Deputy Commissioner for Policy and External Affairs

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

Job summary

The City of New York’s Taxi & Limousine Commission seeks a Deputy Commissioner to lead policy development and strategic initiatives in a high-impact public service role. You will oversee policy, data analytics, and driver outreach, ensuring accountability and equitable outcomes for New Yorkers who rely on for-hire transportation.

As TLC’s top policy adviser, you will coordinate with multiple city agencies, supervise cross-functional teams, and translate complex datasets into actionable policy

Qualifications

• A master's degree as described and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in budget or economic research; 18 months in executive/managerial capacity are required.
• A bachelor's degree with four years of professional experience in budget, economic or financial administration, or related areas, including 18 months in executive/ supervisory capacity.

Responsibilities

• Serve as TLC’s policy leader, setting strategic direction for labor, tech, and transit policy challenges.
• Lead integration of economic justice into TLC policy and programs, including workforce access and protections.
• Supervise policy, data, and outreach teams with strong alignment and performance.
• Direct intra-agency workstreams with legal, operations, enforcement, and financing teams to implement policy.
• Conduct major policy studies and strategic reports driven by data insights.
• Coordinate with Communications to highlight policy work and TLC’s vision.
• Lead coordination with City agencies to align policy and program efforts impacting TLC drivers.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s top policy advisor, supporting policy development and strategic vision.
• Oversee publication of public reports and support media engagements.
• Integrate policy, data, and driver outreach into the agency’s strategic plan to reflect drivers’ voices.

Skills

Policy development

Public affairs

Team leadership

Communication

Political acumen

Data analysis

Multilingual capability

Education

Master's degree in economics, finance, or related field

Bachelor's degree with 4+ years of experience

Job description

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) is the City agency responsible for regulating for-hire transportation in New York City, including taxis, street hail liveries, high-volume for-hire services such as Uber and Lyft, black cars, luxury limousines, livery vehicles, commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles.

The TLC oversees a transportation ecosystem that moves nearly 1 million riders every single day the equivalent of the entire Boston transit system. TLC is the agency responsible for regulating New York City's taxicab and for-hire vehicle industry. With approximately 180,000 licensed drivers, 1,000 businesses, 115,000 vehicles including and the iconic yellow taxi at the heart of our city’s identity, TLC is entering a new era of dignity, accountability, and collaboration across the for hire vehicle sector. TLC continues to be on the front lines of a rapidly changing mobility landscape and our innovative efforts - whether requiring minimum pay for app drivers, ensuring wheelchair accessible service, making our licensed fleet more environmentally sustainable, working to eliminate traffic fatalities, or preventing discriminatory service - often serve as a model for other cities.

In this New Era for TLC, the agency is guided by three core priorities:

• Driver and Passenger Dignity ensuring every interaction reflects respect and fairness
• Corporate Accountability holding regulated entities to consistent, transparent standards
• A Transportation System that Works Together equitable, modern, and accessible

The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) oversees a transportation ecosystem that moves nearly one million riders every single day, making it the third largest mode of transportation for New Yorkers. The TLC is responsible for regulating New York City's taxicab and for-hire vehicle industry. With 180,000 licensed drivers and the iconic yellow taxi at the heart of our City’s identity, TLC is entering a new era of worker dignity, accountability, and collaboration across the for hire vehicle sector. TLC continues to be on the front lines of a rapidly changing mobility landscape. Our innovative efforts - whether requiring minimum pay for app drivers, ensuring wheelchair accessible service, making our licensed fleet more environmentally sustainable, working to eliminate traffic fatalities, or preventing discriminatory service - often serve as a model for other cities.

The Deputy Commissioner for Policy and External Affairs will shape and amplify a new chapter of TLC, focused on three major strategic priorities: driver and passenger dignity, corporate accountability, and a transportation system that works together. This is a rare opportunity to lead on policy for one of the most visible, impactful, and culturally resonant public agencies in New York City.

Under the leadership of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice, the TLC is committed to improving the economic welfare of its 180,000 drivers. The TLC oversees a complex market of fleets, bases, ride-share apps, drivers, and passengers. We are seeking a Deputy Commissioner who is a policy visionary that can think strategically think about balancing competing marketing dynamics to ensure that the market fairly serves drivers and passengers. As one of largest regulators of ride-share platforms in the nation, a successful candidate will have expansive thinking that can enact a new era of transparency and fairness for our drivers.

The Deputy Commissioner will report to the Commissioner and will serve as TLC’s policy leader. The Deputy Commissioner will oversee the following teams: Policy Research, Data Analytics & Engineering, and Community Affairs.

As the person in this position will oversee a team carrying out technical analyses of large datasets, they need to be comfortable not only reviewing data but speaking about how it informs policy decisions to audiences with varying levels of technical understanding, ranging from technologists to elected officials and the press. A successful candidate will deeply understand the importance of engaging with drivers and integrating community engagement into a broader strategic vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as TLC’s policy leader, working closely with the Commissioner, to set the strategic direction for the agency’s approach to labor, tech, and transit policy challenges
• Lead integration of economic justice into the TLC’s policy and program work, including workforce access, worker protections, and pathways to economic stability.
• Supervise policy, data, and outreach teams, ensuring strong alignment, accountability, and performance
• Direct intra-agency work-streams with legal, operations, enforcement, and financing teams to leverage the agency’s powers for policy implementation
• Conduct major policy studies and strategic reports that are driven by data insights
• Coordinate closely with the communications team to strategically highlight policy work and the agency’s vision
• Lead coordination with City agencies to align policy and program efforts impacting TLC drivers
• Serve as the Commissioner’s top policy advisor, providing support on policy development, research and build a strategic policy vision for the agency.
• Lead development of public reports and supporting the communications team to leverage media engagements
• Integrate the work of policy, data, and driver outreach into strategic plan that deeply embeds the voice of drivers in policy development

Proposed salary will be determined based on experience and preferred skills of the selected candidate.

Work Location: New York, NY

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (TLC) - 95785

Minimum Qualifications

1. A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, 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 closely related field, 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; in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management; or in a related area. 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; or 2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of 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.

Preferred Skills

• At least 8 years of experience in policy development, public affairs, government, advocacy, or related fields.
• A graduate degree in public policy, urban planning, economics, or another relevant field.
• Experience managing a team with diverse portfolios and fostering professional development and engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional political acumen and the ability to navigate complex environments with grace and clarity.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, including responding to emerging issues.
• Proven expertise in developing, implementing, and being accountable for complex strategies, supported by strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.
• Commitment to equity, dignity, accountability, and excellence in public service.

The strongest candidates will also demonstrate many of the following:

• Experience overseeing programs and/or policy portfolios at scale, preferably within government or a large public or nonprofit system.
• A collaborative approach to working across teams and building relationships with senior leadership, colleagues, external partners, and stakeholders, including civil society, community organizations, think tanks, and academic institutions.
• Experience developing and implementing impact-driven policy research and advocacy projects, including a track record of publications.
• Experience working with diverse communities, ideally including immigrant, multilingual, and worker-centered populations.
• Proficiency with statistical analysis and digital tools.
• Proficiency in languages other than English is a plus.

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.