Writer

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview:

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOHMH is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize DOHMH’s foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will be supervised by DOHMH. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

Program Overview:

The Office of External Affairs manages many of the agency’s most critical interactions with the public, from raising awareness and promoting healthy behaviors to advancing policies and responding to health emergencies. The Bureau of Communications, housed within the Office of External Affairs, develops culturally responsive public health marketing campaigns; generates and crafts materials to inform New Yorkers of health information and program services, ensuring accessibility for all; provides access to translation services for collateral materials and clinics; maintains the agency’s website; and publishes content on the agency’s social media platforms. Within Creative Communications, the Content and Copy team oversees the writing, editing, and creation of content to inform New Yorkers of key health topics and emergency situations.

Job Description:

DOHMH has an opening for a Writer. Reporting to the Executive Communications Manager, they will serve as a dedicated internal writer to support the New York City Health Commissioner’s internal communications, including a weekly newsletter. This candidate will thoughtfully write and produce the Commissioner of Health’s weekly communications material with joy, curiosity, and care. The executive communications internal writer – will craft compelling, human-interest, employee-facing stories and content that keep NYC Health Department employees informed, engaged, and aligned with core agency objectives. This position must be a collaborative partner, managing the full production of editorial and design elements of the Commissioner’s newsletter according to a weekly deadline.  This role will contribute to the broader strategy and projects of the executive communications team, in support of championing the New York City Health Commissioner’s thought leadership in alignment with agency communications goals.

Duties:

• Be a collaborative member of the executive communications team 
• Serve as the lead writer for the NYC Health Commissioner’s internal content. 
• Plan, set-up, and conduct all internal interviews with staff on deadline.
• Plan and execute internal communications content with support from the executive communications manager for the NYC Health Commissioner.
• Serve as a fierce champion and advocate of internal staff, uplifting the stories of NYC Health Department employees. 
• Source and identify internal stories to feature toward an audience of 7,000 colleagues to create a credible, concise tone across all departments, in final publishing. 
• Be familiar with AP style 
• Manage all logistics related to story selection and meet a weekly deadline. 
• Occasionally provide research and drafting support to the Executive Communications Manager and/or the Deputy Speechwriter on remarks, video scripts, and social copy. 
• Manage urgent deadlines and juggle multiple priorities at once. 
• Develop creative messaging and strategies to elevate the profile of the NYC Health Commissioner to agency staff.
• Develop and maintain master internal communications calendar for the executive communications team, aligned with the Communications Bureau’s strategy.  
• Work in collaboration with agency’s creative communications team on design elements of newsletter.
• Translate staff stories into social media copy. 
• Coordinate with other departments within the Agency for the production Commissioner’s weekly newsletter including working closely with internal subject matter experts and creative design partners to ensure accuracy and professionalism of all content. 
• Be a platform-fluid writer, with an ability to contribute to broader executive communications strategy and projects. 
• Ensure all content meets accessibility, inclusivity, and language access standards. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, advanced degree or equivalent professional experience a plus.  
• Minimum of 3 years of experience editorial planning, ghost writing, and/or internal communication.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex or technical information into clear, concise, and compelling messaging.
• Skilled interviewer with an understanding of how to put people at ease and solicit stories. 
• Understanding of newsletter production workflows.
• Familiarity with internal communications metrics and an ability to adapt to increase engagement. Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deliverables and deadlines simultaneously.
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills and comfort working with cross-functional partners.
• Strong understanding of editorial workflows, approval processes, also including managing an internal communications process.
• Familiarity with New York City government, civic engagement initiatives, or public health is highly desirable.
• A strong collaborative partner that thrives in a team environment
• An organized detailed professional that will create and maintain a robust internal communications archive and story bank.
• Interest in speechwriting, as this role will occasionally support the Commissioner of Health’s speechwriter. 
• Flexibility to perform additional duties as assigned. 

Additional Desired Qualities:

• Familiarity with content accessibility standards and best practices for plain language. 
• Project management: administer deadlines, priorities, and long-term deliverables simultaneously.  
• Cultural competency: creating inclusive content and engaging respectfully with diverse communities.  

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Schedule. 
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays. 
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision. 
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits. 
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage. 
• 403 (b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions. 
• College Savings Plan. 
• Ongoing training and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information: 

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending in November 2027.
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date. 
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties. 
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies.  

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities. 

We look forward to learning more about you! 

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.