Deputy Spokesperson (1373), Media Relations, Chief of Staff & External Affairs Division - SF Municipal Transportation Agency

City and County of San Francisco • San Francisco, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Media Relations Manager & Chief Spokesperson within the Chief of Staff & External Affairs Division, the Deputy Spokesperson serves as an integral communications representative for the SFMTA. The position manages a high volume of complex and high-profile communications and reputational issues, coordinating messaging across the agency. The Deputy Spokesperson is a key point of contact for the media, providing timely and accurate information both in proactive and reactive opportunities to include updates on daily operations, policy changes, and critical incidents. This individual plays a critical role in advancing the SFMTA’s mission while providing transparency and strengthening public trust and informing and educating the public on SFMTA projects and services.

Requirements

• Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; AND Six (6) years of full-time professional experience in publicity work, mass media, communications or similar work involving collection, dissemination and communication of news and information to the general public; AND Possession of a current, valid Driver License.
• Additional experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units equal one year.

Nice To Haves

• Exceptional verbal communication skills with experience speaking publicly and on the record with reporters.
• Proven experience in developing, pitching, and writing for diverse audiences, including press releases, blogs, and social media posts.
• A deep understanding of broadcast media with current relationships with local and national press across television, radio, and print publications.
• Knowledge of San Francisco’s transportation system, including transit operations and parking enforcement.
• Ability to assess community perceptions and craft strong narrative messaging to reinforce and promote transparency.
• Ability to use video equipment and editing software to produce stories or packages for the website, newsroom b-roll, and social media.
• Agility working in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment that requires rapid responses to planned and unanticipated events and emergencies under a deadline.
• Strong interest in enhancing urban transportation networks and a strong sense of advocacy for transit as a viable transportation mode.
• Understanding of diverse needs in San Francisco, including for neighborhoods, stakeholders and government partners.
• Ability to communicate fluently in one of the languages listed on San Francisco’s Language Access Ordinance (presently, Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino) is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the agency’s voice while promoting SFMTA activities and responding to real-time news inquiries via television, radio, and written statement interviews.
• Responds to daily inquiries from local and national media, drafts press releases and talking points and organizes press conferences.
• Identifies potential news stories to clearly communicate achievements.
• Assists in developing coordinated campaigns to educate the public on safety, operational efficiency and financial updates and transportation policies.
• Serves as an on-call representative for late-breaking news or transit emergencies, providing live updates to the public and media partners as needed.
• Conceptualizes impactful, data-driven, and compelling communications collateral including messages, talking points, social media posts, video scripts, and speeches.
• Identifies emerging topics and leads the development and execution of proactive communication plans.
• Advises and counsels the Communications Director as well as executive and senior management on media and audience strategies.
• Uses data to evaluate, adjust and target communications.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Permanent Exempt - This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior