DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DIVISION OF JOB SUPPORT SERVICE

Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist

If you are hired provisionally in the title, you must take and pass the Civil Service Exam, when it becomes available, to be eligible for continued employment. Family Independence Administration provides temporary help to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency via essential and diverse programs / services, such as : temporary cash assistance, SNAP, childcare, eviction prevention services, adult protective services, job training, employment plans / support, domestic violence assistance, child support enforcement, etc. Under executive direction of the Executive Deputy Commissioner of FIA Field Operations, with extremely wide latitude of independent judgment, action and initiative, the Deputy Commissioner administers and directs the management of 26 Benefit Access Centers, which employ approximately 2,200 staff, located throughout the five NYC boroughs. This incumbent in this position is responsible and accountable for the mandated function of delivering services to help individuals who apply for and receive cash assistance to reach their maximum level of self-sufficiency. The primary means of achieving self-sufficiency is through paid employment. FIA's Office of Project Services is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist, M5, to function as Deputy Commissioner, Division of Job Support Service, who will :

• Develop agency policies in cooperation with Human Resources Administration (HRA) executive staff and Mayoral office staff. Assists in the planning and development of program activities with other organizational components in HRA, other city Departments, State Department of Social services, and other governmental and private social service agencies. Such policies assist with issuance of benefits in a timely and efficient manner while reducing the risk of worker and client fraud. Creates and develops processes and sets policy for the implementation of new and changing policies in cooperation with Executive Regional staff. Ensures consistent implementation throughout Family Independence Administration.
• Direct the overall management of all NYC Benefit Access Centers, consisting of approximately 2,200 staff, in order to maximize the efficient and accurate delivery of cash assistance benefits. Directly responsible for the design and implementation of new initiatives necessary to expand the programs mission to provide temporary cash assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Medicaid, and employment services to eligible individuals and families in a professional and accurate and timely manner.
• Oversee the management of all 26 Benefit Access Centers whom are responsible for providing one-time emergency grants to assist eligible individuals and families to meet emergency needs such as pending eviction, utility shut-off and other expenses due to unplanned and unforeseen emergency circumstances.
• Oversee the management of specialized programs such as Mayor's initiative Living in the Communities (LINC) and Centralized Rent Processing Unit (CRPU); which plays a vital role in assisting the over 55,000 individuals / families living in the shelters obtain permanent housing by ensuring the correct and timely issuance of shelter related benefits.
• Manage, develop and direct any mayoral and / or other special initiatives and Lawsuit compliances that relate to administering temporary cash assistance benefits and for ensuring the implementation of all new processes are developed, put in place, and followed in accordance with Federal, State and City mandates. Administers and directs the on-site management, planning and monitoring of all activities that contribute to the timely delivery of varied public assistance services to eligible persons / families by ensuring that the expenditure of public funds through the cash assistance programs is in conformity with Federal and State laws and all relevant Agency policies; ensures compliance with mandated legislation such as, Reynolds v. Giuliani, Brown v. Giuliani, and Lovely H v. Eggleston.
• Be responsible for the professional development of Executive, Regional, and Center Enhancement Managers and for supporting program directors in the performance of their duties, in accordance with accepted administration policies and correct management procedures. Provides guidance to the Regional Managers, Center Managers and Operations Program Managers in developing and formulating appropriate corrective action plans to ensure areas of concern are addressed.
• Lead the Executive, Regional, and Center Enhancement Managers in the administration of all center operations involved in the implementation of Welfare Reform, by evaluating program performance through regularly held bi-weekly meetings such as JobStat and CenterStat. Collaborates with the Deputy Commissioner of FIA Employment Services to assist recipients with receiving services that provide work related experience and job skills training designed to assist participants in overcoming barriers which prevent them from obtaining and retaining paid employment.
• Collaborate with City, State, and Federal officials in the formulation of policy and procedures and ensures that the application of these policies and procedures conform to New York City, State and Federal regulations. This position also calls for frequently dealing with other mid and high level executives in the Human Resources Administration and other agencies to resolve operating and policy issues. Represents the interests of FIA's Executive Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in presentations before the City Council or other legislative bodies in discussions with the State and Federal agencies in areas of mutual concern. Attends community functions and meetings, at the direction of the Executive Deputy Commissioner for Operations.
• Coordinate with the Business Process Innovation team to enable the execution of reengineering efforts within HRA to maximize efficiencies without increasing additional levels of bureaucracy. Assist consultants with mapping out the application and recertification workflow in an effort to streamline this process.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Food Stamp Services to work on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program policies, procedures and operational implementation which may impact cash assistance recipients.

Hours / Shift : 9 : 00am-5 : 00pm

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, plus four years of satisfactory full-time experience performing work related to providing employment related services or economic support services to persons in need, at least eighteen months of this experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity; or 2. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and eight years of full-time experience equivalent to "1" above; at least eighteen months of this experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity; or 3. Education and / or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. College credits from an accredited college or university may be substituted for experience on the basis of 30 semester credits for one year year of work experience. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and at least eighteen months of experience must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

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, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.