Chief of Public Affairs
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Job Location:
Houston, MS - USA
Yearly Salary:
$ 160000 - 170000
Posted on:
16 hours ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Position Description
- The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office (HCTO) is seeking an experienced results-driven Chief of Public Affairs (CPA). The CPA is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Public Affairs Division overseeing the Communications Team and the Policy Team.
Reporting to the Chief of Staff this role is responsible for developing implementing and executing a comprehensive public affairs strategy that advances the offices priorities elevates the elected officials accomplishments and initiatives and ensures alignment across communications policy development legislative strategy and performance management. This role is also responsible for identifying and implementing process enhancements across HCTOs public affairs operations.
The CPA will work closely with the Chief of Staff and the senior leadership team to ensure that public-facing messaging policy research legislative efforts and performance measures are cohesive effective and strategically aligned with the overall goals and objectives of the Tax Assessor-Collector.
About the Tax Assessor-Collector
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office is essential for ensuring the proper administration of tax laws and providing vital services to the community. The office plays a key role in local government handling various financial and administrative tasks including:- Property Tax Collection: Assess and collect property taxes for all eligible commercial and residential property owners and entities. Calculate property taxes based on appraised values and ensure collection and distribution to the appropriate entities.
- Motor Vehicle Services: Manage commercial and residential vehicle registration issue license plates and handle vehicle title transfers including the collection of associated fees.
- Voter Registration: Oversee voter registration within the county issue voter registration certificates and maintain an accurate voter registration roll.
- Additional Revenue Collection: Collecting certain fees fines and revenues related to permits or state mandates depending on the countys needs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Management
- Develop and implement a comprehensive public affairs strategy that integrates communications policy development and legislative priorities aligned with HCTOs mission strategic planning framework and key performance measures.
- Serve as a senior advisor to the Tax Assessor-Collector and Chief of Staff on all matters related to public affairs communications messaging policy positioning building partnerships and strategic outreach.
- Provide proactive and strategic counsel to senior leadership on public perception messaging crisis communications and policy impacts.
- Ensure alignment between public messaging policy recommendations legislative strategy and organizational performance goals.
- Anticipate emerging issues opportunities and risks and proactively adjust public affairs strategies accordingly.
- Work with senior leadership to identify and address public affairs needs and opportunities ensuring proactive and responsive engagement with stakeholders.
- Monitor trends in public policy media and public opinion and routinely review and revise the offices public affairs strategy to ensure the offices positioning remains aligned timely and impactful.
Management and Operations- Lead mentor and manage a multidisciplinary public affairs team ensuring high performance alignment with strategic priorities and effective team collaboration.
- Manage develop and inspire the public affairs team providing mentorship support and professional development opportunities.
- Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages creativity and aligns priorities resources and talent and maximizes impact.
- Establish priorities workflows and performance standards to ensure high-quality output under tight deadlines.
Communications and Media Relations- Develop coordinate and execute public affairs strategies to enhance branding communications marketing outreach and partnerships.
- Provide direction and guidance on the development and execution of a strategic communications plan for the office which includes print and digital content (such as social media website content multimedia production and newsletters) reports public notices and educational or informational materials
- Oversee messaging and communications strategies that highlight the Tax Assessor-Collectors accomplishments initiatives and policy priorities across multiple platforms
- Ensure communications strategies are timely accurate and responsive to the media stakeholders and the public.
- Maintain message discipline and coordination across internal and external partners.
- Oversee the development and maintenance of the offices brand identity ensuring consistent messaging and alignment with organizational values.
- Manage the Tax Assessor-Collectors presence in the public sphere ensuring that all external communications enhance the offices reputation and mission.
- Proactively develop relationships with media outlets and oversee responses to media inquiries.
- Review and/or consult on press releases talking points media advisories and other public-facing content that effectively communicate the offices initiatives and positions.
- Provide guidance and review to the Communications Team in preparing speeches presentations reports and other materials that represent the offices work to the public and government entities.
- Prepare and coach tax office employees for interviews press conferences and public appearances.
- Lead crisis and rapid-response communications ensuring timely coordinated transparent effective and accurate responses during sensitive situations.
