Deputy Commissioner, Custody Management & Classifications

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

City of New York’s Department of Correction seeks a Deputy Commissioner of Classification & Population Management. This executive role reports to the Chief of Department and leads the population placement across facilities, ensuring alignment with risk levels, housing, programming, and community reintegration.

The role requires strategic improvements to classification procedures, data-driven decision making, staff training, and cross-agency collaboration with education, health, mental health,

Qualifications

• Requires Master’s or Bachelor’s degree with 5–7 years in admin/exec capacity; 18 months in supervisory role.
• Experience in classification procedures or similar housing/population management preferred.
• Candidates should demonstrate data collection, policy compliance, and inter-agency liaison abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team managing DOC population placement by risk level.
• Improve classification procedures and update manuals.
• Train staff and audit classification hearings and transfers.
• Coordinate data transfers from other agencies and liaise with families and public officials.
• Ensure housing, programs, and job assignments align with policy and court decisions.

Skills

Classification methodology

Data-driven decisions

Emergency management

Leadership

Confidentiality

Education

Master’s degree in Public Administration

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration / related field

High school diploma with extensive experience

Job description

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 to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for staff, visitors, volunteers, and people in our care. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in our care 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 knowledge experts.

DOC is currently seeking a dynamic and experienced candidate with proven leadership and project management skills to serve as the Deputy Commissioner of Classification & Population Management. Reporting directly to the Chief of Department, the successful candidate will lead a team primarily responsible for the placement of DOC’s population across its various facilities according to their correctional risk levels. The individual will also help facilitate the population’s successful community integration and ensure that housing, programming, and job assignments are following departmental policies, governing statutes, and court decisions.

The Deputy Commissioner will recommend improvements in classification procedures; provide technical assistance and resolve difficult classification decisions; train staff in classification procedures, operations and methodologies; update a classification manual; establish standards and procedures for the collection of data relating to the classification system; oversee the transfer of data and information from other agencies; assist in the integration of classification operations with other Department programs, including education, mental health services, health services, addiction services, counseling, religious services, work programs, recreation and community release programs; audit classification committee hearings and reviews; approve all transfers of incarcerated individuals between facilities; liaison with other criminal justice agencies, the families of incarcerated individuals and public officials; and perform related duties as required.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (DOC) - 95043

Minimum Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree from an accredited college in Public Administration, Personnel Administration, Business Administration, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology or an equivalent/related field, plus five years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with a major in Public Administration, Personnel Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Human Services, Criminal Justice, Political Science, Psychology or an equivalent/related field, plus seven years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position.
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and eleven years of satisfactory, full-time progressively responsible experience as described in "1" above, 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, executive or supervisory capacity.

Preferred Skills

• Extensive experience and knowledge in correctional classification methodologies and best practices in security management - Minimum of 10 years experience in correctional, probation, parole or law enforcement is a plus - Significant experience managing classification tools and other relevant operational experience in correctional systems - Proven ability to manage competing priorities and execute during emergencies - Experience with using and making data-driven decisions at the senior-level - Ability to communicate highly complex information clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing - Strong analytical, interpersonal, problem-solving, decision-making and organizational skills - Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality within the teams

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