CHIEF HOUSING SERVICES OFFICER

City of New York • New York, NY

2d • $124,026 - $255,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. As the largest local social services agency in the country, HRA helps more than three million New Yorkers annually through the administration of more than 15 major public assistance programs.

Housing Services Administration is a division of New York City’s Department of Social Services that oversees housing stability and rehousing efforts. HSA administers rental assistance, housing supply, and placement programs to help individuals and families exit shelter, prevent homelessness, and secure safe, affordable housing across the city.

Under the executive direction of the HRA Administrator, with the greatest possible latitude for independent initiative and unreviewed action, the Chief Housing Services Officer will be responsible for providing executive leadership and strategic direction for Rental Assistance, the Housing Supply Program, and Specialized Housing Services. This role manages high-impact, high-priority initiatives, advises on policy and operational decisions, and ensures alignment among HRA’s C-suite-level executive staff, the Mayor’s Office, and other external partners, as needed. This position plays a central role in driving agency-wide strategy, planning, and performance.

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Director of Social Services, M-VII to function as a Chief Housing Services Officer, who will:

- Serve as the executive head of Housing Services and directs all activities of the Rental Assistance, Housing Supply Program, and Specialized Housing Services.

- Plan, develop, and institute policies and procedures related to the delivery of housing services and ensure optimal service delivery.

- Lead process improvement efforts to streamline housing placements. This includes coordinating with DSS staff, Legal Affairs, and external stakeholders – namely landlords, brokers, and property
management groups – and, in partnership with the DSS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, responding to local elected officials on subsidy matters.

- Provide guidance and direction to senior management staff to ensure efficient handling of subsidy administration and sensitive, confidential issues.

- Serve as a principal advisor to the HRA Administrator and Commissioner in the formulation and resolution of policy issues related to the development, maintenance, and implementation of program.

- Build relationships with external parties involved in housing placements, including (but not limited to) relevant City and State agencies, affordable housing developers, and landlord and developer trade organizations.

- Exercise authority to develop and implement HRA program initiatives, partnering with federal, state, and city agencies and quasi-public/private-sector organizations to secure fiscal, legislative, and/or programmatic support for HRA programs and policies.

- Oversee the management and administration of the annual housing services budget. Collaborate with DSS Finance, the Office of Management and Budget, and the DSS Contracting Office to manage budgets and contracts for housing initiatives and other placement work.

- Oversee special projects as necessary.

Requirements

• Permanent in the Administrative Director of Social Services Civil Service Title or be permanent in a comparable title eligible for 6.1.9 Title Change
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services, including one year at the administrative or managerial level; or Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above.
• Graduate education or a license may substitute for up to a maximum of three years of experience in the area of social services, but not for the one year of experience at the administrative or managerial level as described in "1" above, as follows:
• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, child welfare, counseling, economics, education, finance, human resources, labor relations, management, management science, nursing, operations research, organizational behavior, personnel or public administration, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics, and/or urban studies may substitute for two years of experience; and/or
• Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university in the area(s) listed in “2(A)” above for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years; or
• A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) may substitute for three years of experience.
• All candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive head of Housing Services and directs all activities of the Rental Assistance, Housing Supply Program, and Specialized Housing Services.
• Plan, develop, and institute policies and procedures related to the delivery of housing services and ensure optimal service delivery.
• Lead process improvement efforts to streamline housing placements. This includes coordinating with DSS staff, Legal Affairs, and external stakeholders – namely landlords, brokers, and property management groups – and, in partnership with the DSS Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, responding to local elected officials on subsidy matters.
• Provide guidance and direction to senior management staff to ensure efficient handling of subsidy administration and sensitive, confidential issues.
• Serve as a principal advisor to the HRA Administrator and Commissioner in the formulation and resolution of policy issues related to the development, maintenance, and implementation of program.
• Build relationships with external parties involved in housing placements, including (but not limited to) relevant City and State agencies, affordable housing developers, and landlord and developer trade organizations.
• Exercise authority to develop and implement HRA program initiatives, partnering with federal, state, and city agencies and quasi-public/private-sector organizations to secure fiscal, legislative, and/or programmatic support for HRA programs and policies.
• Oversee the management and administration of the annual housing services budget. Collaborate with DSS Finance, the Office of Management and Budget, and the DSS Contracting Office to manage budgets and contracts for housing initiatives and other placement work.
• Oversee special projects as necessary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager