Special Assistant for Public Affairs and Community Outreach

Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience* working within or in support of public affairs, government affairs, community outreach, outreach and education, public information, or similar experience. Preferred candidates will possess such experience related to the utility industries or renewable energy.

Substitutions: four years of specialized experience or associate’s degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelor’s degree; J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.

 
Duties Description
The Special Assistant, functioning as the Special Assistant for Public Affairs and Community Outreach, in the DPS Long Island Office (LIO) will report directly to and work closely under the supervision of the LIO Director to coordinate public affairs and community outreach efforts with a main focus being on the implementation of New York State’s Climate Act on Long Island. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
Engaging with local stakeholders, including but not limited to elected officials, public officials, community groups, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, civic associations, and local unions.
Managing community relations for the LIO region by pitching ideas for community programs and maintaining a calendar of events.
Working closely with existing LIO Office of Consumer Services (OCS) staff on outreach and education events.
Offering recommendations to enhance and expand upon existing community outreach activities.
Representing the LIO at city, town, and village meetings as appropriate.
Relaying local concerns to the LIO Director and providing useful information to address such concerns, consistent with Agency policies and guidelines.
Notifying the LIO Director of sensitive issues, concerns, or topics raised by local officials and residents so that timely responses can be provided.
Conducting public meetings as needed.
Preparing periodic reports on meetings held, activities planned, and results achieved.
Coordinating with the Public Information Office as required.
Monitoring press coverage of energy/utility news on Long Island by monitoring all local media outlets and social media.
Helping to draft speeches, testimony, and presentations conveying the agency’s mission and goals.
Identifying potential barriers to Climate Act implementation on Long Island and proposing possible solutions in conjunction with the Markets and Innovation and Consumer Services Sections of the LIO.
Assisting in the development of an implementation strategy to ensure a minimum of 35% of benefits of the transition to clean energy accrue to Disadvantage Communities (DACs) and Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) households on Long Island as required by the Climate Act.
Working with the LIO Markets and Innovation and Consumer Services Sections to provide oversight of the LMI and DAC initiatives being undertaken by Long Island area energy utilities such as the Public Service Enterprise Group Long Island (PSEG LI), Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and KeySpan Energy Delivery Long Island (KEDLI).
Updating LIO website information as needed.
Drafting content for social media postings for the LIO region and reviewing social media posts to ensure accurate information as it pertains to the LIO region.
Preparing informational materials concerning Agency activities as requested.

 
Additional Comments
About the Department:
The primary mission of the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS or Department) is to ensure affordable, safe, secure, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers, at just and reasonable rates, while protecting the natural environment. The Department also seeks to stimulate effective competitive markets for clean, renewable, and distributed energy resources that benefit New York consumers, as well as product and service innovations.

Remarks:
Salary will be commensurate with experience. The above salary range reflects the Downstate Adjustments of $3,087. This is an appointment to a position in the exempt jurisdictional class. As such, the incumbent of this position would serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Appointment to this position is contingent upon Division of Budget approval.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
The Department of Public Service is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by contacting the Designee for Reasonable Accommodations (DRA) and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator which can be found under the Accessibility Link on the Department’s webpage at https://dps.ny.gov.