Senior Policy Advisor to the Chief of Staff

City of New York•Queens, NY

1d•Onsite

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 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. DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment that is centered around dignity, care and support for staff, providers, visitors, volunteers, and people in our care. Importantly, DOC aims to provide people in our care with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The New York City Department of Correction is seeking to recruit a Senior Policy Advisor to the Chief of Staff. Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff (COS) and exercising wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative, the Senior Policy Advisor will provide centralized expertise and strategic counsel on policy issues, working closely with the Public Information, Legislative Affairs and Labor Relations teams to align agency policy with internal and external messaging. The Senior Policy Advisor will be a critical member of the team, ensuring that the Commissioner’s vision and mission are realized. The Senior Policy Advisor will support the planning, coordination, and execution of high-priority initiatives across these divisions, helping to ensure that operational and programmatic goals, strategic priorities, and executive directives are advanced and communicated in an efficient and timely manner. 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 Policy 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 COS in internal and external meetings, serve as a proxy on designated matters, and coordinate special assignments of significant importance to the Department.

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
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
Education and/or experience equivalent to the 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
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
Regularly engaging with senior staff across DOC, partner agencies, oversight entities, and external stakeholders to gather information, resolve issues, and support strategic initiatives
Representing the COS in internal and external meetings
Serving as a proxy on designated matters
Coordinating special assignments of significant importance to the Department