Job Description

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. NYCHA’s mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility. Since the 2019 Agreement between NYCHA, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY), NYCHA has been working under a Federal Monitor structure. The HUD Agreement sets the requirement to create a new Organizational Plan in collaboration with the Federal Monitor and sets forth various compliance related targets for NYCHA across major operational areas including: Lead, Mold, Heat, Elevators, Pest, Waste Management, and Inspections.

The Department of Resident Services, Partnerships and Initiatives (RSPI) engages NYCHA residents in critical programs, services, and initiatives in the areas of economic opportunity, youth, senior and social services; serves as a liaison between residents and departments across the Housing Authority; supports NYCHA’s extensive network of Resident Associations; and connects residents to opportunities such as financial empowerment, business development, career advancement, and educational programs.

The Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) empowers residents to increase their income and assets through programs, policies and partnerships in four key areas: employment and advancement, business development, adult education and training, and financial literacy and asset building.

NYCHA seeks a passionate, dynamic, and results-oriented leader to join RSPI as the Senior Director of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). Reporting to the Vice President of Resident Partnerships, responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Direct and manage a team of approximately 61 employees including a Deputy Director, Assistant Directors, and supervisory staff. Oversee staff hiring and performance evaluations in coordination with REES supervisors and NYCHA’s Human Resources department.
2. Oversee the continued implementation and enhancement of NYCHA's zone model; a localized service coordination delivery approach including ensuring engagement and participation from stakeholders including Residents, Economic Opportunity Partners, and front-line NYCHA staff.
3. Oversee the development, implementation, and institutionalization of new strategics to maximize resident job opportunities through NYCHA’s operations and contracting, including Section 3; monitor and provide guidance on external and internal policies impacting economic opportunities for public housing residents.
4. Work internally with NYCHA colleagues from critical departments such as Finance, Human Resources, Law, and IT to advance key initiatives and policies.
5. Create, maintain, and strengthen relationships with City agencies, organizations, funders, and employers to attract resources to public housing neighborhoods and for public housing residents.
6. Support the administration of key city-funded programs such as the Jobs-Plus program at select NYCHA developments throughout in collaboration with the Human Resources Administration (HRA), NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment (DCA OFE), and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity); ensure NYCHA serves as a valuable contributor in the Jobs-Plus collaborative.
7. Expand and enhance key privately funded programs such as the NYCHA Resident Training Academy (a public-private partnership that provides employment-linked vocational training), Business Pathways (an accelerated business development program for new and existing NYCHA resident entrepreneurs); and develop the NYCHA Business School (a business training program connecting residents directly to NYCHA contracting opportunities).
8. Maintain and grow key HUD-funded programs such as Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) (an asset-building program aimed at increasing residents’ earnings) and Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) (a program for public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient).
9. Oversee the department’s budget and handle key fiscal responsibilities including review and approval of cost allocations; approval or disapproval of spending and oversee grants management; and annual financial planning in collaboration with NYCHA’s Budget department.
10. Collaborate with the Fund for Public Housing and NYCHA’s Office of Public Private Partnerships to establish fundraising priorities and to develop successful program proposals.

NOTE: IF THIS APPOINTMENT IS MADE ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS PURSUANT TO 65 OF THE NYS CIVIL SERVICE LAW, NO TENURE OR PERMANENCE ACCRUES TO AN INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION BY VIRTUE OF SUCH APPOINTMENT.

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Due to the existence of a civil service list, candidates must have permanent civil service status in the title of Administrative Community Relations Specialist to be considered.
Preferred Skills

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE PREFERRED:
A master's degree from an accredited college in public administration, sociology, social work, urban studies, psychology, education, business, public health or a closely related field, and four years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: executive and/or top level experience in social services, public health, workforce development, community development, community organizing, government, or education; 24 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above.

SKILLS DESIRED:
1. Experience working with NYCHA residents and/or a similar population.
2. Cultural competence regarding the needs and experience of low-income residents.
3. Experience leading successful teams and proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
4. Experience coordinating complex projects to achieve stated objectives, developing systems, and applying best practices.
5. Experience using data to define and achieve outcomes.
6. Strategic thinker, problem solver, exceptional manager with thorough understanding of strategic development.
7. Exceptional project management, organizational, analytical, quantitative, and qualitative skills.
8. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong attention to details.
9. Self-starter with ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

Additional Information

1. INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS INTO NYCHA OF THOSE PERMANENT IN TITLE ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THE FACE OF AN ACTIVE AND VIABLE NYCHA PROMOTION LIST OR PREFERRED LIST FOR THE SAME TITLE.
2. For NYCHA employees, preference will be given to employees who have served a period of one year in their current title and level (if applicable).

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITY RELAT - 10022

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U. S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and four years of satisfactory, full-time community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, developing, evaluating and/or administering a large community service program or activity; or
2. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and eight years of satisfactory, full-time experience as described in "1" above, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above; or
3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, on the basis of 30 graduate credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 2 years. However, all candidates must possess a four-year high school diploma or its educational
equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and two years of full-time experience in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above.

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.