Assistant Commissioner of Governmental Relations
City of New York
Agency Description:
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) is the nation's largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling the Mayor's Housing New York: A Five-Borough Ten-Year Plan to create and preserve 200,000 affordable units for New Yorkers at the very lowest incomes to those in the middle class.
Job Description:
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development seeks a highly motivated individual with exceptional communication skills to lead HPD's Office of Governmental Relations. The Office of Governmental Relations works with City, State and Federal elected officials, as well as agencies, policy makers, advocates, and planners to assess, craft, and secure legislative changes needed to implement HPD's goals of creating and preserving affordable housing and protecting the quality and safety of the City's housing stock.
Under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Strategy, Research and Communications, the Assistant Commissioner of Governmental Relations and his/her team also are responsible for working with elected officials, community boards, and other external stakeholders on both housing policy, land use and housing finance approvals and constituents housing problems, and preparing the Commissioner and senior staff for public legislative hearings and meetings with elected officials. The Assistant Commissioner plays a critical role in implementing the Mayors Housing New York plan, working closely with the Agency's senior team, Agency partners, and the Mayor's Office.
The selected candidate will be responsible for the following duties:
- Work closely and collaboratively with senior staff to develop, draft, advocate for, and implement HPDs local, State, and federal legislative agenda.
- Work with the New York City Council on land use and tax exemption approvals necessary for the Agency's housing projects.
- Analyze and research proposed legislation and recommend appropriate agency response.
- Research, draft, and edit public testimony for the Commissioner and other senior staff to deliver at legislative hearings.
- Prepare the Commissioner and other senior staff to testify and respond to questions at public hearings.
- Deliver public testimony on behalf of the Agency.
- Prepare Commissioner for meetings with elected officials, including briefing memos , and necessary follow-up.
- Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, community boards, and other governmental stakeholders at all levels of government.
- Write and edit legislative memos and respond to a wide range of inquiries from elected officials offices.
- Manage and supervise the Agency's communications with the NY City Council and New York State Legislature.
- Serve as HPDs principal liaison to the Mayors Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
- Coordinate with intergovernmental leadership at other government agencies.
- Guide the Commissioner and senior staff on issues involving elected official and other external stakeholder interests.
- Provide distinct support for the Office of Neighborhood Strategies on public planning initiatives, including organizing meetings with internal partners in government, elected officials and relevant community groups.
- Manage agency relations with housing advocacy groups as it relates to legislative initiatives, in close coordination with other divisions across the Agency and the Mayor's Office.
- Responsible for special projects assigned by the Deputy Commissioner of Strategy, Research, and Communications as needed.
- The ability to carry out the above responsibilities may sometimes require attendance at evening and weekend meetings.
- Salary will be commensurate with experience.
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Exceptional communications (written and oral) and presentation skills
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups and solve problems in a fast paced environment
- Ability to work under pressure against tight deadlines
- Ability to think on ones feet and respond quickly to questions on complex issues in a confident and nuanced manner
- Ability to prioritize and manage an array of projects through to completion
- Ability to actively listen and synthesize information from a variety of sources, and to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and external contacts
- Experience managing junior and mid-level staff Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters
- Excellent research, analytical and problem solving skills required
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment
- Strong interest in housing policy required; familiarity with housing policy issues a plus.
- At least 8 to 10 years full-time experience, at least 2 years of which must have been in a managerial capacity, with primary focus on intergovernmental affairs related to housing, urban policy, planning, real estate, economic development and/or a related field.
Minimum Qualification Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of full-time satisfactory professional experience in the development, design, construction, appraisal, financing, negotiation or disposition of real estate or in real estate law, or in urban planning, design or renewal, or analytical or coordination work related to housing programs; at least 18 months must have been in an executive, administrative or managerial capacity or supervising professional personnel performing work in the fields noted above;
or
Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate study in the field of urban studies, city planning, business or public administration, finance, architecture, engineering or other related fields may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience on the basis of 30 credits equaling one year of experience. Graduation from an accredited law school may be substituted for one year of the required experience. However, all candidates must have three years of work experience including at least 18 months of executive, administrative, managerial or supervisory experience as described in "1" above.
How to Apply:
Please go online and apply at
www.nyc.gov/careers . Search for JOB ID# 241085
City Employees: Apply through the Employee Self Service portal (ESS) at
www.nyc.gov/ess. Search for JOB ID# 241085
Salary range for this position is: $115,000 - $135,000 (Annual)
NOTE: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.
NYC Residency Required
The Department of Housing Preservation & Development and the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer.
