Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Programs, and Research

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of New York, through the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), seeks a senior policy and program leader to manage a broad portfolio advancing immigrant access to services, language access, and workforce opportunities. The Deputy Commissioner will shape agency strategy, oversee multiple programs, and guide cross-agency collaboration.

Ideal candidates bring extensive government leadership experience, strong strategic judgment, and the ability to translate policy into effective

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in government, public policy, program management, or a related field.
• Experience managing teams and leading complex initiatives.
• Experience working across agencies or systems to implement coordinated initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Set and drive the strategic direction for MOIA’s policy and programmatic work.
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs serving immigrant New Yorkers.
• Lead development of policy initiatives that improve access to services and opportunities for immigrant communities.
• Lead integration of economic justice into MOIA’s policy and program work and align with city workforce strategies.
• Coordinate with City agencies to align policy and program efforts affecting immigrant communities.
• Oversee crisis response and system alignment to ensure continuity of services.

Skills

Strategic judgment

Operational discipline

Policy translation

Cross-agency coordination

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Agency You’ll Join

The New York City Mayor's Office is responsible for overseeing city services throughout the five boroughs, coordinating public agencies and departments, and managing public property. The administration is leading the fight in making the city more affordable, reducing inequality, improving public safety, ensuring delivery of efficient and effective services, and working to make New York City's economy stronger. We value leadership, transparency, fairness, and efficiency as we actively seek diverse talents from various sectors to join our team. For current job opportunities, visit our careers page.

The Team You’ll Work With

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) was established in 1984 and incorporated into the New York City Charter in 2001 to promote the economic, civic, and social integration of immigrant New Yorkers, expand access to justice, and advance policies that strengthen immigrant communities across the city. MOIA serves as a bridge between city government and immigrant communities by advising on and supporting the development and implementation of policies and programs that improve access to services for immigrant New Yorkers and speakers of other languages. The office partners with City agencies and community organizations to strengthen language access, expand equitable access to services, and advance initiatives that support immigrant communities citywide. To learn more, visit: https://www.nyc.gov/site/immigrants/

The Problems You’ll Solve

The Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Programs, and Research leads the development, execution, and integration of MOIA's policy and programmatic work, ensuring that immigrant New Yorkers can access critical services, economic opportunities, and pathways to stability through coordinated City systems. This role oversees a unified portfolio spanning legal services, language access, education, and workforce and economic opportunity, and ensures that policy and programs operate as a cohesive system. This includes aligning service delivery with policy priorities, using real-time program insights to inform decision-making, and ensuring that City initiatives translate into measurable outcomes for immigrant New Yorkers. As a member of MOIA's Executive Team, the Deputy Commissioner plays a central role in shaping agency strategy, advancing cross-agency initiatives, and strengthening the City's overall approach to immigrant inclusion and economic stability. The Deputy Commissioner reports to the Chief of Staff and supervises policy and program leadership across the agency.

Key Responsibilities

Policy & Program Strategy

• Set and drive the strategic direction for MOIA’s policy and programmatic work.
• Ensure alignment between policy development, program implementation, and agency priorities.
• Identify gaps in services and policy and drive strategies to address them.

Program Oversight & Delivery

• Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs serving immigrant New Yorkers.
• Ensure programs are accessible, effective, and responsive to community needs.
• Use program data and outcomes to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.

Policy Development & Integration

• Lead development of policy initiatives that improve access to services, strengthen protections, and expand opportunities for immigrant New Yorkers.
• Ensure policy is informed by real-time program insights and community conditions.
• Drive advancement of policy priorities across City government.

Economic Justice & Workforce Integration

• Lead integration of economic justice into MOIA’s policy and program work, including workforce access, worker protections, and pathways to economic stability.
• Align MOIA initiatives with broader City workforce and economic development strategies.
• Identify opportunities to expand access to employment, income stability, and long-term mobility for immigrant New Yorkers.

Interagency Coordination

• Lead coordination with City agencies to align policy and program efforts affecting immigrant communities.
• Ensure MOIA plays a central role in cross-agency initiatives related to service access, legal support, and economic opportunity.
• Drive accountability across agencies to ensure implementation of immigrant-serving initiatives and delivery of results.

Crisis Response & System Alignment

• Oversee policy and programmatic responses to emerging issues affecting immigrant communities.
• Ensure continuity of services and coordinated responses during periods of disruption or increased need across City systems.
• Align internal teams and external partners to respond effectively to evolving conditions.

Team Leadership & Management

• Supervise policy and program staff, ensuring strong management, accountability, and performance.
• Build systems that support coordination across teams and clear execution of priorities.
• Ensure staff work is aligned with agency strategy and delivers measurable outcomes.

About You

The ideal candidate is a senior policy and program leader with experience managing complex portfolios in government or large mission-driven organizations. They bring strong strategic judgment, operational discipline, and the ability to translate policy into effective implementation. They are comfortable navigating complex systems, driving cross-agency coordination, and leading in high-pressure, high-visibility environments.

Specific Skills

• You have demonstrated experience overseeing programs and/or policy portfolios at scale, preferably within government or a large public or nonprofit system.
• You have proven ability to manage high-pressure work, including responding to emerging issues affecting communities.

Special Assistant (MA)-MGRL - 0668A

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in government, public policy, program management, or a related field, including significant experience managing teams and leading complex initiatives.

Preferred Skills

• You have experience working across agencies or systems to implement coordinated 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.

$150,000.00 - $180,000.00