Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer

City of New York•New York City, NY

22h

About The Position

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) is seeking a Chief Communications and External Affairs Officer to shape how the agency is represented and understood across New York City. This role leads the agency’s communications, media, intergovernmental affairs, and public-facing engagement, ensuring that messaging is clear, consistent, and grounded in the agency’s work. Key audiences include youth and families, community-based organizations, City agency partners, policymakers, and DYCD staff. This is not a traditional communications role. It sits at the intersection of strategy, communications, and external engagement, translating complex programs, policy priorities, political intelligence, and lived experiences into messaging that resonates across the agency’s full ecosystem. The CCEAO ensures that all outward-facing communications and intergovernmental engagement reflect a coherent and aligned agency voice. This role works in close partnership with the Commissioner, Chief of Staff, and Senior Advisor to ensure that the way the agency shows up externally is aligned with internal priorities and citywide direction. The CCEAO develops and implements communications strategies that elevate awareness of DYCD’s work and ensures clear, accurate, and accessible information about services and initiatives affecting young New Yorkers and their families. The AC/DC/CCEAO oversees press and media engagement, public messaging, digital communications, the information and referral call center, and strategic outreach efforts, ensuring that communications effectively support the agency’s mission and respond to emerging issues affecting young people.

Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four (4) years of satisfactory, relevant, full-time, experience in community planning, community relations, development and organization including one (1) year in a supervisory, administrative, consultative, managerial or executive capacity
A satisfactory combination of education and experience equivalent to the above
One (1) year of specialized experience as described above

Responsibilities

Define and guide DYCD’s overarching narrative, ensuring clarity and consistency across initiatives, audiences, and platforms
Establish standards for messaging, tone, and visual identity across the agency
Ensure alignment with mayoral priorities and citywide messaging
Lead internal and external communications strategy, including media, digital, speechwriting, and public messaging
Oversee development and execution of communications plans for major initiatives and agency priorities
Direct crisis communications and high-profile responses
Oversee press, media relations, and public-facing engagement
Ensure timely, accurate, and strategic responses to media inquiries
Support press events, public appearances, and external engagements
Align communications related to engagement with City Hall, elected officials, and agency partners
Ensure consistency and coordination in how the agency communicates across government
Partner with intergovernmental affairs staff to support briefing materials, testimony, and external coordination
Oversee Community Connect Call Center - A contact center and information and referral hub that connects youth and families to services, benefits and local resources
Ensure communications are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the communities served
Oversee language access and equitable communication practices
Partner with equity leadership to align messaging with broader equity priorities
Translate agency work for diverse audiences, including young people, providers, community-based organizations, elected officials, and city leadership
Ensure messaging reflects both policy intent and lived experience
Provide direct counsel to the Commissioner on messaging, positioning, and external engagement
Work closely with the Chief of Staff to ensure alignment between messaging and execution
Partner with the Senior Advisor to align communications with strategic, initiative-based intergovernmental and cross-sector efforts