Senior Advisor TO the Chief Program Officer AND Director of Strategic Intiatives

Job Description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE.

The HRA Office of the Chief Program Officer (OCPO) oversees three major program areas: the Family Independence Administration (FIA), the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), and Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI).

FIA oversees the Cash Assistance (CA) and SNAP Programs, including seventeen (17) Benefits Access Centers, (6) Service Centers serving special populations and sixteen (16) SNAP Centers throughout all five boroughs of New York City. The primary goal of the CA Program is to help individuals apply for and maintain Cash Assistance and other related benefits and services to reach their maximum level of self-sufficiency, as well as to address any emergencies such as preventing eviction or dislocation, prevent utility shut-offs or restore utility service, storage of personal belongings while in shelter or in temporary housing, and permanent housing related needs (moving, initial rent, security deposit, broker fees, furniture allowance/establishment of the home grant, referral for ongoing rent subsidies). The CA Program has a current caseload of more than 308,000 cases and 552,000 recipients the SNAP Program has a current caseload of more than 1 million cases and 1.7 million individuals.

OCSS helps parents provide for the economic and social well-being, health, and stability of their children. OCSS assists with locating noncustodial parents, establishing parentage and child support orders, collecting, and distributing child support payments, and modifying and enforcing child support orders. All custodial parents, guardians, and caretakers are eligible for child support services, regardless of their income or immigration status. In keeping with federal and State statutes, custodial parents receiving Cash Assistance are required to comply with OCSS. All other custodial parents may apply for OCSS services on a voluntary basis. The program has a caseload of more than 247,000 cases and collects more than $600 million annually on behalf of NYC children. It oversees 4 Borough Offices, 5 Family Court Support Services Offices, 4 Court Services Offices and 1 Customer Service Walk-In Center serving families citywide.

SPI oversees 5 major programs: Common Benefit Identification Cards, the Office of Burial Services, Fair Fares NYC, the Home Energy Assistance Program and IDNYC, in addition to the Pre-Release Benefits pilot.

The Electronic Benefit Office oversees the disbursement of Common Benefit Identification Cards (CBIC) to clients who have available benefits (CA, SNAP and MA). The public over-the-counter site is currently located at 27 Schermerhorn Street in Brooklyn and serves between 800 to 1,000 clients from all boroughs each day for the issuance of new and replacement CBICs.

The Office of Burial Services (OBS) provides support and, where eligible, financial assistance to survivors, next of kin, legally responsible relatives, friends or other designated entities of deceased indigent or unclaimed persons. OBS connects those who require information about the disposal of decedent remains through public burial or access to public burial to appropriate assistance through the Department of Social Services’ General Support Services and handles determinations of financial responsibility regarding burial of NYC decedents who passed away in health facilities outside of the five boroughs. The office is located at 33-28 Northern Boulevard in Queens and processes more than 2,000 applications per year.

HRA’s Fair Fares NYC (FFNYC) program assists low-income New Yorkers with managing their transportation costs by connecting eligible New York City residents to a 50% discount on NYC Transit subway and eligible bus fares, as well as Access-A-Ride Paratransit rides. The program has five locations in Benefit Access Centers throughout New York City (one in each borough) and one (1) Electronic Application Processing Unit (EAPU) currently at 260 11th Avenue in Manhattan. The program currently has more than 320,000 enrollments.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits are issued to eligible New Yorkers to subsidize heating and cooling costs and provide financial assistance to repair heating and cooling systems. The program may help households pay for their energy bills, which includes assistance with electricity, gas, and oil bills. HEAP can also help repair or replace a broken furnace or boiler and install cooling units. For the 2022-2023 season, more than 800,000 regular HEAP benefits were issued, and more than 10,000 cooling benefits were issued.

IDNYC is a free government-issued photo ID card for people aged 10 and older who live in NYC. It can help residents apply for City services, health insurance through the NYS Health Insurance Marketplace, and prove identity for employment, among other benefits. The program oversees 11 permanent sites across the 5 boroughs and also has a Mobile Command Center that is deployed throughout the City.

The pre-release initiative is a pilot designed to assist incarcerated individuals with applying for Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits prior to their release from state correctional facilities. The program is currently available in 6 correctional facilities statewide through a collaboration with State DOCCS.

