ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, COMPENSATION AND CONTRACT SUPPORT SERVICES

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Department of Social Services is seeking an Executive Program Specialist M-IV to lead compensation and contract support services. The role requires managing salary equity, interpreting union contracts, and supervising HR processes across DSS-HRA-DHS.

The position involves high-level data analysis, reporting, and collaboration with Finance, Legal, and program leadership to ensure compliant and efficient operations. NYC residency is typically required.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration with relevant supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree with four years of professional experience in budget, finance, or personnel administration.
• Associate degree with six years of professional experience including executive/administrative supervision.

Responsibilities

• Manage and recommend salary offers to ensure equity across DSS-HRA-DHS.
• Provide expertise in union contract interpretation and coordinate with COLR on contract language.
• Oversee quality control reviews using CHRMS reports and NYCAPS payroll data.
• Prepare headcount reports for senior management and coordinate audits/ information requests.
• Assist negotiations by providing wage/salary data for collective bargaining.
• Develop compensation policy aligned with state/local laws and agency goals.
• Oversee onboarding for 300+ temporary personnel and ensure contract compliance.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal and Program Areas to ensure program effectiveness.

Skills

Compensation Strategy

Labor Relations

Headcount Management

Data Analysis

Leadership

Stakeholder Collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Economics/Finance/Accounting/Public Administration

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree + 60 credits

Tools

CHRMS

NYCAPS

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. Human Resources Solutions (HRS) supports the human resources needs of the Department of Social Services, the Human Resources Administration, and the Department of Homeless Services through strategic partnership and collaboration, with the goal of creating an inclusive, motivated, and client centered workforce.

The Human Resources Solutions (HRS)/ HR Compensation Administration Unit is recruiting for one (1) Executive Program Specialist M-IV to function as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Compensation and Contract Support Services, who will:

• Manage and recommend salary offers to comply with agency-wide initiatives and standards of the salary equity matrix used across DSS-HRA-DHS to ensure fairness and equity in the execution of salary proposals and adjustments.
• Provide expertise in union contract interpretation and execute salary adjustments based on the Citywide contract and fifty (50+) local union contracts; recommends modifications to City Office of Labor Relations (COLR) to ensure contract language is written correctly and appropriately for (DSS-HRA-DHS) agency specific implementation to avoid overpayment and underpayment of the agency employees. Directs the implementation and interpretation of complex Labor Relations Order and attend conferences to consult and clarify the union contract language.
• Oversee continuous quality control reviews by running CHRMS ad hoc reports and reviewing HRS transactions related to compensation and onboarding using citywide human resources systems, and the analysis of 16,000+ employee salaries, to ensure correct civil service statuses, time and leave accruals, accurate distribution points, and correct funding/budget codes. Works closely with the program area’s management team and Human Resources Business Partners to accurately represent the agencies headcount to ensure the correct claiming categories are identified to ensure the annual Cost Allocation Report mandated by New York State is accurate.
• Direct the performance of management planning and programmatic analysis activities including the preparation of headcount reports for senior management approval and the coordination and response of expenditure and headcount audits and other requests for information by internal program areas and external agencies.
• Manage, analyze, and respond to requests for information from the NYC City Office of Labor Relations and the DSS Deputy Commissioner of OLR in support of and in preparation for collective bargaining negotiations. Provide wage and salary information to help settle grievances filed by various unions.
• Recommend, develop, and makes policy on compensation matters in support of salary equity to ensure compliance with State and Local Law.
• Oversee and direct Human Resources Solutions onboarding processes for 300+ temporary personnel. Monitor agency-wide funding allocated for headcount and budget purposes and quality assurance by producing expenditure reports utilizing agency internal and proprietary database system and ensure Temporary contracts are also in compliance. Advises on DSS-HRA-DHS program leadership regarding temporary contract scope development based on operational need to achieve and meet the services needed by the program and the client population served. Collaborate with the DSS-Finance Office/Office of Budget Administration to obtain approval from the AOTPS Budget Director before commencing with the processing of onboarding Temporary personnel.
• Advise the HRS Executive Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners for HR Operations and HR Services on issues and concerns regarding union contract implementation on temporary contract modifications to develop and recommend solutions using Agency best practices. Ensures Agency and Temporary contracts follow City Office of Labor Relations (COLR), Mayor’s Office of Contracts (MOC), Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the Comptroller’s Office to prevent class action lawsuits against the City.
• Provide leadership and technical expertise regarding the processing of personnel transactions to all HRS Divisions related to hiring and promotions and troubleshoots complex business issues such as processing payroll transactions in NYCAPS/PMS.
• Partner with DSS-HRA-DHS senior management, such as the Human Resources Solutions Executive Office, Offices of Program Accountability, Finance, Legal Affairs, and Agency Chief Contracting Officer to ensure organizational effectiveness and compliance with City and Agency rules and regulations for the successful execution of contracted services.
• Provide high-level, relevant and pertinent information to lead the strategic planning process by analyzing performance within the Headcount Control and Compensation Administration units. Plan work activities and accomplish predetermined goals having a high impact on Agency-wide program operations.
• Represent the Agency at the City Office of Labor Relations hearings and testifies on behalf of the Agency on matters regarding grievances and the resolution of salary disputes. Participates in conferences with COLR as a consultant to address questions concerning various union contracts and may recommend amendments to the User Services Information (USI) for specific collective bargaining union contract orders.

Hours/Shift: 9 to 5

EXECUTIVE PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 07005

Minimum Qualifications

• A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, public health, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; or in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; or in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, labor relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management. Eighteen (18) months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above.
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.
• An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college and six years of satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.

Preferred Skills

• Compensation Strategy & Salary Administration – designs and implements equitable salary structures, oversees salary offers for 16,000+ employees, and ensures alignment with agency goals and budgetary constraints.
• Labor Relations & Union Contract Expertise – interprets and implements complex collective bargaining agreements for 50+ unions, advises on contract language, and represents the agency in labor hearings and grievance resolutions.
• Headcount Management & Budget Alignment – manages headcount control and ensures accurate funding distribution, claiming categories, and compliance with cost allocation reporting in coordination with Finance.
• Data Analysis & Quality Assurance – conducts audits, analyzes HR/payroll data, and ensures accuracy in personnel transactions, funding codes, and timekeeping using citywide systems like CHRMS and NYCAPS.
• Leadership & Strategic Planning – leads multi-disciplinary teams, drives continuous process improvement, and aligns compensation and headcount functions with agency-wide strategic goals.
• Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication – advises executive leadership, partners with Finance, Legal, and Program Areas, and testifies at hearings to resolve disputes and support agency-wide initiatives.

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. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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, 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.