Executive Director of PREA
About The Position
The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts. The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) seeks a highly experienced and strategic leader to serve as the Executive Director of PREA. This position provides executive-level oversight of both the PREA Compliance Unit and the PREA Investigations Unit and is critical to ensuring the Department’s compliance with federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards. The Executive Director functions as the Department’s principal PREA authority and is responsible for maintaining the integrity, independence, and effectiveness of investigative and compliance operations that directly impact facility safety, federal monitoring, and litigation risk exposure for both persons in custody and staff.
Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and four years of satisfactory full time experience in the field of investigations, auditing, law enforcement, criminal justice, or in a major operational area of the agency in which the appointment is to be made, 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising a staff performing investigations or related work; or
- Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have the 18 months of experience in an administrative, managerial, executive, or supervisory capacity as described in "1" above.
Nice To Haves
- Extensive knowledge of PREA standards and correctional regulatory frameworks
- Experience conducting or supervising administrative or criminal investigations
- Demonstrated leadership in compliance monitoring, corrective action planning, and policy development
- Experience interacting with oversight bodies, legal counsel, and external regulators
- Strong analytical ability with experience using data to identify patterns and risk indicators
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings
- Ability to maintain independence, confidentiality, and professional judgment in sensitive matters
Responsibilities
- Provide executive oversight of PREA compliance and PREA investigative operations across all DOC facilities
- Establish uniform investigative and compliance standards, policies, and protocols
- Direct trend analysis, performance monitoring, and corrective action initiatives related to allegations and findings
- Ensure timely, independent, and legally sufficient investigations consistent with federal PREA standards and Department policy
- Serve as the Department’s primary PREA liaison to federal monitors, oversight entities, and external stakeholders
- Advise DOC executive leadership on compliance risks, operational deficiencies, and required remediation strategies
- Coordinate interagency communication related to investigations and oversight findings
- Develop accountability frameworks and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency and regulatory adherence
- Oversee staff training, quality assurance reviews, and investigative best practices
- Monitor litigation exposure and recommend operational or policy reforms to mitigate risk
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
