Senior Advisor to the SDC

City of New York•East Elmhurst, NY

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 at moving the city towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, providers, 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 knowledge experts. The New York City Department of Correction seeks to recruit a Senior Advisor to the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Administrative Operations. Reporting directly to the Senior Deputy Commissioner (SDC), and exercising wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative. The selected candidate will serve as a key strategic and operational advisor responsible for assisting in the coordination, management, and advancement of a broad portfolio of critical administrative functions, including (but not limited to) Finance, Facilities, Fleet Management, Nutritional Services, Emergency Preparedness, Human Resources, Procurement, and Information Technology. The Senior Advisor will support the planning, coordination, and execution of high-priority initiatives across these divisions, helping to ensure that operational goals, strategic priorities, and executive directives are advanced in an efficient and timely manner. Responsibilities include tracking project plans, timelines, and deliverables; assembling and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data; preparing executive-level presentations, briefing memoranda, reports, and correspondence; and developing recommendations to improve agency performance, operational effectiveness, and resource management. The position will also monitor the status of critical projects, identify operational risks or barriers to implementation, and recommend corrective actions to executive leadership. The Senior Advisor will regularly engage with senior staff across DOC, partner agencies, oversight entities, and external stakeholders to gather information, resolve issues, and support strategic initiatives. The incumbent may represent the SDC in internal and external meetings, serve as a proxy on designated matters, and coordinate special assignments of significant importance to the Department. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, analytically strong, and has a “can do” professional approach. Competitive candidates will have exceptional writing, presentation, and project management skills, capable of operating effectively in a fast-paced executive environment while managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Requirements

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and four years of full-time experience in corrections, social work, psychology, law, public administration, law enforcement, or a related field providing direct services to an inmate or detention population within a correctional or related facility, at least one (1) year of which must have been in a responsible supervisory, administrative or consultative capacity; or
A high school diploma or evidence of having passed a high school equivalency examination and six (6) years of full-time experience as described above; or
Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Service as an inmate in correctional or related facility may be substituted for a portion of the required experience up to a maximum of two years on a year for year basis. A graduate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, psychology, law, criminal justice or public administration which includes a field placement performing duties as described above, may be substituted for up to one year of full-time experience as described in "1" above. However, all candidates must have at least two years of full-time experience as described in "1" above, at least one year of which must have been in a supervisory, administrative or consultative capacity.

Nice To Haves

Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, track deliverables, and meet deadlines.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including preparation of briefings, reports, talking points, and executive correspondence.
Ability to build effective working relationships with staff at all levels of the organization, as well as external partners and stakeholders.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, and present data to support decision-making and operational improvements.
Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Experience supporting large, complex operational initiatives involving multiple divisions or agencies; public sector or correctional experience preferred.
Self-starter with a practical, can-do approach, strong initiative, and willingness to solve problems as they arise.
Professional demeanor, good sense of humor, and the ability to work well in a high-pressure executive environment.

Responsibilities

Tracking project plans, timelines, and deliverables
Assembling and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data
Preparing executive-level presentations, briefing memoranda, reports, and correspondence
Developing recommendations to improve agency performance, operational effectiveness, and resource management
Monitoring the status of critical projects
Identifying operational risks or barriers to implementation
Recommending corrective actions to executive leadership
Engaging with senior staff across DOC, partner agencies, oversight entities, and external stakeholders to gather information, resolve issues, and support strategic initiatives
Representing the SDC in internal and external meetings
Serving as a proxy on designated matters
Coordinating special assignments of significant importance to the Department