Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) -...

The Department of Public Health prioritizesu00a0equitableu00a0and inclusive access to quality healthcare for its community and values the importance of diversity in its workforce. All employees at the Department of Public Health work to advance equity, inclusion, and diversity with a specific lens and focus on race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, disability, and immigration status.u00a0u00a0 + Application Opening:Thursday, Januaryu00a029, 2026u00a0 + Application Deadline:Continuousu00a0 + Salary:$196,612 to $250,978Annuallyu00a0(Range A) (u00a0u00a0 + Appointment Type:Permanent Exempt (u00a0u00a0 + Recruitment ID:u00a0PEX-0953-EXEMPTu00a0 Becoming au00a0Cityu00a0employee means being a part of a team that cares about making a difference. Your work will shape both the present and future of San Francisco. When you work for theu00a0City,u00a0youu2019reu00a0choosing a job with purpose.u00a0u00a0 The Mission of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is to protect and promote the health of all San Franciscans. SFDPH strives to achieve its mission through the work of multiple divisions - the San Francisco Health Network, Population Health, Behavioral Health Services, and Administration. The San Francisco Health Network is the Cityu2019s only complete system of care and has locations throughout theu00a0City, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, and over 15 primary care health centers. The Population Health Division (PHD) provides core public health services for the City and County of San Francisco: health protection, health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and disaster preparedness and response. Behavioral Health Servicesu00a0operatesu00a0in conjunction with SFHN andu00a0providesu00a0a range of mental health and substance use treatment services.u00a0SFDPH operatesu00a0one of the nationu2019s most complex and integrated public health systems, managing an annual budget of $3.5 billion and a workforce of more than 8,000 employees.u00a0u00a0 SFDPHu00a0is intentionally evolving toward au00a0department-wide, performance-managed operating model, requiring senior leaders who can set direction, drive execution, and deliver results acrossu00a0a highly complexu00a0public health and healthcare environment.u00a0 The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) is a senior executive-level manager responsible for department-wide public affairs, communications, public records, and media strategy affecting multiple major divisions within DPH, including Populationu00a0Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, Behavioral Health, Primary Care, and Administration.u00a0u00a0 Under policy direction of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, the Director of Public Affairsu00a0operatesu00a0at the highest level ofu00a0department leadership, providing vision, leadership, and execution across communications, media relations, legislative messaging, and public-facing strategy. The role routinely engages with City and County department heads, elected officials, the Mayoru2019s Office, the Board of Supervisors, and media outlets on complex and sensitive public health matters with significant organizational, fiscal, and public trust implications.u00a0u00a0 In addition, the Director of Public Affairs is accountable for translating executive direction into coordinated action across theu00a0departmentu2019s public affairs and communications ecosystem. Acting under the policy direction of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, the Directoru00a0establishesu00a0clear priorities, timelines, and decision pathways for high-impact public-facing initiatives,u00a0aligns senior leaders around those priorities,u00a0and ensures disciplined follow-through. The role elevates risks, surfaces trade-offs, and reinforces accountability to ensure that public commitments and records are credible, coordinated, and executable within existing governance and operational frameworks.u00a0u00a0 The Director of Public Affairs plays a critical, cross-divisionalu00a0role in protecting public trust, advancing public health priorities, and ensuring the department communicates effectively during both routine operations and moments of crisis. Decisions made in this role carry department-wide and citywide impact.u00a0u00a0 The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) performs the following essential job duties:u00a0u00a0 Department-wideu00a0Public Affairsu00a0andu00a0Communications Leadership + Directsu00a0the development and implementation of department-wide public affairs, communications, and media strategies spanning multiple DPH divisionsu00a0 + Ensuresu00a0alignment between public messaging,u00a0department priorities, and operational realitiesu00a0 + Independentlyu00a0representsu00a0DPH onu00a0highly complexu00a0and sensitive public health issues affecting public safety, regulatory standing, and departmental credibilityu00a0 + Providesu00a0executive oversight of public records and disclosure functions, including coordination with designated custodians and legal partnersu00a0 Executive Strategy, Coordination,u00a0andu00a0Executionu00a0 + Coordinatesu00a0and alignsu00a0senior executives across DPH, under deputized authority of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, to resolve cross-divisional issues requiring policy, procedural, or communications solutions