Under executive direction of the HRA Chief Program Officer, with wide latitude for independent judgment and decision-making, the Senior Advisor to the Chief Program Officer and Director of Strategic Initiatives provides strategic direction to the Chief Program Officer and Executive Staff with respect to managing the design and coordination of new initiatives, agencywide projects, as well as the development and amendment of multiyear plans and improvement strategies for the three major programs that comprise the Office of the Chief Program Officer (OCPO) in collaboration with program leadership: Family Independence Administration (SNAP and Cash Assistance), the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), and Supportive Programs & Initiatives (HEAP, IDNYC, Fair Fares NYC, CBIC, Office of Burial Services, and pre-release programs). The Senior Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives, on behalf of the Chief Program Officer, provides direction to the program areas under OCPO in the application of administrative policies, procedures, and regulations for uniformity of interpretation and practice. The Senior Advisor is responsible for coordinating special projects with various external partners (ex. Community groups and cooperating agencies) and interpreting operating programs, policies and procedures through correspondence, conferences, lectures, and reports. The Senior Advisor, in collaboration with program leadership and the DSS Office of Accountability, directs and coordinates all aspects of the accountability, compliance (including risk assessment), program monitoring, and evaluation projects across the OCPO program areas; handles urgent and time-sensitive Program issues related to matters involving OCPO programs.

The Administrative Director of Social Services M III/Senior Advisor to the Chief Program Officer and Director of Strategic Initiatives will:

- Provide direction to the program areas under OCPO in the application of administrative policies,
procedures, and regulations for uniformity of interpretation and practice. Works with the Chief
Program Officer in the planning, execution and monitoring of projects aimed at improving program
operations, integrity, and compliance and alignment with Agency and city-wide plans; serves as a
special advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives with authority for making recommendations on
strategic direction on administrative functions and implementation of critical and new interagency
initiatives designed to improve service delivery to OCPO targeted populations.

- Coordinate special projects with various external partners (ex. Community groups and cooperating
agencies), including initiatives related to expanding benefits access and the development and
implementation of the State’s new Integrative Eligibility System and interprets operating programs,
policies and procedures through correspondence, conferences, lectures, and reports for such partners.
Special project coordination includes developing project plans, the negotiation of roles and
responsibilities, determination of work scope and determination of program design, budget allocations
and contractual requirements.

- Coordinate and collaborate with FIA, OCSS, SPI and the DSS Office of Program Accountability to
identify actual and potential risks for negative audit findings, reputational harm, and litigation risks.
Present audit findings to upper management. Documents results of audit evaluations across all
program areas of the OCPO. Summarizes and conveys non-compliance findings for corrective
action and makes recommendations for process improvements to the Chief Program Officer.
Interface with Federal, State and City agencies and advocacy groups as needed to manage and
direct program’s responses to audits. Provides reports on accountability/compliance to the Chief
Program Officer and the senior stakeholders. Makes recommendations based on these reports,
including provision of additional funding, or defunding of existing programs/contracts/staff.

- In collaboration with the FIA, OCSS and SPI leadership, monitors and evaluates program performance
and goals using data to assess the effectiveness of programs in realizing goals and objectives.
Based on these findings, recommendations are made to the Chief Program Officer and program
leadership for strategic plans, new initiatives, and process improvements.

- Coordinate and collaborate with the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and FIA, OCSS and SPI to assist with
addressing litigation matters related to these OCPO programs. Responsible for coordinating the
discovery process for such litigation matters, including working with FIA, OCSS and SPI to gather all
documents, memos, policies, procedures, emails, etc. relevant to litigation matters and liaising with
OLA to ensure proper compliance with the legal process.

- Represent the Chief Program Officer, as necessary or directed, at internal and external meetings and
events.

- Perform other duties and functions as directed.


Hours/Shift:

9:00am - 5:00pm

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services, including one year at the administrative or managerial level; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. Graduate education or a license may substitute for up to a maximum of three years of experience in the area of social services, but not for the one year of experience at the administrative or managerial level as described in "1" above, as follows:

(A) A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, child welfare, counseling, economics, education, finance, human resources, labor relations, management, management science, nursing, operations research, organizational behavior, personnel or public administration, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics, and/or urban studies may substitute for two years of experience; and/or

(B) Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university in the area(s) listed in “2(A)” above for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years; or

(C) A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) may substitute for three years of experience.

However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.