Director of Public Affairs

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Director of Public Affairs

Chicago Department of Public Health
Public Information Office

Number of Positions: 1
(Additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)

Starting Salary: $108,060

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm CDT on 05/15/2025

Mission: CDPH works with communities and partners to create an equitable, safe, resilient and Healthy Chicago.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is seeking highly qualified applicants for the position of Director of Public Affairs. Under direction, the successful candidate will manage and direct the public affairs and media relations activities for CDPH.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

* Coordinates and oversees CDPH's public affairs and media relations activities
* Develops strategies to create and maintain a positive image of the department
* Directs public information programs to convey the department's mission, goals, and services to the general public
* Promotes goodwill for the department through public relations activities and media campaigns
* Meets with supervisory staff to oversee and coordinate public relations activities
* Serves as liaison to various City groups (e.g., the Mayor's Press Secretary's Office, City Council) regarding public information issues
* Arranges new conferences and interviews for departmental personnel
* Serves as department spokesperson to the news media
* Researches, writes, and edits speeches and talking points for department managers
* Develops content for messages to be communicated to the public (e.g., public service announcements, press releases, intranet and internet websites, promotional materials)
* Serves as liaison with public relations, marketing and media representatives, community groups, and other outside stakeholders
* Reviews and approves budget requests for the public affairs unit, as required

NOTE: The list of essential duties is not intended to be inclusive; there may be other duties that are essential to particular positions within the class.

Location: 111 W. Washington Street
Days: Monday - Friday
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM THE CAREER SERVICE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications, or a directly related field, plus five years of work experience in the development and implementation of public information programs, of which two years are in a supervisory role related to the responsibilities of the position; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

Interested candidates may apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to Maria Gallegos at maria.gallegos@cityofchicago.org by no later than 11:59 pm on 05/15/2025.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Experience in social marketing and crisis communication
• Understanding health literacy and tailoring messages to diverse audiences
• Expertise in a wide range of communication channels including social media

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/benefits-office.html

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dhr/supp_info/JobClassification/2025_Classification_and_Pay_Plan.pdf

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resource staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. To learn more about our hiring practices click here.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, Mayor

Job Posting: May 1, 2025, 9:00 AM

Closing Date (Period for Applying): May 15, 2025, 11:59 PM

Salary: $108,060

Pay Basis: Yearly