including disclosure-related mattersu00a0 + Setsu00a0department-wideu00a0priorities and sequencing of public-facing initiatives and guidesu00a0leadership through decision pointsu00a0 + Reinforcesu00a0execution discipline through structured coordination, issue resolution, and escalation of risks and trade-offsu00a0 Media, Legislative,u00a0andu00a0Government Relationsu00a0 + Leadsu00a0media strategy and overseesu00a0all media relations for theu00a0departmentu00a0 + Consultsu00a0and coordinatesu00a0with the Mayoru2019s Office and Board of Supervisors on public health policy messagingu00a0 + Representsu00a0theu00a0department before commissions, boards, committees, and federal, state, and local agenciesu00a0 Crisis, Emergency,u00a0andu00a0High-Impact Issue Leadershipu00a0 + Leadsu00a0public affairs and communications strategy during public health emergencies, regulatory actions, and other high-impact eventsu00a0 + Ensuresu00a0rapid,u00a0accurate, and coordinated communicationu00a0and information disclosure across leadership, operational divisions, and external stakeholdersu00a0 People, Budget,u00a0andu00a0Organizational Impactu00a0 + Directly supervisesu00a0department-wide communications and public affairs functions and associated public records operationsu00a0 + Leadsu00a0and supportsu00a0subordinate managers to promoteu00a0high standardsu00a0of performance and continuous improvementu00a0 + Develops,u00a0administers, andu00a0monitorsu00a0budgets exceeding $5 million, including legislative and policy matters affecting $10+ million in revenues and expendituresu00a0 The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) may perform other duties as assigned/required.u00a0u00a0 Required Minimum Qualifications + Education: Possession of a bacheloru2019s degree from an accredited college or university, ANDu00a0 + Experience: Four (4) years of managerial experience in public affairs, communications, government affairs, media management, or a closely related field, all of which must include supervision of staff.u00a0u00a0 EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION:u00a0Additionalu00a0qualifying experience as described above may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for-year basis for up to 2 years. One year is equivalent to thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter units.u00a0u00a0u00a0 Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.u00a0 One-year full-time employment is equivalent to 2,000 hours (2,000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week).u00a0 Desirable Qualifications + Experience working in public-sector public affairs, preferably within a public health, homelessness, or healthcare systemu00a0 + Knowledge of City and County of San Francisco governmental structures and public health issuesu00a0 + Experience communicating complex legislative, regulatory, and administrative issues to the publicu00a0 Verification of Education and Experienceu00a0 Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Reviewu00a0SF Careers Employment Applications (Applications and Minimum Qualifications) u00a0for considerations taken when reviewing applications.u00a0u00a0u00a0 Applicants mayu00a0be requiredu00a0tou00a0submitu00a0verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education or experience verification isu00a0required, information on how to verify education and experience requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found atu00a0 Note:u00a0Falsifying oneu2019s 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.u00a0 Additionalu00a0informationu00a0regardingu00a0Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:u00a0u00a0 + Information About the Hiring Process (u00a0 + Conviction History (u00a0 + Employee Benefits Overviewu00a0 (u00a0u00a0 + Equal Employment Opportunity (u00a0 + Disaster Service Worker (later date.-,Disaster Service Workers,-By State law) u00a0 + ADA Accommodation (u00a0 + Right to Work (to Work) u00a0 + Copies of Application Documents (of Application Documents) u00a0 + Diversity Statement (more-,Diversity Statement,-The City and) u00a0 Where to Applyu00a0u00a0 All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must beu00a0submittedu00a0through our online portal. Please visitu00a0begin your application process.u00a0u00a0u00a0 Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment. Please consider using a personal email address that you check regularly rather than a work or school account.u00a0u00a0 Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at theu00a0City Career Center at City Hall (, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. Ensure your application information isu00a0accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues.u00a0u00a0 Applicants will receive a confirmation email fromu00a0that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants shouldu00a0retainu00a0this confirmation email for their records.u00a0Failure to receive this email means that the online application was notu00a0submittedu00a0or received.u00a0u00a0 If you have any questionsu00a0regardingu00a0this recruitment or application process, please contact the analyst,u00a0Marielle Saldajenou00a0atu00a0or (628)u00a0271-6820.u00a0u00a0 Position # 01125569u00a0 We may use text messaging to communicate with you on the phone number provided in your application. The first message will ask you to opt in to text messaging.u00a0 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.

Created: 2026-04-04