Chief of Staff to the First Deputy Commissioner

City of New York • New York, NY

7d

About The Position

The Chief of Staff supports the First Deputy Commissioner (FDC) in setting strategic direction and managing a varied portfolio of offices and teams at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Reporting to the FDC and working with the FDC’s executive team and other direct reports, the Chief of Staff tracks and leads policy and operational initiatives. The role has broad contact with HPD senior leadership, City Hall, City Council, and partner agencies including DCP, EDC, HDC, DSS, NYCHA, OMB, and DCAS.

HPD oversees housing standards across New York City’s 3.7 million homes. It builds and preserves affordable housing, protects tenants from harassment and displacement, and holds landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing a housing agenda focused on New York tenants, using standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of affordable housing to help make the city more affordable for renters and homeowners.

Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with emphasis in transportation, city or urban planning, sustainability, civil or transportation engineering, urban studies or design, architecture, business or public administration, economics, operations research, organizational behavior, or a related field, and two years of satisfactory full-time experience related to the duties; or a satisfactory equivalent of education and experience, with at least one year of the described experience required in all cases.
• Exceptional team- and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple teams and complex projects with internal and external stakeholders, execute goals, anticipate next steps, organize work, and keep team members on schedule.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to produce high-quality materials for internal and external audiences.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to analyze and communicate qualitative and quantitative information in a variety of formats.
• Good judgment, including the ability to assess situations, identify when input is needed, address or flag issues, and escalate appropriately.
• Collaborative approach, ability to give and receive feedback productively, solve problems creatively, and motivate peers.
• Substantial professional experience in a related field is referenced as part of the preferred subject-matter expertise.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of New York City government, affordable housing, and urban planning principles and processes.
• Basic understanding of real estate development principles.
• A master’s degree in urban planning, urban studies, public policy, real estate, or a related field.
• Proven ability to manage up, down, and across teams; attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Assist the First Deputy Commissioner in developing and executing external engagement strategies, policy development, operational and fiscal efficiencies, team building, and strategic planning.
• Partner with the First Deputy Commissioner to support Deputy Commissioners and key agency staff in building and maintaining relationships with federal, state, and local elected officials, community boards, and other stakeholders.
• Monitor and coordinate the progression of HPD commitments relevant to divisions reporting to the First Deputy Commissioner and across agency and Administration initiatives.
• Assist in monitoring and drafting agency responses to correspondence, informational queries, and related requests from elected officials, community boards, affordable housing sector participants, and other City agencies.
• Assist with agenda setting and prepare briefing materials as needed.
• Represent the First Deputy Commissioner and the Agency at meetings as needed.

What This Job Offers

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