ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established public service agency is seeking an Executive Agency Counsel to serve as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner. This pivotal role involves providing legal expertise on social services policies, ensuring compliance with regulations, and developing agency policies. The successful candidate will work closely with various stakeholders, manage complex legal issues, and contribute to innovative solutions that address the needs of New Yorkers. Join a dedicated team committed to making a difference in the community while enjoying a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Benefits

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Qualifications

• 4 years of legal experience post-bar admission, including supervisory roles.
• Expertise in social services legal issues and policy implementation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal expertise on DSS policy and procedural issues.
• Develop agency policy statements in response to regulations.
• Manage staff and oversee regulatory waiver requests.

Skills

Legal Expertise

Policy Development

Regulatory Compliance

Litigation Management

Education

Admission to the New York State Bar

Job description

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

The Office of Policy is responsible for most aspects of agency policy development, including development and advocacy of waiver and demonstration projects, development of commentary on regulatory changes, legislative position development, negotiations with legislative bodies, and compliance with legal reporting requirements and implementation of laws.

The Office of the General Counsel / Office of Policy, Procedures and Training (OPPT) is recruiting for one Executive Agency Counsel M3 to function as Assistant Deputy Commissioner who will:

Under the executive direction of the Deputy Chief Legal Affairs Officer, of the Office of Legal Affairs, with the widest latitude for the exercise of independent initiative and decision, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner acts as the legal expert on Department of Social Services (DSS) policy and issues. The Asst. Deputy Commissioner ensures close relationships with policy developers, operations managers, various affiliated programs, and business partners that interface with DSS daily, such as the Human Resources Administration (HRA) Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) and the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

1. Provide legal expertise in agency consultations and serve as chief policy person with Operations and program implementation staff on the administration of DSS policy or procedural issues pertaining to social services programs such as the SNAP, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Safety Net Assistance, Medicaid, legal assistance, and all employment services provided by the agency.
2. Write and develop in depth Biennial Employment Plan, required by the OTDA and stemming from a mayoral initiative. Writes plan in full compliance with all relevant Federal and State laws and regulations.
3. In conjunction with the Deputy Chief Legal Affairs Officer, represents DSS as final legal authority to promulgate agency policy statements and informational program descriptions in accordance with the new goals and priorities of the agency and in response to new regulations, legislation, and court orders.
4. Serve as a legal counselor to the agency's managerial and executive staff in matters of litigation and regulation accountability that pertain to DSS.
5. Direct the development of programmatic justifications for sought after changes at federal state and local social services law and regulations.
6. Manage staff engaged in the research, development, and submission of regulatory waiver requests to appropriate state and/or federal agencies.
7. Carry out special projects of a legal nature as assigned by the Deputy Chief Legal Affairs Officer on the development of DSS policies and procedures.
8. Manage the efficient and timely collection of all state and local plans (including other than the Biennial Employment Plan) by office staff and submitted by DSS.
9. Manage the preparation of reports supporting litigation or regulatory revisions, directing the historical review of precedents and analysis of federal, state, and local welfare reform initiatives as required by the Deputy Commissioner.
10. Direct professional staff serving as liaisons between FIA and other DSS offices in reviewing and commenting on complex, important and highly technical proposed legislation and regulations.

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

Additional Information

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.