Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) - DPH - EXEMPT

The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) is a senior executive-level manager responsible for department-wide public affairs, communications, public records, and media strategy affecting multiple major divisions within DPH, including Population Health, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, Behavioral Health, Primary Care, and Administration.  

Under policy direction of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, the Director of Public Affairs operates at the highest level of department leadership, providing vision, leadership, and execution across communications, media relations, legislative messaging, and public-facing strategy. The role routinely engages with City and County department heads, elected officials, the Mayor’s Office, the Board of Supervisors, and media outlets on complex and sensitive public health matters with significant organizational, fiscal, and public trust implications.  

In addition, the Director of Public Affairs is accountable for translating executive direction into coordinated action across the department’s public affairs and communications ecosystem. Acting under the policy direction of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, the Director establishes clear priorities, timelines, and decision pathways for high-impact public-facing initiatives, aligns senior leaders around those priorities, and ensures disciplined follow-through. The role elevates risks, surfaces trade-offs, and reinforces accountability to ensure that public commitments and records are credible, coordinated, and executable within existing governance and operational frameworks.  

The Director of Public Affairs plays a critical, cross-divisional role in protecting public trust, advancing public health priorities, and ensuring the department communicates effectively during both routine operations and moments of crisis. Decisions made in this role carry department-wide and citywide impact.  

The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) performs the following essential job duties:  

Department-wide Public Affairs and Communications Leadership

• Directs the development and implementation of department-wide public affairs, communications, and media strategies spanning multiple DPH divisions 
• Ensures alignment between public messaging, department priorities, and operational realities 
• Independently represents DPH on highly complex and sensitive public health issues affecting public safety, regulatory standing, and departmental credibility 
• Provides executive oversight of public records and disclosure functions, including coordination with designated custodians and legal partners 

Executive Strategy, Coordination, and Execution 

• Coordinates and aligns senior executives across DPH, under deputized authority of the Director of Health and the Deputy Director of Health, to resolve cross-divisional issues requiring policy, procedural, or communications solutions including disclosure-related matters 
• Sets department-wide priorities and sequencing of public-facing initiatives and guides leadership through decision points 
• Reinforces execution discipline through structured coordination, issue resolution, and escalation of risks and trade-offs 

Media, Legislative, and Government Relations 

• Leads media strategy and oversees all media relations for the department 
• Consults and coordinates with the Mayor’s Office and Board of Supervisors on public health policy messaging 
• Represents the department before commissions, boards, committees, and federal, state, and local agencies 

Crisis, Emergency, and High-Impact Issue Leadership 

• Leads public affairs and communications strategy during public health emergencies, regulatory actions, and other high-impact events 
• Ensures rapid, accurate, and coordinated communication and information disclosure across leadership, operational divisions, and external stakeholders 

People, Budget, and Organizational Impact 

• Directly supervises department-wide communications and public affairs functions and associated public records operations 
• Leads and supports subordinate managers to promote high standards of performance and continuous improvement 
• Develops, administers, and monitors budgets exceeding $5 million, including legislative and policy matters affecting $10+ million in revenues and expenditures 

The Director of Public Affairs (0953 Deputy Director III) may perform other duties as assigned/required.