Associate Director of Policy Implementation

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

The Associate Director of Policy Implementation will lead the Policy Implementation team, which is responsible for managing the agency’s policymaking process and translating policy decisions into effective operational change. The team oversees the full lifecycle of policy development from problem identification and policy analysis through recommendation development, implementation planning, and execution, and supports in monitoring and evaluation to ensure policy changes are thoughtful, evidence-based, and successfully implemented across the agency. Working closely with stakeholders across the agency, the Associate Director will establish the processes, tools, and governance that support agencywide policy development and implementation. The role will oversee the agency’s public policy process related to campaign finance and election work, and the agency’s internal policy process, ensuring that internal policies and procedures are clear, accessible, and consistently maintained. The Associate Director will partner with stakeholders across all divisions to coordinate policy needs, manage policy implementation, and strengthen the agency’s capacity for evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement. This position reports to the Director of Policy & Research.

Requirements

Minimum of five years of experience in public policy, policy analysis, research, program evaluation, or cross-functional project management, including experience assessing proposed policies or evaluating existing policies and programs.
Minimum of three years of experience supervising staff, including providing mentorship, coaching, feedback, and professional development support.
Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, research, data analysis, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and ownership of complex projects from planning through implementation.
Demonstrates commitment to the agency’s mission and public service, with enthusiasm and dedication to advancing impactful policy work.
Values collaboration, inclusion, and shared problem-solving across teams, divisions, and stakeholders.
Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a commitment to continuous learning, and openness to new ideas and perspectives.
Is adaptable and effective in a fast-paced, evolving policy and operational environment.
Demonstrates a commitment to evidence-based decision-making, continuous improvement, and strengthening organizational practices.
Fosters a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture through coaching, mentorship, knowledge sharing, and support for staff development.
Knowledge of and/or demonstrated interest in New York City government and politics.
Knowledge of campaign finance, election administration, or New York City government and legislative processes.
Knowledge of public policy development, analysis, implementation, and evaluation processes.
Knowledge of project management and change management principles and practices.
Knowledge of policy governance, policy documentation, and internal policy management.
Knowledge of plain language principles and effective written communication.
Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritize competing demands, and drive work to completion.
Skill in leading and facilitating cross-functional teams, meetings, and stakeholder engagement to build consensus and advance agency priorities.
Strong research, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze complex policy issues and develop evidence-based recommendations.
Skill in developing policy implementation plans, coordinating execution across multiple stakeholders, and monitoring implementation progress.
Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex research, data, and stakeholder input into clear, concise policy memos, reports, presentations, and other written products tailored to diverse audiences.
Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex policy issues effectively to senior leadership, staff, and external stakeholders.
Skill in supervising, coaching, and developing professional staff while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Ability to think strategically, align policy initiatives with organizational priorities, and identify opportunities to advance agency goals.
Ability to build collaborative relationships, lead cross-functional teams, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders across the agency.
Ability to identify implementation challenges, solve complex problems, assess risks, and recommend practical solutions.
Ability to manage competing priorities, organize complex workstreams, and successfully execute projects within established timelines.
Ability to communicate complex policy concepts clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to develop, improve, and implement organizational processes and systems that strengthen policymaking and policy implementation.
Ability to evaluate policy outcomes, incorporate lessons learned, and apply insights to improve future policies and practices.
Ability to produce accurate, high-quality work with strong attention to detail while working independently and with minimal oversight.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in public policy, political science, data analytics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience conducting applied research.
Previous work in the elections, ethics, or campaign finance policy space.
Previous work in an elected office, government agency, or on a political campaign.
Proven project management skills, especially in coordinating cross-functional teams.
Interest in evaluating how local, state, national, and international government structures and laws impact policy implementation and real-world program delivery.

Responsibilities

Lead and continuously improve the agency's policymaking process, including policy prioritization, governance, documentation, and cross-divisional coordination.
Manage the intake, tracking, prioritization, and documentation of policy issues, recommendations, and implementation initiatives across the agency.
Facilitate agencywide policy governance meetings, working groups, and stakeholder engagement to advance policy priorities and ensure accountability for implementation.
Manage the agency's internal policy process, including oversight of policy inventories, review schedules, ownership, revisions, and publication of policies, procedures, and guidance in plain language.
Oversee the development of evidence-based policy analyses, research products, and implementation recommendations that support agency decision-making.
Lead the development and execution of implementation plans for enacted legislation and agency policy initiatives, coordinating work across divisions and monitoring progress through completion.
Develop and maintain project management tools, policy frameworks, templates, and other resources that improve the consistency and effectiveness of policy development and implementation.
Partner with Intergovernmental Affairs, Legal, Public Relations, and subject-matter experts across divisions to support legislative implementation, agency material development, testimony, agency reports, and other strategic policy initiatives.
Monitor and evaluate implemented policies to assess outcomes, identify lessons learned, and recommend improvements to future policy development and implementation processes.
Supervise, coach, and develop a team of Policy Analysts responsible for policy analysis, implementation planning, and internal policy management.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and learning-oriented team culture that values curiosity, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Represent the Policy & Research division in internal and external meetings, presentations, and cross-agency initiatives as appropriate.