DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

The Office of the Commissioner is recruiting for one (1) Strategic Initiative Specialist, to function as the Director of Special Projects under the executive leadership of the DSS Chief of Staff, with broad latitude for the exercise of initiative and judgement, who will be responsible for:

• Assisting in the development and implementation of agency and programmatic policies and programs
  
  

to meet agency goals; liaising with leadership and external stakeholders to create and manage the

implementation of long-term policy initiatives and complex projects within HRA and in collaboration

with DSS/HRA and DHS and with multiple external partners.

• Coordinating, developing, and directing high-level program development, management, and policy
  
  

support, including the review and analysis of relevant government policies and proposals, and critical

quantitative and qualitative data from DSS/HRA, DHS program areas and other relevant sources.

Conducting independent research, engages internal and external stakeholders on policy considerations;

ensuring all relevant issues requiring the Commissioner and Chief of Staff’s attention are presented in a

timely and organized manner with supporting documentation to assist in final decision-making.

• Developing and managing diverse projects at the direction of the Commissioner and Chief of Staff,
  
  

including developing data-driven initiatives with measurable outcomes.

• Representing the agency externally as assigned.
• Supervising and independently organizing and creating presentations and briefing reports for the
  
  

Commissioner, Chief of Staff, and executive/external partners; and creates, edits, and condenses

materials for public and external dissemination.

• Maintaining and updating the Commissioner’s policy agenda with current and relevant data and policy
  
  

positions for ongoing review.

• Performing other related tasks as assigned.
  
  

Hours/Shift

Normal Business Hours

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree and two (2) years of responsible full-time paid experience in one or more of the fields of: information technology, methods analysis, operations research, systems analysis, financial administration, cost effectiveness, or fiscal and economic program or design evaluation; or
• A satisfactory equivalent of education and experience. However, all candidates must possess at least one year of the experience as described under “1”.
  
  

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.