The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 51,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/DCWP or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

DCWP is seeking a Spanish-speaking Deputy Press Secretary who, as part of DCWP’s Communications & Marketing Division, is responsible for managing the day-to-day press operations, including evenings and weekends as needed, and serving as the primary spokesperson for Spanish-language media. Day-to-day press operations, including but are not limited to: responding to daily media requests, composing press releases, press advisories, statements, remarks, Q&As, fact sheets, talking points (in both English and Spanish), developing and maintaining media lists; promoting agency initiatives through pitching, supporting and attending media events and other creative strategies; developing and distributing other information to the media; preparing DCWP staff for press interviews and events; and tracking relevant press coverage.

Specific duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Work with the Press Secretary to implement the agency press strategy and manage day-to-day press.
• Serve as an agency spokesperson and primary spokesperson for Spanish-language media. Generate press coverage, including proactive pitching to targeted outlets, and coordinating and attending press conferences and interviews, and responding to incoming news media requests on deadline, including drafting statements, researching background information, and coordinating messaging with relevant staff.
• Draft, edit and finalize press materials (press advisories and releases, op-eds, statements, letters to the editor, and other external communications), ensuring that they are clear, accurate, engaging, timely and newsworthy in both English and Spanish.
• Prepare spokespeople and staff for interviews with media outlets in both English and Spanish to ensure accuracy of information and delivery of key messages.
• Develop and maintain media lists.
• Research and cultivate relationships with reporters and editors.
• Create daily news roundups that summarize and track relevant press coverage.
• Assist with social media content, particularly for press-related posts.
• Work closely with the press staff of elected officials, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and business groups, to plan and execute events of different types, including roundtables, press conferences, and panel discussions.
• Other duties as needed.

No job description available

• Excellent writing skills, including proven and extensive experience writing and editing press releases, media advisories, talking points, speeches, blog posts, op-eds, etc.
• Strong project management skills, including organization and analytical skills, ability to meet deadlines, and attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge and experience working with New York City media. Established relationships with reporters and editors.
• Strong ability to condense complex and/or dense information, including the law, in a brief and engaging way.
• Ability to work with multiple divisions to find newsworthy stories and pitch stories and events to newspapers and television stations.
• Knowledge of social media.
• Knowledge of New York City government.
• Interest in consumer, worker, and business issues.
• Fluent written and spoken Spanish preferred.

In addition, the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers competitive salaries and the following benefits:

Paid Time Off and Holidays

• Paid time off for vacation and personal leave
• Paid time off for sick leave
• A generous holiday package of up to 13 days

Health Benefits

• Medical insurance plans
• Dental and vision insurance plans
• Employee assistance program

Financial and Savings Benefits

• 529 college savings plan
• Direct deposit
• Flexible spending account programs
• New York City Municipal Credit Union savings program
• Transit benefit programs
• Loan forgiveness

Retirement and Pension Plans

• New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) pension plan
• New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) 401(k) and 457 plan

Additional Benefits for Union Members

• Disability insurance
• Health club reimbursements
• Life insurance
• Supplemental hospital coverage
• Tuition reimbursement
• Please note only employees represented by a labor union may qualify for additional benefits provided by the union welfare fund.

Employee Discounts

• Apple and Dell products
• Cell phones and plans
• Gym memberships
• Special pricing on event tickets through Barclay Center, Plum Benefits and Working Advantage
• And more!

For Non-City/External Candidates: Visit the External Applicant NYC Careers site and type “Consumer and Worker Protection” on the search line. Then locate the Job ID number.

For Current City Employees: Visit Employee Self Service (ESS) to view and click on Recruiting Activities, Careers, and search by Job ID number.

A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED.
PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS POSITION.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
NO PHONE CALLS, FAXES, E-MAILS, OR PERSONAL INQUIRIES PERMITTED.
NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED.

• Appointments are subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval.

• 55-a Candidates: NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and culturally responsive workforce. We strongly encourage 55-A candidates to apply to our positions in order to be given the opportunity.

**The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

***LOAN FORGIVENESS: The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with DCWP qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program’s other requirements. Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

• Drug Screening: A drug screening may be required prior to being appointed.

As of August 2, 2021, all new hires must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability. If you are offered city employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved by the hiring agency.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations that enable people with disabilities to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by others. If you are contacted to attend an interview for one of our open vacancies and would like to request an accommodation for that date, please send an email to ReasonableAccommodationRequests@dcwp.nyc.gov.

If interested in being sent our job postings on a monthly basis, please email your resume at dcwpjobs@dcwp.nyc.gov. Make sure to include your personal contact information and the civil service title you are currently serving and civil service exams you have taken.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.