Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia Hiring for Press Secretary, Immediate Office (Req. No. 2023-110; Closes 10/6/2023) at Washington, DC Full Time

POSITION TITLE: Press Secretary

LOCATION:

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Immediate Office, Human Resources Section

400 Sixth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20001

REMOTE WORK STATUS: A hybrid remote telework/in-office schedule option is available.

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT: The Office of the Attorney General values the safety of our employees, our residents, and our visitors. In support of these values, if you are selected for this job you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except when vaccination is not medically advised or violates your sincerely held religious beliefs. If you are invited to join our team, you must submit proof that you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to your start date via submission to [email protected], or you must request an exemption by contacting [email protected]. New employees must either provide proof of vaccination or be granted a medical or religious exemption before working with the Government of the District of Columbia.

JOB REQUISITION NUMBER: 2023-110

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: One (1)

OPENING DATE: September 15, 2023

CLOSING DATE: October 6, 2023

SALARY RANGE: $85,000 – $110,000

This salary is within the Excepted Service salary schedule from Grade ES 7. The salary is based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations, and guidelines.

PAY PLAN, SERIES, AND GRADE: XS-301-7

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Excepted Service – 13 Month Term Appointment

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT: This position is not in the collective bargaining unit.

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to Public

The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for the District of Columbia works to protect and defend District residents, enforce District laws, and provide legal advice to D.C. government agencies. Karl A. Racine leads OAG as the first elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia. Serving his second term, AG Racine has pledged to continue our work to vigorously protect our residents, advance the District’s interests in court, and become recognized as the nation’s most effective and respected public law office.

OAG has developed programs that reduce crime by getting kids out of the juvenile justice system and on the right path and is a national leader on criminal justice reforms. We’ve taken legal action against slumlords and businesses that harm our residents. The office has filed lawsuits against large corporations and financial institutions to protect District consumers. And we’re standing up for the rule of law and fighting corruption at the federal level. OAG’s legal work has resulted in more than billions of dollars in savings and benefits to the District and relief for harmed consumers.

Why Work At OAG?

By joining OAG’s Office of Communications, you will join a group of committed, team-oriented, and energized individuals working to protect and improve the lives of District residents. The Office of Communications is fast-paced and comprised of a creative team of communicators and story tellers dedicated to informing the public and the media about OAG’s work and driving thought leadership on important local and national issues, such as criminal and juvenile justice, civil rights, affordable housing, consumer protection, and more. In this unique role you will work with legal experts and senior leaders to impact media coverage, determine messages, and provide communications advice directly to the Attorney General and OAG’s senior leadership team. We envision this new team member will develop thought-provoking ideas, deliver compelling copy on tight deadlines, and challenge us to be better.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

This position is located in the Government of the District of Columbia, Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Immediate Office. The Office of the Attorney General is responsible for conducting all the legal business for the Government of the District of Columbia. The Press Secretary is responsible for identifying communication needs and implementing the communications strategy for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The Press Secretary will work closely with the Director of Communications and is a senior member of the Office of Communications playing a pivotal role in executing the communications strategy for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and positioning OAG, the Attorney General, and senior leadership among the media, public, and key stakeholders.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as an additional press secretary and spokesperson on the Communications team and works directly with the Attorney General and OAG senior leaders, in coordination with the Director of Communications, to impact OAG’s media coverage; highlight OAG’s successes and messages to the media, public, and key stakeholders; and solidify the Attorney General’s and the office’s legacy.
• Works with senior management and communications team to develop and implement communications tools, both internal and external, to raise awareness of OAG’s positions on public policy and legal issues and how those positions serve District residents.
• Handles media relations, including serving as a spokesperson for OAG in conjunction with the current Press Secretary, including pitching stories, responding to inquiries, and thinking of proactive ways to garner media coverage. Engages with local and national media, including print, radio, and television.
• Develops strategies to use validators to amplify the office’s work, tell stories, and enable OAG to reach diverse audiences and stakeholders.
• Assists in preparing and staffing the Attorney General and other OAG staff for media interviews, speeches, video recordings, and other media or public engagements.
• Works with multiple OAG offices and staff collaboratively to ensure that written materials have input from key internal stakeholders, as well as external stakeholders as appropriate.
• Understands digital and social media to help generate ideas and develop content for OAG’s platforms. Experience creating graphics and editing video is a plus.
• Helps with media and social media monitoring.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a busy, proactive communications shop; prioritize deliverables; and handle unanticipated demands and requests.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with attention to clarity and details, for a variety of materials and audiences.
• Collaborative team player used to generating new ideas and quickly identifying and capitalizing on press.
• Builds and fosters long-term working relationships with OAG senior leaders and experts, public affairs offices at District agencies, community members and stakeholder organizations.
• Works closely with Director of Communications and communications team to implement the long-term organizational communications vision and strategy.
• Contributes to and edits online content for blogs, social media, website, and internal and external newsletters.
• Performs other related duties assigned.
• Experience working with and writing for state, local, or federal official(s), elected official(s), and senior executive(s) is a plus.
• Creative, self-starter, team player, and able to manage projects from conceptualization to final execution.
• Performs other related duties assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree. The candidate must have a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated and relevant political or executive-level communications experience in a professional environment with progressive responsibilities. Ideal candidate has proven experience working directly with and serving as a spokesperson for elected official(s), state, local, or federal government official(s), and/or senior executive(s).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Please submit two writing samples: (1) Press release on a public policy topic; and (2) Op-ed, article, or other appropriate short form writing sample.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: A substitution of education for required experience will be allowed as defined in OPM’s Qualification Standards. However, in order to receive credit, applicants must submit official proof of educational attainment at the time of application.

