Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CTO and senior leadership, translating leadership priorities and direction into clear communications, public affairs, and intergovernmental strategies and proactively identifying opportunities, risks, and emerging issues.
• Shape and maintain a compelling agency narrative that connects individual initiatives to OTI's broader mission and demonstrates tangible outcomes for City government and everyday New Yorkers.
• Set and maintain a high standard for executive and agency communications, including press releases, public testimony, speeches, talking points, briefing materials, reports, digital content, internal communications, and other high-profile written products. Ensure materials are accurate, polished, human-centered, and reflective of the CTO's voice and priorities.
• Translate complex technology, policy, and operational issues into clear and accessible communications tailored to non-technical audiences, including New Yorkers, elected officials, journalists, advocates, government partners, and OTI employees.
• Lead OTI's media relations strategy, proactively identifying and developing stories that advance agency priorities, responding strategically to press inquiries, cultivating relationships with local and national media, and coordinating closely with City Hall and partner agencies to ensure alignment of messaging.
• Lead crisis and sensitive-issue communications, anticipating communications risks, advising executive leadership, developing response strategies, and ensuring timely, accurate, and coordinated communications during urgent or high-profile situations.
• Develop and lead OTI’s intergovernmental affairs strategy, anticipating legislative, policy, and oversight issues affecting OTI and advising agency leadership on engagement strategies.
• Oversee preparation for hearings, briefings, and other high-stakes government engagements, ensuring testimony, Q&A, briefing materials, and executive preparation reflect the CTO’s perspective, anticipate stakeholder concerns, and clearly communicate OTI’s priorities and impact.
• Lead OTI’s internal communications strategy, helping employees understand agency priorities, amplifying successes across the agency, strengthening organizational alignment, and supporting leadership in communicating effectively during periods of organizational and cultural change.
• Lead and develop the Strategic Communications and Public Affairs team, establishing clear priorities, roles, workflows, and standards; strategically deploying team resources; coaching and developing staff; fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellence, and ensuring high-quality work is completed on time.