Associate Director of Rapid Response

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

The Associate Director of Rapid Response leads the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ rapid response function, ensuring the office can respond quickly and effectively to emerging issues affecting immigrant New Yorkers. The role coordinates outreach, communications, and service delivery in response to time-sensitive situations, including federal enforcement actions, policy changes, and other urgent developments. Working closely with the Director of Community Engagement and senior leadership, the Associate Director aligns response efforts across teams and ensures they are based on accurate, timely information. The Associate Director coordinates with City agencies, community organizations, and advocacy partners to align responses and connect affected communities with clear information and support. The position develops protocols and systems, tracks emerging issues and response outcomes, supports proactive planning, and supervises and guides rapid response staff. Additional projects and agency-wide initiatives may be assigned as organizational priorities evolve. The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs promotes the economic, civic, and social integration of immigrant New Yorkers, expands access to justice, and advances policies that strengthen immigrant communities. It works with City agencies and community organizations to improve language access and equitable access to services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 5 years of relevant experience in public service, community engagement, policy, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience managing time-sensitive initiatives, coordinating across multiple stakeholders, and working effectively in high-pressure environments.
Strong problem-solving and communication abilities, sound judgment, and the ability to execute complex efforts with clarity and coordination.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
Strong understanding of immigrant communities, public service systems, and the policy landscape affecting immigrant New Yorkers.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, execution, and day-to-day management of rapid response efforts related to emerging issues affecting immigrant communities.
Coordinate MOIA teams during active response situations, aligning outreach, communications, and service delivery.
Serve as a central contact for internal stakeholders, City agencies, community-based organizations, and advocacy partners during time-sensitive situations.
Develop and implement protocols, workflows, tools, and systems to strengthen rapid response capacity and track incidents, responses, and outcomes.
Identify opportunities to improve the coordination, speed, and effectiveness of response efforts.
Support joint response strategies and consistent messaging and approaches with external partners.
Ensure outreach is targeted, culturally responsive, and accessible, and support dissemination of accurate information through trusted channels.
Coordinate with community engagement teams to align rapid response outreach with ongoing efforts.
Monitor emerging issues, enforcement trends, and policy developments affecting immigrant communities.
Provide leadership updates and analysis to support decision-making and proactive planning.
Supervise and support rapid response staff, including managers and/or organizers as applicable.
Undertake additional projects, responsibilities, agency-wide initiatives, and special projects as required.