Deputy Director of Communications

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Deputy Director of Communications serves in a senior strategic communications and policy advisory capacity within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR). The role provides leadership in formulating, developing, evaluating, and implementing agency-wide communications policies, strategic initiatives, and organizational priorities across OCABR and its five component agencies. In collaboration with the Director of Communications, Undersecretary, Deputy Undersecretary, and agency leadership, the Deputy Director contributes to executive-level policy development and strategic decision-making. The Deputy Director independently evaluates proposed policies and initiatives, identifies communications implications and potential policy concerns, and recommends modifications to support agency objectives. The role advises senior leaders on public policy, regulatory initiatives, consumer protection, licensing programs, legislative developments, and related issues. It develops and directs communications strategies involving media relations, digital communications, websites, social media, public information campaigns, executive messaging, visual communications, and performance evaluation. The position directs the development and review of official communications, including executive briefings, policy statements, speeches, talking points, press releases, consumer alerts, public guidance, and educational materials. It coordinates media inquiries, press outreach, educational content, videos, event presentations, and executive briefing materials, and supports annual communications planning and communications related to policies, regulations, legislative and legal matters, consumer protection, and licensing programs. The Deputy Director provides strategic oversight of sensitive media inquiries and public records requests in consultation with OCABR leadership, legal counsel, and records custodians. It evaluates communications risks and disclosure considerations, including potential redactions, in accordance with applicable law and agency procedures. The role also directs public engagement and outreach initiatives, advises on outreach planning and materials, attends community outreach events, and coordinates participation by the agencies within OCABR. When assigned, the Deputy Director acts as the representative of the Director of Communications and assumes delegated strategic, operational, and decision-making responsibilities. The position provides direction and oversight to communications co-ops and interns, including assigning work, establishing priorities, monitoring performance, and coordinating daily activities. It handles sensitive, privileged, or otherwise protected information and performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

At least five years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, professional internship, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration, or clinical management, or an equivalent combination of experience and qualifying substitutions.
Outstanding writing and editing skills.
Strong attention to detail.
Ability to write under tight deadlines.
Ability to analyze and interpret complex public policies, legislative developments, regulatory matters, and government programs and translate them into clear, accessible public communications.
Ability to communicate effectively with and engender trust within the media community.
Strong knowledge of social media platforms, best practices, and strategies for public engagement, content development, and digital communications.
Strong visual communication and branding skills, including maintaining consistent messaging and presentation across communications platforms.
Ability to learn new software and digital platforms quickly, including video and sound editing software.
Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating strategic communications plans, public information campaigns, and organizational communications initiatives.
Ability to establish collaborative relationships internally and externally.
Ability to work with legislative, legal, and executive stakeholders.
Experience developing and maintaining relationships with members of the media, responding to complex inquiries, coordinating media strategies, and managing sensitive or high-profile communications issues.
Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and demonstrate sound professional judgment when handling sensitive policy, legal, or executive-level matters.
Applicants must attach a cover letter and resume to their online submission.
A relevant or related certificate may substitute for one year of the required experience.
A Bachelor's degree in a related field may substitute for two years of the required experience.
A Graduate degree in a related field may substitute for three years of the required experience.
A Doctorate degree in a related field may substitute for four years of the required experience.

Responsibilities

Develop, establish, and direct agency-wide strategic communications policies, priorities, and initiatives for OCABR.
Set messaging priorities and standards for media relations, social media, website content and improvements, visual communications, and performance analytics.
Direct major communications initiatives and ensure consistency with agency policy objectives and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.
Advise executive leadership on communications policy, emerging issues, reputational considerations, and public engagement priorities.
Participate in developing agency-wide policies, strategic goals, and organizational objectives in collaboration with executive leadership.
Evaluate policy initiatives and advise leadership on strategic communications considerations and communications strategies aligned with policy objectives.
Direct the development and oversight of executive communications, including policy statements, speeches, remarks, talking points, video scripts, public outreach plans, and press releases.
Represent the communications function in executive-level, programmatic, and legal policy discussions and provide recommendations on policy development and public communications priorities.
Develop and direct media relations initiatives, policies, and protocols in coordination with leadership and legal counsel.
Evaluate and manage complex, sensitive, and high-profile media inquiries; determine communications strategies and advise leadership on public messaging and reputational considerations.
Coordinate official media responses and public records requests with legal counsel and relevant program areas to support compliance with public records laws, confidentiality requirements, and agency policies.
Review sensitive records and recommend disclosure and redaction considerations in consultation with legal counsel and designated records custodians.
Set media engagement priorities, direct proactive and responsive press activities, monitor emerging media issues, and recommend responses to communications risks and policy implications.
Develop and direct agency-wide public engagement, outreach, and executive event initiatives in collaboration with communications, outreach, and agency leadership.
Establish event priorities and outreach objectives, and advise executive leadership on engagement strategies and opportunities to strengthen stakeholder relationships.
Direct planning and execution of in-person and virtual executive briefings, public forums, webinars, and stakeholder engagement activities.
Oversee policy research, executive briefing materials, event messaging, promotional strategies, and logistical coordination for outreach and events.
Evaluate outreach effectiveness and recommend strategic adjustments to agency engagement policies and priorities.
Independently evaluate proposed policies, programs, and strategic initiatives; identify communications implications and potential policy concerns; and recommend improvements to inform executive decisions.
Direct the development, review, and refinement of policy briefs, executive communications, public statements, and related materials.
Assist with the annual communications plan and support leadership and agencies with consumer alerts, guidance, and policy briefs.
Manage and coordinate communications involving OCABR and agency websites, social media accounts, media inquiries, press outreach, educational content, videos, event presentations, and executive briefing materials.
Advise on community outreach planning and execution and prepare materials for community outreach activities.
Attend community outreach events and coordinate participation of OCABR component agencies.
Serve as acting representative for the Director of Communications when assigned, assuming delegated strategic, operational, and decision-making responsibilities.
Direct communications co-ops and interns by assigning work, setting priorities, monitoring performance, and coordinating daily activities.
Safeguard sensitive, privileged, and protected information in accordance with applicable laws and agency policies.
Perform other related duties as assigned, consistent with the position's responsibilities and delegated authority.