Job Description
POSITION: Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs
OFFICE: Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA)
OPEN: July 14, 2025
CLOSED: August 1, 2025
GRADE: Excepted Service, Grade 7 (ES-7)
SALARY: $98,288.69
This is an Excepted Service position. Selected candidate must be a District resident or establish residency within 180 days of hire.
Current District of Columbia residents will receive priority and advanced preference for screening and interviews. background
The Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs (MOCA) is the essential connection between District of Columbia residents and the Executive Office of the Mayor (EOM). MOCA plays a vital role in helping to improve the quality of life for residents of the District of Columbia by collaborating with neighborhood organizations and other city agencies to address community issues. MOCA establishes partnerships with communities, conducts and coordinates events, town halls, forums, and projects in support of carrying forward mayoral initiatives at the community level. Serving as a liaison between the Mayor and community organizations, civic groups, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs), MOCA establishes partnerships with communities to create open communication and continuous engagement between District of Columbia residents and the Executive Office of the Mayor. To learn more about MOCA, please visit .
The Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs reports to the Director of MOCA and is responsible for assisting the Director in the coordinating of the constituent and program offices that comprise the Cultural Affairs division, including:
- Mayor's Office of African Affairs
- Mayor's Office of African American Affairs
- Mayor's Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs
- Mayor's Office of Caribbean Community Affairs
- Mayor's Office of Latino Affairs (MOLA)
- Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs
The work supports MOCA in advancing the Mayor’s strategic plan and ensuring that the needs of the residents of the District of Columbia are met and that residents' engagement and interests in the community are heightened.
Major duties
- Work with the MOCA Director and MOCA Chief of Staff to identify division priorities, strategically align programs and activities, and regularly assess progress and performance.
- Act as a key thought partner, brainstorming & identifying solutions to challenges.
- Manage a variety of long-term, cross-organizational projects.
- Budget administration and management.
- Lead on performance management and staff development.
- Lead on communication management, responsible for managing large social media infrastructure and ensuring online presence is consistent with administration standards and successful use of communication tools.
- Lead the planning, development, and management of division events, including internal, community-based, and partner-led events.
- Coordinate the division event calendar, from inception through post-meeting follow-up.
- Collaborate with MOCA leadership and the Executive Office of the Mayor to prepare briefing materials, talking points, speeches, and presentations.
- Represent MOCA at community events and meetings with individuals, community-based organizations and potential and current project partners, working evenings and weekends as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
COMPETENCIES, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Mastery of the mission, goals, policies, procedures, regulations, practices and programs of the Executive Office of the Mayor and MOCA.
- Mastery of the methods, practices, and procedures used in community organizing, event management, community relations, and government relations, as they relate to large projects and initiatives.
- Demonstrated skill and experience in providing leadership in a managerial capacity and in providing leadership in a team-based environment.
- Ability to work well under pressure, with simultaneous attention to multiple tasks, to meet tough deadlines in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
- Superior interpersonal relationship skills to serve as the principal advisor and authority on communication issues for the agency; and to work with the senior leaders to address problem solving through communications.
- Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, and to utilize a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and persuasion in accomplishing the goals of the office.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and integrity, maintaining strict adherence to information security policies and protocols.
- Superior skill and ability to develop presentations, instructional material, reports, and correspondence conveying complex information regarding policies, programs, and decisions., including recommendations and solutions regarding complex issues based on analysis and evaluation.
- Interpersonal and administrative skills sufficient to direct/organize and coordinate through systematic, professional efforts and comprehensive studies of those activities which serve as the sounding board for definition of major issues, and to lead to the development of new or revised procedural and/or policy proposals.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in event management and events planning, public policy, community engagement, government affairs, or a related field. Well-qualified candidates will have 5-8 years of experience.
Work environment
The work is performed primarily in-person in an office setting. Time in the field is frequently required for related events.
SPECIAL NOTE - SECURITY SENSITIVE
This position is deemed security sensitive. The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability – Security Sensitive.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
There is a legal requirement that each new appointee to the Excepted Service either:
- be a District of Columbia resident at the time of appointment; or
- become a District resident within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.
The law also requires that Excepted Service employees remain District residents during the duration of the individual’s appointment. Failure to remain a District resident for the duration of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.
If you are interested in this role, please upload your resume and answer the questionnaire. Only the candidates deemed most suited for the position based on resume will receive a call to schedule further discussion.
Job Tags
Full time, Work at office, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,