Duties Description

The NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities is seeking a dynamic and experienced internal communications manager to join our team. In this role, you will be working to help employees at New York's largest state agency stay current on the agency's vision, goals, projects, and internal updates by creating a strong strategic internal communications program.

You will be responsible for developing and executing communication strategies that promote transparency, engagement, and alignment among employees. You will work across the agency's divisions to support the agency's mission and story.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled storyteller with strong interpersonal skills and a passion for creating engaging experiences who will help the agency build a culture of collaboration and create experiences that engage, connect, and inspire our community of employees.

Duties include but are not limited to:

Create an internal communications plan.
Ensure staff are well-informed, motivated, and aligned with the agency's goals and values.
Create communications and newsletters in coordination with OPWDD's content creators
Update and guide the focus of the agency intranet.
Craft clear messages, company newsletters, memos, and updates for all staff.
Assist with talking points, and emails for company-wide distribution.
Guide employees through agency changes with clear and supportive messaging.
Align internal messaging with OPWDD's vision, mission, and culture.
Organize and facilitate employee engagement activities, agency meetings, workshops, and surveys.
Recommend tools, technology, and digital platforms to provide effective internal communication.
Establish benchmarks, set goals, and measure the success of internal communications initiatives.
Determine opportunities to grow and enhance employee recognition so employees feel “seen.”
Encourage and create well-informed employees who become credible brand ambassadors

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nys-office-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities/posts/?feedView=all

Minimum Qualifications

Desired Qualifications:

Strong writing skills and the ability to make complex ideas simple and engaging.

Knowledge of Sharepoint, email tools, and basic design software.

Good at listening, working with different teams, and advising top leaders.

Open Competitive:

Public Information Specialist Trainee 1, NS (equivalent to SG-14):

Four years of experience in public or governmental relations, and/or in writing or producing content for various media.

Substitution: An associates degree in media, new media, English, communications, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, films, TV productions, or digital marketing can substitute for two years of specialized experience; and, a bachelor's in these fields can substitute for four years.

Public Information Specialist Trainee 2, NS (equivalent to SG-16):

Five years of experience in public or governmental relations, and/or in writing or producing content for various media.

Public Information Specialist 1, SG-18:

Six years of experience in public or governmental relations, and/or in writing or producing content for various media.

Substitution: An associates degree in media, new media, English, communications, journalism, broadcasting, public relations, films, TV productions, or digital marketing can substitute for two years of specialized experience; a bachelor's in these fields can substitute for four years; and a master's degree in these fields can substitute for an additional year of specialized experience.

Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.

To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website: https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.

55 B/C QUALIFICATIONS:

Possess the minimum qualifications for this title as established by the Department of Civil Service and listed on the most recent exam announcement.
Meet the applicable minimal mental and/or physical requirements for the job (with a reasonable accommodation, if necessary)
Have a current Eligibility Letter from the NYS Department of Civil Service,www.cs.ny.gov/rp55/, and be able to provide it to the Human Resources Office upon request.

Additional Comments

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.

If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
Appointments may also be made at the Public Information Specialist Trainee 1 levels. Candidates hired at the entry-level title (Public Information Specialist Trainee 1) may be advanced to the full-performance level (Public Information Specialist 1) following satisfactory completion of two-years of service. Salary range listed below encompasses the hiring rate of an Public Information Specialist Trainee 1 through the job rate of an Public Information Specialist 1.

Salary range listed below encompasses the hiring rate of a Public Information Specialist Trainee 1 through the job rate of a Public Information Specialist 1.

Public Information Specialist Trainee 1: $56,183
Public Information Specialist Trainee 2: $62,694
Public Information Specialist 1: $69,964 - $88,970
The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies.
Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA).
If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
Life insurance and Disability insurance.
The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
Paid Holidays and Leave:

° Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.

° Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.

° Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.

° Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.

° Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.

Health Care Coverage:

Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.?

Paid Parental Leave:

Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

Retirement Program:

Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.

Professional Development and Education and Training:

NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.

Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.
All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities jobs

Public Information Specialist 1