Director of Operations and Capital Emergency Response

Director of Operations and Capital Emergency Response

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation's oldest and largest public housing authority with more than 177,000 apartments, and responsibility for administering a citywide Section 8 leased housing program that serves over 150,000 additional tenants. NYCHA's mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility. NYCHA's Asset & Capital Management (A&CM) Division leads the Authority's capital, sustainability and resiliency programs that comprise a $6 billion capital projects portfolio one of the largest in NY State as well as a range of activities related to property modernization and strategic asset management. A&CM aims to preserve and modernize NYCHA buildings and apartments through strategic portfolio planning, comprehensive design standards, innovative financing and project delivery models, strong partnership with NYCHA residents and other stakeholders, and effective program and project management of capital investments. The Division also positions NYCHA's housing portfolio for the future by piloting and scaling-up sustainable and resilient technologies and practices, improving residents' quality of life while enhancing building performance. The work culture of the Division is strongly customer service oriented, collaborative and delivery-focused. More information can be found on our website at : Modernizing NYCHA Properties. A&CM's Capital Programs (CP) is responsible for end-to-end management of over 500 active modernization projects across the Authority's properties throughout the city. These investments are necessary to ensure effective building performance and good living conditions for residents, and include modernization of building systems, interiors and exteriors, apartments, and grounds. Current programs focus on heating systems, elevators, roofs, brick facades, CCTV and layered access controls, entryways, flood protection and resiliency, community centers, lighting and playgrounds. Projects utilize a range of delivery methods and procurement approaches, with budgets ranging from $100,000 to up to $100 million per project. Operations & Capital Emergency Management is seeking to hire a Director to play a critical leadership role within the Asset & Capital Management (A&CM) division of NYCHA, with broad authority to make independent decisions and execute emergency protocols. Reporting to the Vice-President of the Project Management Department (PMD) and overseeing a professional operations and emergency management team, the successful candidate will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing emergency responses requiring a capital team across NYCHA properties. The role requires close collaboration with property management teams, contractors, government agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure swift, compliant, and effective emergency management. The Director will also serve as a key liaison between PMD and other A&CM departments to ensure alignment, streamline processes, and facilitate timely communication and resolution of project-related issues. The scope of the Director role requires strong project management skills with the added experience in emergency management. Ideal candidates will have experience working with NYCEM on emergencies, NYCDOB, FDNY and NYCDEP. Key day-to-day responsibilities include :

Operations Management :

Conduct regular check-ins with Vendor & Contract Management to monitor and review the status of project authorizations, Certificates to Proceed, Advice of Award, vendor invoices and processing timelines.

Coordinate with Project & Operational Excellence to ensure effective project execution by reviewing project schedules and schedule updates, eBuilder system issues and troubleshooting, and standard procedures and best practices in project and contract management.

Collaborate with Business Intelligence to enhance data integrity and visibility by reviewing project data quality, dashboard metrics and analytics related to performance and project progress.

Partner with the Quality Assurance Compliance unit to maintain regulatory and internal standards through streamlining audits of invoices by the Engineering Audit Department (EAD) and reviews of construction quality and safety issues in coordination with the Construction Safety & Quality (CSQ) team.

Partner with the Capital Planning Team and conduct regular check-ins to review and track project budgets, track Project Funding Requests, and Commitment and Obligation Rates.

Emergency Response :

Emergency Management : Direct on-site emergency inspections, evaluations, and rapid response efforts; identify and escalate critical issues outside immediate jurisdiction.

Cross-Departmental Coordination : Ensure all emergency operations are in full compliance with NYCHA policies and HUD regulations by collaborating across multiple departments.

Corrective Action Planning : Develop and execute post-emergency corrective action plans to mitigate future risks and restore operational continuity.

Operational Oversight : Manage daily emergency response operations, coordinate with vendors, and maintain uninterrupted coverage and service delivery.

Project and Vendor Management : Authorize project commitments, process vendor payments within 30-day targets, and negotiate change orders through eBuilder.

Construction Oversight : Hold regular meetings with Construction Managers (CMa's) to optimize resource utilization and project performance.

Documentation Compliance : Maintain comprehensive, timely, and accurate project documentation in eBuilder according to NYCHA protocols.

Key Competencies :

Effective Project Manager & Coordinator : A proactive planner and decisive executor, skilled in managing complex construction projects from inception to completion. Demonstrated success in balancing time, cost, and quality constraints, while leading cross-disciplinary teams and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Subject Matter Expert : An expert program and project management, project controls, data-driven planning and management techniques, and related software tools, with a strong understanding of owner-contractor arrangements in public sector capital construction and development programs ideally in New York City and State. Deep experience with business process reengineering, lean methodologies, and application to various functional and operational areas.

Exemplary Communication Skills & Collaborative Approach : Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders across diverse backgrounds. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic.