

  • Strong, persuasive, compelling and engaging writing skills, in order to convey information concerning complex programs and functions to public individuals having diverse levels of understanding of the agency's programs and activities

  • Superior skill in responding orally to criticism of the agency’s functions or performance; and to logically and effectively explain programs, functions and activities, in order for the public to gain an understanding of the agency's efforts

  • Superior skill and ability to formulate, articulate, and coordinate an overall communications program that integrates departmental issues, and conveys complex information regarding policies, programs, and decisions

  • Superior interpersonal relationship skills to serve as the principal advisor and authority on communication issues for the agency; and to work with the senior leaders to address problem solving through communications

  • SPECIAL NOTE - SECURITY SENSITIVE

    • This position is deemed security sensitive

    • The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive

  • RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

    • There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted or Executive Service either:

      • be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment;

      • or become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment

    • The law also requires that Excepted Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment

    • Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment

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Dir., Child & Family Servs. (CFSA)

  • Oversee and manage Department operations, including policy development and program implementation

  • Ensure the well-being of children in the agency's care through various programs and services

  • Establish and implement effective management systems to promote accountability and efficiency


About the Company

The Bowser Administration seeks qualified candidates to serve as the next Director of the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA), the city’s public child welfare agency serving 2,600 children and youth and their families.Through fifteen years of aggressive child welfare reform accomplished through emphasizing prevention by addressing upstream factors and family wellness, CFSA has become a respected agency that routinely uses nationally recognized best practices to protect children and strengthen families while continuing to work toward higher levels of performance.

About the Job

The Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is the entity responsible for child welfare and child protection in the District of Columbia. Neglected and abused children and their families and those at risk of child maltreatment receive services from CFSA. The position of Director, Child and Family Services Agency is established in accordance with the "Child and Family Services Agency Establishment Amendment Act of 2000", D.C. law 13-277, which establishes the Child and Family Services Agency as a cabinet level agency and transfers to Child and Family Services Agency the power to conduct social service investigations of alleged child abuse and neglect cases.

The Director provides leadership and direction in the execution of the agency's programs, in deciding policies, and in planning and executing the development of programs within the framework of general policy determinations of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, and the D.C. Council.

Responsibilities

  • Plan, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate Department operations

  • Develop policies and procedures for the Department mandated by law, to ensure efficient operations of the Department, and to implement directives from the Mayor

  • Set and review Department performance and effectiveness, and formulate programs or policies to alleviate deficiencies or expand successes

  • Develop policies to assure the well-being of children in the care of the agency

  • Manage a portfolio of programs to ensure the families and children live together safely in strong communities, the agency has focused on a full continuum of services including community-based prevention strategies, prevention of out-of-home placements, kinship care, foster care, and therapeutic group homes, adoptions and post-adoption services; are provided through the agency directly and through a wide range of Community partners and Service providers

  • Organize planning, developing, coordinating and implementing an effective child well-being program for the children and youth of the District of Columbia

  • Manage day-to-day basis with the coordination and general review, for adherence to prescribed policy and procedures, of the activities of the Child and Family Services Agency

  • Assures effective management and cost-effective use of resources through the Agency by means of final approval on key policies and decisions (resource allocation, personnel actions, contracts and procurement)

  • Assures accountability for use of resources and for accomplishment of goals and objectives by establishing and implementing management policies, procedures and systems for CFSA programs

  • Performs other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in social services, health care administration, public administration or a closely related field

  • Ten (10) years or more of executive level experience

  • RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

    • There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted Service either:

      • be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment;

      • or become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment

    • The law also requires that Excepted Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment

    • Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment

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