Deputy Director

City of New York • New York City, NY

14h

About The Position

The Deputy Director of a Family Independence Administration (FIA) Job Center works under the general direction of the Benefits Access Center Director, exercising wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative. The role organizes, directs, and supervises the Case Management, Case Establishment, and Case Support units, which facilitate eligibility determinations for initial and ongoing public assistance benefits and employment-related activities that help participants achieve self-sufficiency. The position may be assigned to FIA Benefits Access Center or Model Office locations, including specialized locations such as the Family Services Call Center, Union Square Job Center, Refugee Job Center, and Residential Treatment Services Center.

The Deputy Director manages staff and operational processes related to public assistance applications, recertifications, case actions, appeals, fair hearings, training, welfare reform initiatives, referrals, audits, and benefit-processing systems. The role ensures compliance with applicable rules, agency requirements, and time frames, and supports timely, accurate service delivery to participants.

Requirements

• Applicants must be permanent in the Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist title, or permanent in a comparable title eligible for a 6.1.9 title change; provisional hires must take and pass the civil service exam when it becomes available to remain eligible for continued employment.
• One qualification pathway: a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and four years of satisfactory full-time experience providing employment-related services or economic support services to people in need, including at least 18 months in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Alternative qualification pathway: a four-year high school diploma or equivalent and eight years of full-time experience equivalent to the experience described in the first pathway, including at least 18 months in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• Education and/or experience equivalent to either qualification pathway may be accepted. Accredited college credits may substitute for experience at 30 semester credits per year of experience.
• All candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or equivalent and at least 18 months of supervisory or managerial experience as described in the stated qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Manage staff activities related to resolving public assistance client appeals and ensure requirements are met for opening, reopening, denying, closing, or changing cases and benefit entitlements; ensure mandated signage is properly posted.
• Manage application and recertification processes, ensuring eligibility rules and required time frames are followed and case actions are processed according to priorities that support accuracy and payment accuracy.
• Assist the Benefits Access Center Director in directing program components and specialized service locations to facilitate service delivery, minimize wait times, and help participants achieve self-sufficiency.
• Determine staff training needs; oversee curriculum planning and development; monitor training programs and attendance; assess effectiveness, provide feedback to the Director, and manage staff development initiatives.
• Supervise implementation of Welfare Reform initiatives, including the emphasis on work, personal responsibility in seeking employment, and use of community resources to support self-sufficiency.
• Evaluate the legality and appropriateness of case actions; conduct management audits of operating routines and processes for public assistance and food stamps; ensure error and fraud reduction programs are followed; respond to service complaints.
• Oversee appropriate referrals to the Office of Child Support Enforcement and, in consultation with specialized Human Resources Administration staff, make referrals to outside agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Department for the Aging, and Administration for Children’s Services.
• Monitor the Fair Hearing process, work to improve the Fair Hearing Win rate, supervise and lead center employees, coordinate with supervisory staff to ensure appropriate and timely services, and ensure timely compliance with Fair Hearing decisions.
• Manage the accuracy and timeliness of information entered into centralized computer systems for electronic generation of public assistance and food stamp benefits; report breakdowns to Management Information System staff and ensure rapid deployment of technical personnel.

What This Job Offers

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