Director of Mental Hygiene Communications, Office of the Executive Deputy Commissioner

About the role

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Division of Mental Hygiene (DMH) is seeking a strategic, equity-driven communications leader to serve as Director of Communications within the Office of the Executive Deputy Commissioner (EDC). This is an opportunity to shape how eight million New Yorkers understand and access behavioral health services, through compelling public messaging, media engagement, and community-centered communication strategies.

Duties will include but not be limited to

• Lead proactive identification of divisional communications priorities through community engagement, stakeholder listening, and ongoing analysis of the public's behavioral health information needs.
• Conduct research and analysis to identify emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities in behavioral health communications, ensuring that strategies are data-driven and evidence-based.
• Lead rapid-response communications during public health events, behavioral health crises, or policy developments requiring timely, accurate, and accessible public-facing messaging.
• Ensure communications are accessible, culturally responsive, and available in languages that reflect the diversity of New York City's communities, in partnership with relevant agency offices.
• Design and implement research initiatives to evaluate the effectiveness of communications strategies, including community surveys, focus groups, and data analysis, to inform continuous improvement.
• Directly supervise and mentor the Division's Communications Officer, supporting their professional development and ensuring high-quality execution of communications work products.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to integrate research findings into communications planning and decision-making processes.
• Support additional communications and research projects as identified by agency or bureau leadership.

Preferred Skills

• 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in communications, public affairs, or a related field, with demonstrated expertise in public health or behavioral health contexts.
• Experience in media relations, digital communications, and the development of public-facing messaging campaigns or materials.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality written work products under deadline, including press statements, talking points, social media content, toolkits, and executive communications.
• Experience working in or with government agencies or large mission-driven organizations preferred. Multilingual ability a plus.
• Supervisory experience preferred.

Why you should work for us?

Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website

• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

• o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund.
• o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.

• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Qualifications & Requirements

• For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.

To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have

• A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE: Probationary Period

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.