Senior Policy Advisor to Chief of Staff

Senior Policy Advisor – Chief of Staff

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. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to) tracking project plans, timelines, and deliverables; assembling and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data; preparing executive-level presentations, briefing memoranda, reports, and correspondence;

and developing recommendations to improve agency performance, operational effectiveness, and resource management. 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.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, analytically strong, highly flexible individual with a “can do” professional approach. Competitive candidates will have exceptional writing, presentation, and project management skills, capable of operating effectively in a fast-paced executive environment while managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

• 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,…