Career Opportunity

Communications and External Affairs Director (0941)-Public Works (162563)

Recruitment: RTF0162562-01118833

Published: January 16, 2026

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

About:

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below.

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.  

Application Opening: Friday, January 16, 2026
Application Deadline: Friday, January 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM PST
*The application filing will be open at least through Friday, January 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM and will close at any time thereafter.
Compensation Range:  $196,612 and $250,978 Annually (Range A)  
Recruitment ID: PBT-0941-162563
Appointment Type: Permanent Civil Service 

The current position is located at the San Francisco Department of Public Works. The eligible list resulting from this examination may be utilized for future positions in this class in other City departments. 

San Francisco Public Works is seeking an accomplished leader to serve as our next Communications and External Affairs Director (0941). This is a unique opportunity to shape strategic messaging, strengthen community partnerships, and elevate the voice of one of the city’s most impactful and essential departments.

San Francisco Public Works has a far-reaching portfolio with a $453 million annual operating budget, an active capital portfolio that exceeds $3 billion and a workforce of 1,700-plus employees. The department operates around the clock, touching every neighborhood in San Francisco. The staff designs and manages the construction of civic buildings and streets; cleans and greens the right of way; maintains civic buildings; manages multi-million-dollar bond programs; trains people for jobs; keeps the right of way free of hazards; paves the roads; repairs bridges and public stairways; expands accessibility; and works at the forefront addressing some of San Francisco’s biggest challenges. With a mission to enhance the quality of life in San Francisco for residents, visitors and business owners, Public Works is committed to providing outstanding public service through an equity lens.

Please visit the “About Us” section of our website at https://www.sfpublicworks.org to learn more about the department’s core values, Racial Equity Initiative, leadership team, history, budget and more.

Role description

The Communications and External Affairs Director serves as the department’s chief strategist and advisor on policy development, legislative affairs, strategic communications, and external engagement. Reporting directly to the Director of Public Works, this position leads initiatives that advance the department’s mission, aligns organizational priorities with Citywide goals, and ensures Public Works communicates effectively with elected leaders, community stakeholders, partner agencies, and the public. The role bridges policy analysis with narrative strategy, overseeing a portfolio that spans public information/relations, external engagement, crisis and response management, executive messaging, and strategic communications planning.

Essential Duties:

• Direct and manage all media relations activities, including drafting and approving press releases, preparing responses to media inquiries, coordinating interviews, developing crisis communication strategies, and crafting proactive narratives that showcase departmental initiatives and achievements.
• Establish and guide the strategic vision for digital communications across social media platforms, newsletters, website content, and public-facing reports—ensuring brand consistency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Serve as the primary communications advisor to the Director and executive leadership, offering counsel on high-profile issues, public positioning, and reputation management strategies.
• Act as the department’s spokesperson at public events and high-visibility meetings, and function as a senior liaison with governmental agencies and community partners.
• Provide oversight for departmentwide policy initiatives, ensuring alignment with the San Francisco Public Works Strategic Plan and the Mayor’s priority objectives.
• Prepare senior leadership for major public appearances, hearings, and media engagements, ensuring messaging is clear, consistent, and strategically positioned.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary external affairs team encompassing communications, public information, digital content, stakeholder engagement, and legislative/government relations.
• Oversee research and analysis of municipal policy issues, including legislation, regulatory developments, and emerging trends impacting Public Works operations.
• Direct research, briefings, and analysis related to external affairs priorities, including legislative updates, community impacts, and strategic partnerships affecting departmental operations.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.  

Experience: Four (4) years of managerial experience, of which all must include supervisory experience in providing strategic direction, and managing communications workflows including developing strategic messaging, managing media relations and crisis communication efforts, and directing digital/public affairs strategies. 

Education Substitution: Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for up to 2 years of the required education. One year (2,000 hours) of additional qualifying experience will be considered equivalent to 30 semester units/45 quarter units. 

VERIFICATION:
Please make sure your application is complete and demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications. Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

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. 

Note: Any misrepresentation or falsification of 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.

What else should I know?

SELECTION PROCEDURE/EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Supplemental Questionnaire Exam (Weight: 100%)
Candidates will be required to complete a Supplemental Questionnaire by the deadline established at the time of the exam. Candidates will be evaluated on their relevant knowledge, skills, and ability levels in job-related areas. This may include knowledge and ability of strategic communications, including message development, press operations, digital platforms, multimedia storytelling, rapid-response crisis communications, representation of the department in public and community settings and developing strategic, future-oriented recommendations in sensitive environments.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire to be placed/ranked on the Eligible List.

*The Department of Public Works reserves the right to modify the selection process and examination to conform to administrative or operational necessity. The information in this announcement is subject to change and will be accompanied by a notice of amendment in this announcement. 

Once you pass the exam, you will be placed on an eligible list and given a score and a rank. The duration of the eligible list will be six (6) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification:
The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this exam will be the “Rule of the List”.

Post-Eligible List:
Candidates will be invited to interview based on test scores and experience that most closely matches the responsibilities of the position determined from a review of the application materials.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules, or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date

What else should I know?

What else should I know?

Where to Apply  
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment. Please consider using a personal email address that you check regularly rather than a work or school account. 

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. 

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
• Veterans Preference
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

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.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact our Exams team at DPW-HR-Exams@sfdpw.org

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.