Special Assistant

Join to apply for the SPECIAL ASSISTANT role at NYC Department of Social Services
.

Applicant must be permanent in the Administrative Staff Analyst title or in a comparable title eligible for 6.1.9.

The Homelessness Prevention Administration (HPA) was established in 2014 and has since played an essential role in the City’s overall eviction and homelessness prevention efforts to combat housing instability to help New Yorkers stay housed. HPA Office of Prevention and Housing Assistance is primarily responsible for administration of the CityFHEPS rental subsidy program, the contracted in-community Homebase eviction prevention program and for new developments and an expanding continuum of homelessness prevention programing and contracts.

PHA is currently comprised of the following units: the Rental Assistance Programs (RAP), the HOME Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program (HOME TBRA), and the Office of Prevention and Community Support (PCS) and its expanding unit for Contracts (Homebase, Phase I, II, III–Cluster/Master Lease, City Council Discretionary Awards and Special Housing Assistance Resource (SHARE)).

Under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of PHA with latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and action, the Administrative Assistant coordinates and manages high priority PHA special projects in the areas under the purview of the Deputy Commissioner. The goal of these projects is to maximize resources, identify efficiencies and streamline workflows both within PHA areas and between those areas and other areas in the Department of Social Services (DSS), Human Resources Administration (HRA), and Department of Homeless Services.

• Initiate and manage all activities relating to project deliverables including presentations, briefings, across the Deputy Commissioner’s areas of responsibility. Manage or collaborate on several projects simultaneously, track and monitor projects and assignments, maintain timelines, and follow up with DSS/HRA/DHS staff and external parties. Work independently on special studies, project development and management and in concert with the Deputy Commissioner on routine tasks such as correspondence control and general scheduling.
• Respond to inquiries and requests for actions from various internal and external entities: the HRA Commissioner, Office of Constituents Services (OCS), offices of various elected officials. Ensure that PHA completes follow-up procedures when necessary. Review, route and control all correspondence, reports, and written directives, in order to facilitate responses to appropriate parties, including State, Mayoral and Commissioner.
• Monitor key operational indicators, develop, and produce analyses and reports to provide insights into operations and performance. Lead teams of PHA staff who collect and analyze information needed for the preparation of process evaluations and who conduct management surveys, work measurement analysis and program assessment to increase accountability throughout the various PHA Units. Provide written reports and recommendations for improvements when necessary.
• Conduct in-depth research and analysis of data for multiple and varying projects related to new procedures or initiatives. Prepare and present data‑driven presentations on the findings to the HPA Chief, PHA Deputy Commissioner, PHA Program Heads, and make recommendations of best practice to optimize utilization to assist the Deputy Commissioner in the decision‑making process.
• Collaborate with Senior PHA staff on the development and updates of written agency, HPA and PHA procedures; maintain a close relationship with the Office of Training and Office of Policy and Procedures to provide feedback on proposed procedural changes.
• Attend meetings with or represent the Deputy Commissioner on inter‑program, inter‑agency projects, meetings, and work groups as they arise. Represent HPA and PHA upper management and/or other program representatives, conveying information, as authorized. Chronicle meetings by taking notes, recording commitments made by attending parties. Follow up with the Chief/Deputy Commissioner, convey the contents of…