Government Communications Officer

About the Position
The Government Communications Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing effective media strategies to create visibility, awareness, and positive perceptions of HRA; effectively publicizing HRA's services, programs, initiatives, events, and achievements; and promoting HRA's image through print and broadcast media.

Main Responsibilities
Work closely with the Deputy Commissioner to formulate goals and set standards for HRA/DSS media relations.
Research and update media list, manage media database, and coordinate media outreach.
Prepare policy statements, reports, speeches, news releases, and editorial responses.
Ensure accuracy and correctness of information released to the media.
Initiate print and broadcast media coverage, serving as agency spokesperson or coordinating press inferences and interviews with the Commissioner and other key executive level staff.
Prepare press briefings and initiate prep sessions prior to interviews and press conferences; coach and train HRA senior staff in responding to the media.
Maintain liaison with the Mayor's press office.
Establish and maintain contact with media representatives, including editors, reporters, interviewers, researchers, etc., for television, radio, newspapers, and magazines, and respond to their inquiries about specific agency-related information.
Presentation of the agency's positions and initiatives to newspaper editorial writers and columnists.
Interface with HRA/DSS responsibility center executive staff to stay abreast of current issues related to media coverage.