Special Assistant to the Public Advocate

City of New York•New York City, NY

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Advocate, an independently elected public official, serves as a direct link between city government and residents, acting as a “watchdog” for New Yorkers. The Public Advocate is a non-voting member of the New York City Council, an ex officio member of all Council committees and introduces and co-sponsors legislation. The Public Advocate serves on various City committees and appoints members to several boards and commissions. The Office of the New York City Public Advocate reviews and investigates residents’ complaints about City services and administrative actions, assists people having difficulty receiving City services, assesses whether City agencies are responsive to the public, and recommends legislative or policy proposals to address identified service deficiencies. The Special Assistant serves as direct, on-the-ground support to the Public Advocate, ensuring seamless execution of daily activities, meetings, and public events. Operating as an logistic representative of the Public Advocate, this role requires constant situational awareness, precision, discretion, and the ability to anticipate needs in real time. This role requires a high level of discretion, adaptability, and the ability to handle a wide range of tasks efficiently and professionally. This position is highly visible, fast-paced, and requires the highest level of professionalism, responsiveness, and logistical execution.

Requirements

Minimum of 2 years experience as personal aide for a C-level executive
Must possess a valid New York State driver’s license
Evening and weekends required, flexibility to travel as needed
Exceptional communication skills, high emotional intelligence, and ability to anticipate the needs
Must be able to work long, irregular hours, including nights and weekends, and travel frequently
Expert knowledge of New York City/State venues; GPS systems
Ability to process large amounts of information and multitask
Thorough knowledge of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Adaptability, which is required to succeed in a complex and fast-paced Executive Office
Strong communication skills to liaise between the Public Advocate and Stakeholders
Minimum of an Associate’s degree with 2 years of experience working on an administrative team

Nice To Haves

Familiarity and or experience working with NYC government is preferred

Responsibilities

Accompany the Public Advocate to meetings, public events, and out-of-city travel
Provide on-the-ground “body person” support, ensuring seamless execution of daily activities
Manage real-time schedule execution, including transitions, timing, and movement between engagements
Ensure the Public Advocate arrives on time and is fully prepared for all meetings and events
Deliver concise briefings and ensure all materials are readily available on-site
Coordinate and confirm event logistics, including run of show, arrival details, and key contacts
Serve as the on-site point of contact for organizers, stakeholders, and internal staff
Liaise with security, event staff, and internal teams to support smooth operations
Troubleshoot and resolve logistical issues in real time
Support the Public Advocate’s immediate administrative needs throughout the day
Track and communicate real-time updates, delays, and schedule changes to the Scheduling Team
Capture key takeaways, action items, and follow-ups from all meetings and events
Proactively communicate post-event updates and required follow-ups to Scheduling and relevant internal teams
Drive follow-up coordination based on the Public Advocate’s external interactions (meetings, requests, commitments, and introductions)
Assist with preparation of briefing materials and ensure accuracy of event information
Represent the Office of the Public Advocate at external meetings and events as needed
Greet and escort scheduled visitors and stakeholders
Serve as backup Advance Associate and provide staffing coverage when needed
Provide evening and weekend support, including on-call schedule and administrative tasks for the Public Advocate
Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director of Scheduling and Executive Operation