The Office of New York City Council Member Ben Kallos is seeking an eloquent and hard-working Communications Aide or Director for an immediate opening.
DUTIES: The Communications Aide or Director manages the Council Member’s strong, proactive media presence, including hundreds of articles and regular TV and radio appearances to advance improvements to our government and city. Press responsibilities include drafting and placing press releases, statements, and opinion editorials, pitching media availabilities and press conferences, as well as maintaining a robust press list and strong relationships with reporters. Communication responsibilities include drafting talking points and speeches, a monthly email newsletter, two print newsletters a year, and managing content on[[http:BenKallos.com|BenKallos.com]] as well as social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A strong internship program will support our Communications staff, who should be comfortable training and supervising interns. There is also an opportunity to take on an independent project outside of core responsibilities.
QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be an excellent and prolific writer with experience as a communications professional in a fast-paced environment and a dedication to making a positive difference in the community. They will be an excellent listener and communicator in all formats, attentive to details, and able to give and take critical feedback with the Council Member and fellow staffers. They should be high energy, take calculated risks, and be creative and able sell an idea. Local residents are encouraged to apply. Strong relationships with New York City press are a plus.
OUR TEAM: Ben Kallos is a progressive Democrat who stands for affordable housing, women’s rights, investing in education, and government that is open, transparent and accountable. The Office of Council Member Ben Kallos is a group of high performers who constantly rethink and refine the way we do our jobs in order to get the best results. The Council Member values a strong work-life balance provided the job gets done, though the Communications Director must be able to respond rapidly to breaking news. Our team values openness and supporting one another.
SALARY: Title and salary are commensurate with skills and experience. The position comes with an excellent benefits package including health, dental, optical, life, transit and retirement benefits.
The New York City Council is an equal opportunity employer, and all are encouraged to apply.
How to apply
TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume and two writing samples to: Jesse Towsen, Chief of Staff, Office of Council Member Ben Kallos, Jobs@BenKallos.com.