Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

City of New York•New York City, NY

About The Position

The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) is seeking a Director of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) to join its Bureau of Public Affairs. The Bureau communicates DSNY’s policies, procedures, and services to internal and external audiences and engages with New Yorkers to support the City’s cleanliness. DSNY is the nation’s largest municipal sanitation agency, with nearly 10,000 employees, 59 district garages, and a fleet of more than 5,000 vehicles and other equipment. The Director leads DSNY’s engagement with City, State, and Federal elected officials, sharing information about agency work and supporting responsive, consistent, high-quality service delivery. The role reports to the Assistant Commissioner of Mass Engagement and involves varying degrees of latitude for independent initiative, judgment, and decision-making. The position also coordinates with executive staff, Deputy Commissioners, program leads, and other agency teams to connect intergovernmental and community engagement with DSNY programming. Candidates should be permanent Administrative Community Relations Specialists or have taken and passed exam #6002. Candidates serving in similar titles may apply. The listed qualifications provide alternative education and experience pathways, including a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience, a high school diploma and more extensive experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. All candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent and at least two years of full-time experience in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity as described in the qualifications.

Requirements

Candidates should be permanent Administrative Community Relations Specialists or have taken and passed exam #6002; candidates serving in similar titles may apply.
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of satisfactory, full-time community liaison, community organization, or community relations experience, including at least two years in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, developing, evaluating, or administering a large community service program or activity; or a high school diploma or equivalent and eight years of such experience, including at least two years in the specified broad administrative or policy-making capacity; or equivalent education and/or experience.
All candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and two years of full-time experience in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with the responsibilities described in the qualifications.
Undergraduate education above high school may substitute for community liaison, community organization, or community relations experience at 30 semester credits per year, up to four years, but cannot substitute for the required two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience.
Graduate education beyond a bachelor’s degree may substitute for community liaison, community organization, or community relations experience at 30 graduate credits per year, up to two years, but cannot substitute for the required two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience.

Responsibilities

Implement strategies, in coordination with executive staff, to improve public awareness of, engagement with, and participation in Sanitation programs and services.
Represent DSNY at community forums, town halls, walkthroughs, and other public meetings.
Oversee event request coordination, prioritization, and scheduling with other Mass Engagement unit staff.
Manage official correspondence with elected officials promptly and responsively.
Build working relationships with Deputy Commissioners and program leads across DSNY so intergovernmental affairs and community engagement strategies inform and connect to agency programming.
Prepare the Commissioner and staff for legislative and budget hearings, meetings, and other interactions in coordination with the Office of Policy and Planning, the Executive Director of Legislative Affairs, and other teams.
Provide elected officials with clear, timely, actionable, and strategic communications about DSNY programs, services, priorities, and work, and work with their offices to distribute the communications to the public.
Work with State and Local elected officials to maximize discretionary funding allocations to DSNY programs and ensure prompt, responsive implementation of those allocations.
Respond to and resolve constituent inquiries and complaints by phone and email in a timely manner, ensuring accurate resolution.
Supervise and coordinate staff activities on assigned initiatives.
Support other Bureau functions and priorities as needed.