- Identify opportunities to highlight the Tax Assessor-Collectors accomplishments and initiatives ensuring positive media coverage and public awareness.
Government Relations and Advocacy- Attend and represent the office at key community meetings public hearings and events.
- Review talking points briefings and presentations to enhance staff interactions with the public.
- Advise on public-facing events including groundbreakings ribbon-cuttings and public forums ensuring successful execution and effective communication.
- Oversee logistics and communications needs related to special events ensuring all public events reflect the offices standards messaging and brand.
- Work with internal teams to coordinate outreach efforts that educate and engage the public on key office initiatives policies and services.
- Facilitate and enhance the offices relationships interactions and coordination with other government stakeholders such as court offices and other governmental agencies offices and departments.
Policy and Research Leadership- Manage and oversee the Policy Team in the identification monitoring and analyzing developments in local state and federal government that may affect the offices operations policies and public perception.
- Advise the Tax Assessor-Collector and leadership on policy matters legislative actions and government relations strategies.
- Develop strategies for strengthening relationships with elected officials government agencies and community leaders to foster support for the offices priorities.
- Provide strategic insights into government affairs ensuring that the offices objectives align with broader public policy goals and initiatives.
- Collaborate with government relations legal counsel policy team finance team and senior leadership as needed.
Other Duties- Perform other duties as assigned.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer Requirements
Education
- Bachelors degree in Public Administration Operations Communications Public Relations Political Science or a related field. Masters degree preferred. Alternatively an incumbent with a combination of education and experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the job duties of the position may be considered in appropriate circumstances.
Experience- A minimum of 8-10 years of experience in public affairs communications government relations or a related field with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Experience working in or with government entities especially in a public sector or public affairs capacity is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders including elected officials government agencies media and community leaders.
- Proven experience in policy development media relations and communication with a demonstrated ability to manage high-profile situations and maintain positive relationships under pressure.
- Leadership & Team Management: Proven skill in guiding mentoring and managing high-performing teams with an ability to foster a collaborative and results-driven environment. Skilled in staff development performance management and cultivating a high-performance work environment
- Strategic Planning and Implementation: Expertise in developing and executing comprehensive public affairs strategies that are impactful and align with the offices overall strategic plan and organizational goals.
- Strategic Communications. Expertise is leading a team to develop and execute a comprehensive communications plan that effectively engages diverse audiences across multiple platforms.
- Government Affairs & Public Policy: Strong understanding of the legislative process government operations policy development and the ability to analyze and interpret legislative and regulatory issues impacting the office.
- Media Relations: Experience overseeing media relations functions and guiding teams to proactively engage with media ensuring consistent messaging and strategic communications
- Writing & Presentation Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create clear compelling content for various audiences and deliver impactful presentations
- Project Management: Expertise in planning coordinating and managing multiple projects simultaneously ensuring timely and successful completion.
- Brand Management: Expertise in developing maintaining and enhancing an organizations brand identity through consistent high-quality messaging and visual standards
- Adaptability & Problem Solving: Ability to navigate and lead through change while remaining flexible and effective under pressure; proactive self-motivated and mission driven.
NOTE:Qualifying education experience knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentationbutONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. See Resumewill not be accepted for qualifications.Preferences
Education & Experience: - More than 10 years of experience in public affairs communications government relations or a related field
More than 5 years in a leadership role
- More than 10 years of experience in public affairs communications government relations or a related field
General Information
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
- Typically an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation and a normal range of temperature and noise level.
- Sedentary role with medium physical effort required; however it may at times involve long periods of standing walking bending reaching stretching climbing lifting to 50 lbs. or similar activities (e.g. filing delivering sorting).
- A frequent volume of work and deadlines impose strain on a routine basis.
- Regular application of basic skills (calculator keyboard hand tools eye/hand coordination).
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:
- Monday Friday 7:45 am 4:45 pm (subject to overtime; early mornings late evenings and weekends)
Work Location:
Primary Work Location:
- 1001 Preston St. Houston TX 77002 - Downtown
Salary Range:
$160000- $17000
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
Required Experience:
Chief
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