Communications Specialist - Agency for Human Rights (9772)

Position Summary: 
Under the general supervision and direction of the department Communications Director, the Communications Specialist develops, implements, and evaluates public education and digital communications strategies that advance the mission of the Agency for Human Rights (AHR). 

The Agency for Human Rights’ work to enforce civil and human rights protections, relies on ensuring that San Franciscans understand their rights, know how to access available protections and services, and are aware of the resources available to them. As a key member of the Communications Team, the Communications Specialist lead efforts to educate the public about AHR's programs, initiatives, policies, and enforcement activities through innovative, accessible, and community-centered communications. 

The incumbent serves as the department's lead for digital engagement, including website content, social media strategy, digital storytelling, and online public education campaigns. In addition, the position develops broader public education strategies that utilize multiple communications channels and outreach methods to reach residents where they are, particularly communities that have historically faced barriers to accessing government information and services. 

Working closely with AHR divisions, community-based organizations, City partners, and other stakeholders, the Communications Specialist identifies effective ways to communicate with diverse audiences, including but not limited to low-income residents, communities of color, immigrants, youth, seniors, LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically marginalized populations. The incumbent develops culturally responsive and accessible educational content that promotes awareness of civil and human rights protections and strengthens public understanding of the department's work and impact. 

The position also supports the Communications Director in advancing the department's overall communications strategy, public information efforts, media engagement, community outreach initiatives, and special projects. 

Essential Duties: 

• Leads the development and implementation of department-wide public education campaigns regarding civil and human rights protections, programs, services, and resources.  
• Identifies and implements innovative strategies to reach underserved and historically marginalized communities through digital, print, in-person, and community-based communications channels.  
• Develops educational materials, toolkits, presentations, videos, social media content, and other resources that translate complex legal, policy, and programmatic information into accessible and actionable information for the public. Serves as the department's lead for digital communications, including website management, social media strategy, content development, and audience engagement. Creates and maintains a forward calendar for all departmental communications, to map out events, initiatives, campaigns, and other departmental business in a clear and coordinated way. 
• Develop digital marketing and public information programs that support the department’s brand strategy objectives, engage the public, and identify innovative methods to bring targeted messages to all audiences. 
• Researches and analyzes industry trends and areas for growth and sets departmental goals accordingly; identifies opportunities for improving engagement with and service to the community; serves as in-house authority on best-practice approaches to digital media. 
• Prepares and delivers to management, reports relating to trends, site and platform usage, needed improvements, and areas of success. Assists with maintaining department brand, style, and voice across all platforms and through all content. 
• Supports department communications efforts with drafting of public statements, media releases, talking points for leadership, and event briefing notes, among other materials. 
• Assists department custodian of records with coordination of requests for public records. 
• Additional duties assigned by department Communications Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND two (2) years of administrative/professional experience in community development, housing and/or housing development, workforce development, finance, education, social work, children/youth work, criminal justice or elections related work; OR

2. Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the following fields: public or business administration, urban planning, government, social work, education, finance or criminal justice AND one (1) year of administrative/professional experience in community development, housing and/or housing development, workforce development, finance, education, social work, children/youth work, criminal justice or elections related work; OR

3. Possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in public policy, planning, social work, public administration, finance, education, criminal justice, or business administration; OR

4.Possession of a Ph.D. or Juris Doctor degree from an accredited college or university.

SUBSTITUTION:

Verifiable administrative/professional experience involving community development, housing and/or housing development, workforce development, finance, education, social work, children/youth work, criminal justice and/or elections related work may substitute for the educational requirement in Minimum Qualification #1 on a year-for-year basis.

Verification: 

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements”

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:  Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements”

The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the qualifications of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose qualifications most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the next stage of the selection process. The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please send your inquires to Nikki Chew, Sr. HR Consultant, nikki.chew@sfgov.org.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.