Position Summary:
Under the direction of the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff assists in running the day-to-day operations of the division. The incumbent serves as principal advisor providing comprehensive and proactive communications, strategies and planning, public relations, and news analysis to the Chief of Staff and Superintendent of Schools. The target audience includes all stakeholders to include the Board of Education, the Superintendent’s leadership team, school district employees, news media and community leaders. The Deputy Chief of Staff plans and conducts a broad information program concerning public education and all functions and services of the school system, so as to better articulate the appropriate messages. This position serves as a primary, on-the-record liaison of PGCPS with the national, regional, and local media under the direction of the Chief of Staff. The incumbent of this position serves as the Chief of Staff in the Chief’s absence.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serves as a member of the Superintendent’s executive leadership team and participates in executive leadership team meetings;
- Collaborates with the executive leadership team to design and implement short and long term priorities and initiatives for the district;
- Supports the Superintendent and Chief of Staff through leading strategic initiatives and providing project management;
- Advises and makes recommendations in regards to procedures and strategies relating to the efficient delivery of services and furthering the goals of the school system;
- Collaborates with the Superintendent, Chief of Staff and members of the executive leadership team on problem solving key issues and proactively seeking resolutions;
- Executes the work of the Superintendent and Chief of Staff with fidelity and confidentiality in alignment with the vision and goals of the school system;
- Serves as the Superintendent and Chief of Staff's designee in his/her absence to provide additional capacity as needed and ensure that core services continue to be provided as needed at various meetings, conferences and functions as required;
- Prepares and issues press releases to showcase students, staff, the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education and to highlight upcoming events or accomplishments;
- Builds and maintains a network of contacts, regularly updating lists of media and opinion leaders to whom press releases and publications are to be sent;
- Serves as primary spokesperson/liaison for school district and Superintendent in interacting with media for day-to-day news stories and media inquiries;
- Advises the Chief of Staff, Superintendent and senior staff on responding to requests for background and on-camera interviews and providing information about key initiatives;
- Cultivates professional working relationships with members of the media to enhance the image of the school system;
- Oversees story compilation to be incorporated into various internal and external communication materials to highlight media coverage of PGCPS;
- Responds to requests filed pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act working in tandem with the Office of General Counsel and Chief of Staff;
- Responds to and follows-up on requests from the Board of Education for information to assist Board Members in the discharge of their duties working in tandem with senior staff;
- Issues, on a regular basis, a Media Report, detailing ongoing inquiries from the media and the status of responses; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills;
- Ability to work as a member of a team, maintaining sensitive and confidential communications;
- Ability to work independently in a variety of situations often requiring extensive contact with local public officials, local media representatives, community members and special interest groups;
- Ability to remain calm and focused under pressure in an often fast-paced environment;
- Critical and quick thinker;
- Experience in news or publication writing;
- Strong knowledge of and familiarity with media and different aspects of public information and communications;
- Ability to think boldly and innovatively to develop and enact new ideas;
- Proficiency with digital and social media platforms and related applications for oversight, direction and performance of duties;
- Experience in planning, implementing, evaluating, budgeting and personnel management;
- Proven skills in public relations program management, research, planning, communication, marketing and evaluation;
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working conditions; and
- Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills and judgment; and ability to integrate diverse information from varied sources.
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, journalism or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. A minimum of eight (8) years of related experience in the field of communications in the public or private sector required; previous experience in school public relations management preferred.
Certification:
None required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Supervises and provides guidance/oversight to assigned personnel.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
Work schedules may include evenings and weekends. Incumbent may be required to work beyond normal hours with little or no advanced notice.
