Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

NYC Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) Seeks Director of Racial Equity Initiatives

The Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO) was established in 2014 to ensure that all New Yorkers, particularly underserved populations, have equal access to public benefits and services.

Over the past three years, OAO has increasingly become a resource for the more than 18 program areas within Department of Social Services (DSS) and for the larger community. OAO includes the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Affairs, the Office of Disability Affairs, the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex Affairs, and the Office of Community Outreach. OAO’s subject matter experts on these issues are at the forefront of this Administration’s progressive agenda. OAO’s central mission is to develop innovative initiatives to increase access to, and awareness of, New York City’s major public assistance programs. The various offices of advocacy affairs within OAO provide support and guidance to the thousands of employees of DSS serving our clients on a daily basis.

The Office of Advocacy and Access is recruiting for one (1) Executive Assistant to the Executive Deputy Administrator (HRA) M-II to function as the Director of Racial Equity Initiatives at DSS, who will:

  • Coordinate with key internal and external stakeholders to design and conduct an organizational racial equity assessment of Department of Social Services (DSS)/ Human Resource Administration (HRA)/ Department of Homeless Services (DHS) concerning both clients and staff, utilizing best practices in racial equity analysis and theory;
  • Develop a racial equity agenda for DSS/HRA/DHS informed by the racial equity assessment, best practices in organizational change management and racial equity theory and practice, prepare goals and action plans;
  • Operationalize a racial equity initiative agency-wide, through collaboration and with buy-in from leadership and staff at all organizational tiers to advance racial equity at DSS/HRA/DHS, while also being aware of intersectionality with other characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, and income;
  • Chair an independent, internal committee comprised of DSS, HRA, and DHS staff responsible for supporting the work of advancing racial equity and navigating organizational change;
  • Research, collect, and analyze data on the effectiveness of the racial equity work being performed at DSS; utilizes data to inform strategy;
  • Design and implement a sustainable, long-term model for DSS to carry out effective racial equity training;
  • Identify and assess existing resources and unmet needs for designing and implementing a racial equity assessment and operationalizing best practices within DSS/HRA/DHS, including but not limited to: consultants, training, and other external resources;
  • Liaise between DSS/HRA/DHS and the City Council on the agencies’ progress toward meeting specific racial equity goals as identified by the City Council;
  • Serve as a liaison with various city agencies, community-based organizations, labor unions, and advocates to solicit input and to advance a racial equity agenda for DSS/HRA/DHS clients and staff;
  • Serve as DSS’s racial equity committee member for the Mayor’s office.

 

Minimum Qual Requirements

 

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of full- time, satisfactory professional experience in one or more of the following fields:  program evaluation, public/business administration, public relations, labor relations, fiscal/financial administration or a related field; at least eighteen months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity or supervising professional personnel performing duties in one or more of the fields described immediately above; or
2. Education and/or experience equivalent to “1” above.  However, all candidates must possess the eighteen months of supervisory, administrative, managerial or executive experience as described in “1” above.

 

 

Preferred Skills

 

  • Graduate level studies in law, public policy/administration, government, management, or other related fields; or equivalent experience.
  • Knowledge of DHS, HRA and related social services and homeless services policies at the city, state, and federal levels.
  • Experience working on racial equity and social justice initiatives within and on behalf of large organizations; an understanding of organizational change management.
  • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of people.
  • Ability to successfully and patiently navigate challenges and conflict, and to achieve buy-in from stakeholders at many levels, both internal and external.
  • Adept at navigating sensitive, nuanced organizational and interpersonal challenges, conversations, and situations; discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information
  • Experience working with community based organizations and advocates.
  • Experience with statistics, records-keeping, and data analysis and ability to exercise complete discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information.
  • Ability to manage projects; excellent follow-through.
  • Fluency with various technology and software: proficiency in Microsoft Suite of programs.
  • Highly motivated individual, self-starter who can exercise solid, independent judgment.
  • Ability to work under pressure, effectively prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt to new circumstances.
  • Excellent strategic and public relations, communication skills, including writing and presentation skills.
  • Team player who works collaboratively and models kindness and respect for all.
  • Bilingual skills a plus.

 

 

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.
 Apply by using the Job ID 370011 in a search here: https://a127-jobs.nyc.gov/index_new.html?keyword