Career Opportunity

9920-Public Service Aide - Assistant To Professionals (External Communications)

Recruitment: RTF0134997-01136189

Published: May 24, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal Learn More

About:

The Controller is the City’s chief financial officer. Our team includes financial, technology, analytical and other professionals who work hard to secure the City’s financial integrity and promote efficient, effective and accountable government. We hold ourselves to high standards and strive to be a model for good government. We value the diverse backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences of our teams and clients in everything we do. We work in a collaborative and inclusive environment, promote equal opportunity, and invest in the professional development and wellbeing of our team members. You can expect to work alongside colleagues who are committed to serving the public with integrity and want to see positive impacts from their work. We are looking for smart, motivated individuals who want to make a difference and use government to play a role in solving our City’s problems, including addressing long-standing and harmful disparities in our communities. For a career with purpose and professional growth, join us in the Controller’s Office.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: May 17, 2023
• Application Deadline: June 9, 2023
• Compensation Range:  $23.96 hourly

Role description

The Communications function sits within the Executive Office and is overseen by the Controller and Deputy Controller. We help build awareness of the Department's varied work among key City stakeholders, including members of the press, civic and business organizations, elected and appointed City officials. In addition, this position assists the Controller and other senior leaders in the department by building awareness of departmentwide priorities and initiatives and of work and goals across divisions. We maintain a broad and deep network across the office, collaborating with all levels of staff on day-to-day activities, special projects, and long-term initiatives related to advancing key department outcomes, and supporting the professional development and overall job satisfaction of staff. The Intern for External Communications will report directly to the Communications Manager.

Job Description

A 9920 Public Service Aide – Assistant to Professional External Communications Intern is a new position that supports the growing and evolving needs of the department. Interns will gain valuable experience working with one of San Francisco’s central agencies on communications and public affairs initiatives, helping to build awareness of the department's varied work among key City stakeholders.

Assigned duties increase in scope and difficulty within prescribed performance planning guidelines. Interns may be asked to:

• Draft departmental social media policies and best practices, with input from management.
• Maintain editorial calendar for departmentwide products.
• Help field, log, and respond to press queries, with assistance from management.
• Craft communications strategies for departmental products and committees as needed.
• Design templates for presentations, fact sheets, memos, etc.
• Draft press releases, talking points, and other collateral for high-profile reports.
• Prepare copy and accompanying graphics, animations, or videos for social media posts.
• Edit and update content on department’s public website, recommending structural updates and changes as needed.
• Assist with general administration of subscriber and distribution lists, including press contacts.
• Research and draft other informational/educational material for public benefit as needed.
• Assist with day-to-day operations of Communications and Public Records team, including, but not limited to, research, fact-checking, fielding public queries, and archival tasks.

To complete their work, interns will access shared files on the City network, need to be proficient in the Microsoft Office suite of tools (primarily Word and PowerPoint, and some basic Excel), and may need to learn some software for email marketing, design, and project management. Some knowledge and interest in local government is beneficial.

Interns work across the department, but will primarily work with the following teams:

Audits: The Audits Division produces a wide range of audit and assessment reports relating to the City's revenue, spending, and programs. Some are technical in nature, such as bond expenditures reviews, lease compliance audits, and security reports on the City’s systems. Others provide a broader review of departments or programs, such as reports on the efficiency and effectiveness of departmental programs/functions or audits of the City’s management of construction contracts.

Budget & Analysis: This division handles the technical development and production of the City’s annual budget, including forecasting tax revenues, projecting and budgeting labor and benefit costs, and assisting the Mayor and Board of Supervisors with costing and budgeting of policy initiatives.

City Performance: The City Performance team has a broad portfolio of analysis, design, implementation, and performance management projects to improve public services in San Francisco. They work with City departments across a range of subject areas, including transportation, public health, human services, homelessness, capital planning, and public safety. Their areas of work include data analysis and visualization, facilitation and inter-departmental collaboration, project management, process improvement, performance measurement and management, and contracting.

Office of Economic Analysis: This division writes impact reports on legislation that could have a major effect on the city’s economy, tracks the local economy and provide updates to decision-makers and the public, and produces special reports upon request from the Mayor or members of the Board of Supervisors.

How to qualify

Education: Candidates must be enrolled in, or have graduated within the last three years from, a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at an accredited college or university in public affairs, urban affairs, public policy, political science, journalism, communications, English, information systems, or a related field.

Experience: No previous professional experience is necessary for this classification. Candidates must be willing to learn and develop communications and project management skills and receive on-the-job training.

Candidates must have strong writing and analytical skills and the ability to multi-task, work well with others across multiple teams and diverse job functions, and demonstrate good judgement. Command of Microsoft Office is essential. Experience with Drupal, email marketing tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Emma), Canva or the Adobe Creative Suite is a plus. Creativity strongly encouraged! 

Candidates must commit to at least eight weeks.

 

What else should I know?

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Interviews:  Selected candidates will be invited to participate in one or more interviews at the Controller’s Office.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at Karena.Phung@sfgov.org

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.