Department:	City Manager's Office
Job Title:	Director of Media Relations and Content Strategy
Job Code:	M538-701
Civil Service Position:	Non Civil Service position
Union Affiliation:	None
Hours Per Week:	37.5 hours per work week Monday 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon Flexibility around schedule is required, as evening and weekend availability may be required.

ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE:

Cambridge is a unique and growing urban community of 120,000 residents and is the fourth largest city in Massachusetts with an annual operating budget of $800M and over 1,600 full-time employees. Our community is diverse, with 34% of residents identifying as people of color and 34% of residents' home language is a language other than English. The city stands out as a hub of innovation and is home to Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an increasing number of biotechs and high-tech start-ups. The biotech corridor in Kendall Square has been called "the most innovative square mile on Earth," and has led the country in everything from the invention of rubber hoses to the development of Covid-19 vaccines. Cambridge has access to significant resources but is confronting similar challenges as other urban centers - rising housing costs, climate change, sustainable transportation, homelessness, and persistent economic and racial inequities. The City Council and City leadership are committed to being a leader and creating a city that works for everyone.

ABOUT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE:

The Public Information Office (PIO), which is a part of the Executive Office, serves as the City's liaison to the media; helps promote City programs and services; leads the coordination of the City's web, media, and social media strategy; and works to improve resident services. PIO staff work collaboratively with City departments to increase the types and quality of public information, increase communication with the City Council, and build internal communication capacity and collaboration.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Director of Media Relations and Content Strategy is a new position that will be responsible for organizing and executing the City's media relations program, including building, maintaining, and nurturing media relationships and managing and guiding the development of strategic content and stories from City departments for distribution across print, broadcast, and digital media.  The ideal candidate will be a curious, empathetic, and experienced communication professional who can align the City's public messaging with City goals and advance Cambridge's reputation as a national leader in local government.

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Planning and Communications, they will establish trusted and collaborative relationships with senior leaders, department heads, communications staff, and various departmental teams.  Finally, they will identify innovative ways to expand our outreach to our residents and drive local, regional, and national visibility. The Director of Media Relations and Content Strategy will be accountable for the success of the city's media relations program. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Helps promote the City via a comprehensive print, broadcast, and digital media relations program.
• Works as part of a diverse and highly collaborative communications team and provides support on high priority departmental communication strategies.
• Coordinates citywide story development process.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of existing communications products and platforms and develops or revises strategies accordingly.
• Works with the senior leadership to create and execute media relations plan to ensure consistent presence in local, regional, and national media markets.
• Advises departments of relevant news opportunities; keeps communications staff advised of relevant content.
• Functions as the City's primary media contact; responsible for day-to-day media pitches and inbound requests.
• Assigns and coordinates pitching and interview responsibilities among city communications team.
• Identifies and cultivates targeted media contacts and relationships.
• Oversees media contact database and creates regular media reporting.
• Facilitates media access to events and briefings.
• Supports staff in writing op-eds with editorial and media relations guidance.
• Writes and/or oversees the production of materials such as press releases, op-eds, talking points, short- and long-form stories, and presentations.
• Collaborates with public safety and community safety communications staff and the Director of Emergency Management to provide guidance and support on media relations and emergency and non-emergency communications efforts as needed.
• Responsible for ongoing media training of City leaders.
• Supervise contract and internal communications staff as assigned.
• Perform related duties as required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Experience and Education

• 8+ years of increasing communication and leadership responsibility in complex organizations.
• Experience managing teams in complex environments.
• Experience in media management, including the ability to identify, develop, and deploy strategies across multiple initiatives and complex relationships.
• Track record of establishing productive connections with media contacts and securing coverage in new outlets and platforms.
• Experience in simplifying complex and technical messages to effectively communicate to diverse sets of stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience in public sector communication opportunities and challenges and proven ability to identify, craft and pitch newsworthy stories.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with senior leaders, media contacts, and subject matter experts.
• Excellent communication, writing, storytelling, and presentation skills with high attention to detail.
• Ability to produce clear, compelling, motivating communications quickly.
• Deep sense of humility, curiosity, and learning-orientation.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity.
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Cambridge preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from a computer. Answer telephones and maintain multiple files. May require minimal lifting of up to 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: General office environment with air conditioning and fluorescent lighting. Requires attendance at off site meetings. Noise level can be high as the office is active with phone calls and walk in applicants. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City's new Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Vacation and Sick leave eligible
• Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
• 3 Personal days
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Management Allowance, $2,700/year
• City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Internal applicants submit a job bidding form and 2 copies of both your resume and cover letter; external applicants submit both your resume and cover letter via email to: employment@cambridgema.gov or to the Personnel Dept, Room 309, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA  02139. Fax 617-349-4312. Resume and cover letter requested by 2/21/23.  Position will remain open until filled.

THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED CATEGORY. WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. CITY OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES, WRITTEN MATERIALS IN ALTERNATIVE FORMATS, AND REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WILL BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES FREE OF CHARGE, UPON REQUEST. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.