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Director, Communications

**Department:** Communications

**Employment Type:** Full Time

**Location:** Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

**Reporting To:** Jennifer Fermino

**Compensation:** $160,000 - $185,000 / year

Description

Overview

The Communications & Marketing Department advances the Library’s mission by promoting its resources, collections, programs, events and exhibitions to audiences inside and outside the organization. The team positions the Library as a community, cultural and educational leader as it seeks to attract and engage new audiences across New York City and around the world.

Reporting to the Vice President of Communications and Marketing, this role will shape and amplify NYPL’s public narrative through press, social media, and multimedia, visual storytelling, including video and audio, as well as the NYPL blog. The director will lead a high-performing team of professionals to set a strategy that advances the Library’s mission and reputation—locally and worldwide. This position calls for an actively-engaged, hands-on leader who not only manages and inspires the team, but also contributes directly to the creation and execution of Library priorities, including liaising with reporters, securing press coverage, and project managing media strategy for high-profile campaigns. The ideal candidate will bring established local and national media relationships. Experience leading a team is required, and political or government experience is a plus.

We are looking for someone we can count on to:

**Own** :

+ Integrated communications strategy across press, blogs, social media, and multimedia to lead campaigns, events, and rapid response messaging and communications

+ Strong existing network of media relationships, with the ability and commitment to expand upon those connections to serve as NYPL’s spokesperson

+ All outward-facing messaging—including press releases, advisories, op-eds, talking points, pitches, responses to sensitive queries, social posts, and related multimedia assets

+ Executive preparation for interviews and public appearances

+ Budget stewardship for Media Relations and Multimedia teams

**Teach** :

+ Storytelling strategies and techniques that engage diverse audiences and showcase NYPL’s collections and programs, including best practices for rapid-response, crisis communications, and managing press inquiries

+ Methods for tracking and celebrating communications success

Learn:

+ The full breadth of NYPL offerings—collections, exhibitions, community programs—to craft authentic, compelling narratives for engaging new and existing audiences

+ Emerging trends in PR, social media, and multimedia production to keep NYPL communications at the forefront of the field.

**Improve** :

+ Cohesive team workflows, including systems and processes (i.e. checklists, templates, dashboards), to improve efficiency and accountability

+ Cross-channel integration so earned media, social posts, and multimedia reinforce one another

Some expectations for this role are that within:

**1 month** , this person will:

+ Be familiar with the entirety of the Communications & Marketing Department and NYPL’s Five Year Strategy

+ Begin to forge key relationships across the organization and with key stakeholders

+ Be working on communications strategies aligned with NYPL goals for major upcoming Library events, campaigns, launches

**3 months** , this person will:

+ Independently manage communication strategies for various Library initiatives, while communicating effectively with key stakeholders and senior leadership

+ Have a network of contacts within the Library, as well as with external stakeholders

+ Begin developing strategies for optimizing existing tools and implementing new systems and processes

**6 months and beyond** , this person will:

+ Lead library-wide projects and priorities aligned with NYPL’s five year strategy

+ Have demonstrated success in implementing and optimizing communication systems and processes

+ Actively implementing and optimizing communication systems and processes, demonstrating a clear impact on team efficiency

Responsibilities:

+ Strategic Leadership

+ Design and execute integrated communications strategies aligned with NYPL’s Five Year Strategy

+ Act as the Library’s spokesperson; manage crisis communications and rapid response

+ Content and Messaging

+ Oversee creation of press releases, op-eds, talking points, pitches, advisories, and crisis statements

+ Guide development of multimedia assets (video, photography, podcasts) and social-media content

+ Ensure clear, compelling, and consistent messaging across NYPL communications channels

+ Prep NYPL leadership for interviews and speaking engagements

+ Team Development/Performance Management

+ Lead and mentor a staff of 6+ PR and multimedia professionals, fostering collaboration, creativity, and growth

+ Introduce streamlined systems (templates, checklists, dashboards) that boost efficiency and accountability

+ Plan and manage the Media Relations budget

Required Education, Experience & Skills

Required Education & Certifications

+ Bachelor’s degree preferred (or equivalent work experience)

Required Experience

+ 10+ years of relevant work experience working in and with media/communications

+ Leadership of a high-performing team

+ Experience in political campaigns or government is a plus

Required Skills

+ Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal skills; adept at translating complex topics into engaging stories

+ Ability to balance strategic oversight with direct, hands-on involvement in projects

+ Creative thinker

+ Understanding of public relations, multimedia and social media

+ Ability to multi-task and perform under pressure and with evolving priorities

+ Develop strategy and execute on strategy

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities

+ Yes, manage the Media Relations, MultiMedia teams (which includes social media, videos, and photography), as well as the Blog Editor

More...

Core Values

_All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:_

+ Be **Helpful** to patrons and colleagues

+ Be **Resourceful** in solving problems

+ Be **Curious** in all aspects of your work

+ Be **Welcoming** and **Inclusive**

Work Environment

+ Hybrid/office setting

Physical Duties

+ May require travel within New York City

Pre-Placement** **Physical Required?

+ No

Union/Non Union

+ Non-Union

FLSA Status

+ Exempt

Schedule

+ Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

+ Hybrid schedule

+ Some nights and weekends required

_This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed._

_The New York Public Library_** **_Salary Statement_

At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.