Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Commissioner

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) oversees housing standards across all 3.7 million homes in New York City. As the nation’s largest municipal housing agency, HPD is responsible for building and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants from harassment and displacement, and holding landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing an ambitious housing agenda focused on the needs of New York’s tenants. With a broad set of tools including standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of new affordable housing, HPD is committed to making New York City a more affordable place for renters and homeowners alike.

As Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Commissioner, you will help lead a talented group of professionals and experts in meeting the goals and vision for housing in NYC. You will support the First Deputy Commissioner in the strategic direction and management of a varied portfolio of offices and teams.

Reporting to the First Deputy Commissioner and working with his executive team and other direct reports, the Chief of Staff tracks and leads a wide variety of policy and operational initiatives. The position includes broad contact with HPD senior leadership, representatives from City Hall and City Council, as well as key partner agencies such as DCP, EDC, HDC, DSS, NYCHA, OMB, and DCAS.

• Under general direction, with wide latitude for independent initiative and decision making, assist the FDC in developing and executing external engagement strategies, new policy development, operational and fiscal efficiencies, team building and strategic planning
• Partner with the FDC to support other Deputy Commissioners and key agency staff in building and maintaining relationships with federal, state and local elected officials, community boards, and other key stakeholders to benefit agency objectives and goals and other policy initiatives as necessary
• Monitor and coordinate proactive progression of HPD commitments relevant to the divisions that directly report to the FDC and across various initiatives from within the agency and in coordination across the Administration
• Assist in monitoring and drafting agency responses to correspondence, informational queries and related requests from city, state and federal elected officials, community boards, affordable housing sector participants, and other City agencies regarding agency matters
• Assist with agenda setting and briefing materials as needed
• Representing First Deputy Commissioner and the Agency at meetings as needed

• Exceptional team- and project-management skills, including ability to execute. Proven ability to: manage multiple teams and complex projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders; receive direction and anticipate next steps; think through, communicate, document, organize, and execute on project goals and keep other team members on schedule. Ability to manage up, down, and across teams. Attentive to the details, organized, and able to follow through.
• Subject-matter expertise. Knowledge of New York City government, affordable housing, urban planning principles and processes; basic understanding of real estate development principles; master's degree in urban planning, urban studies, public policy, real estate or a related field; substantial professional experience in a related field.
• Outstanding communication skills. Extremely strong written, verbal, and presentation skills. Proven ability to produce high-quality materials in a variety of formats for internal and external audiences.
• Strong analytical skills. Ability to work with, understand, analyze and communicate qualitative and quantitative information in a variety of formats.
• Good judgment. Ability to analyze a situation, understand what is needed, understand when additional input is needed, flag or resolve issues as necessary, and escalate when appropriate.
• Collaborative and creative spirit. Excited to be part of a team, to work with others to solve problems creatively and get quality work done. Ability to hear, take, and give feedback effectively and productively; to motivate peers to get the job done.

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with emphasis in transportation, city or urban planning, sustainability, civil or transportation engineering, urban studies or design, architecture, business or public administration, economics, operations research, organizational behavior, or a related field; and two (2) years of satisfactory, full-time experience in an area related to the above-described duties; or

2. A satisfactory equivalent of education and experience. However, all candidates must possess at least one year of the experience as described under “1”.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (PROGRAM & - 95571)

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with emphasis in transportation, city or urban planning, sustainability, civil or transportation engineering, urban studies or design, architecture, business or public administration, economics, operations research, organizational behavior, or a related field; and two (2) years of satisfactory, full-time experience in an area related to the above-described duties; or

2. A satisfactory equivalent of education and experience. However, all candidates must possess at least one year of the experience as described under “1”.

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.