WORK STATUS: The selected candidate is not expected to be onsite until the COVID-19 emergency response ends.

This is an Excepted Service (ES) At-Will position. All positions and appointments in the ES serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

DOMICLE RESIDENCY: The selectee to the Excepted Service appointment is required by law to either:

• Be a resident of the District of Columbia (District) at the time of appointment; or
• Become a resident of the District within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.

To retain your employment in the Except Service appointment, you must maintain District residency during the period of your appointment. Failure to maintain District residency during your appointment period will result in forfeiture of employment.

TIME-IN-GRADE RESTRICTIONS: Time in grade restrictions must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.

HOW TO APPLY: Candidates should apply via Jobvite by 11:59 p.m. of the closing date indicated above.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Communications Director. The supervisor provides assignments in terms of broad mission statements. The incumbent is responsible for independently performing assigned duties, taking necessary actions in order to accomplish the overall mission within the framework of established policies. The incumbent keeps the supervisor informed of progress, potential controversies, and issues with wide-ranging implications. The incumbent’s work is considered technically sound. Completed work is reviewed in terms of satisfying expected results of projects or assignments, responsiveness, and conformance with agency policy.

GUIDELINES:

Guidelines primarily consist of organizational policies, directives and procedures, D.C. government laws, rules, and regulations, public information and involvement manuals, and other guides that are generally of limited use in developing communication plans for new or significantly different problems, or issues encountered. Incumbent uses seasoned judgment in modifying standard communication methods, and in developing approaches or strategies that more appropriately match the requirements of unique situation encountered.

COMPLEXITY:

Work assignments include the development of new methods, strategies, and communication plans; and presentation of information on a variety of subjects, using the full array of written and visual information materials to explain the extent and coverage. Decisions regarding what needs to be done include evaluating the appropriateness of existing strategies and plans in light of changes in technology or statutes. Incumbent must develop new ways of gathering input from a variety of groups and individuals on conflicting issues and gather, analyze, and convey information on a variety of initiatives.

SCOPE AND EFFECT:

The purpose of the work is to create a climate of public understanding and information, as opposed to public misunderstanding or indifference; and to write and edit timely and responsive materials for management’s signature. The work contributes to the efficient accomplishments of the organization’s goals and objectives; and ensures that the organization meets the informational needs of the public.

PERSONAL CONTACTS:

Contacts include co-workers, employees of other District and federal agencies, individuals in the legal, business non-profit, academic sectors, members of the press, and the public. Contacts are to advise program officials on problems involved in communicating information to affected public. Contacts are characterized as involving meaningful interchanges of views on matters of critical importance to the organization.

PHYSICAL DEMAND:

The work is mostly sedentary. Incumbent is required to carry some light items, such as brief cases and files.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work is primarily performed in an office setting, although some travel for community, outreach, enrollment and press events, speaking engagements, etc. is required.

Other Significant Facts

GENERAL SUITABILITY SCREENING: The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

PRIORITY CONSIDERATION: Displaced Employee Priority Placement: Candidates who are eligible for the District of Columbia’s Displaced Employee Program (DEP) and Agency Reemployment Priority Placement Program (ARPP) will be given priority consideration for this position, if found qualified.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Selectee will be eligible for health and life insurance, annual (vacation) and sick leave and will be covered under the District of Columbia government’s retirement plan. However, if selectee was previously employed in the District of Columbia’s government under an appointment for which he/she was eligible for Civil Service Retirement (CSR), contributions to CSR will resume upon re-employment.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE: Applicants claiming veterans’ preference must submit official proof at the time of application.

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE: Pursuant to the requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1998, the individual selected to fill this position will, as a condition of employment, be required to notify his/her immediate supervisor, in writing, not later than five (5) days after conviction of or a plea of guilty to a violation of any criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, physical handicap, genetic information or political affiliation.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION: In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL