Deputy Director of Organizational Development & Innovation

rfcuny; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

CUNY School of Professional Studies in New York seeks a Deputy Director of Organizational Development & Innovation to lead design, change initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration with ACS OTWD. You will guide strategic planning, program evaluation, and stakeholder engagement to advance the agency's mission and performance.

The role emphasizes partnerships with senior leaders, development of scalable processes, and delivery of measurable impact across departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead organizational design, process improvement, and change management efforts to enhance operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness.
• Identify dependencies, integration opportunities, and potential risks across strategic initiatives to improve coordination and support informed decision-making.
• Conduct needs assessments and evaluates operational impacts on programs, processes, and stakeholder groups.
• Develop and implement frameworks to assess program effectiveness, operational performance, and organizational impact.
• Collaborate with ACS and OTWD leadership and strategic partners to strengthen cross-functional coordination and streamline organizational processes.
• Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support agency priorities and ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Advise the Associate Commissioner on strategic priorities, operational planning, and emerging opportunities, serving as a trusted thought partner on organizational and programmatic decisions.
• Develop business cases and support priority-setting efforts in collaboration with senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Define project objectives, scope, timelines, resource requirements, and success measures to ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Lead project planning and execution, including facilitating stakeholder meetings, tracking progress, and managing deliverables, budgets, and timelines.
• Monitor project risks, dependencies, and roadblocks, and implement mitigation strategies to support successful project outcomes.
• Provide guidance on project management methodologies, tools, and best practices to strengthen project delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Lead project closeout activities, including documenting lessons learned and best practices to inform future planning and continuous improvement.
• Create and maintain evaluation measures to assess program impact.

Job description

Primary Location:

CUNY SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Bargaining Unit:

No

About the CUNY School of Professional Studies:

As a leading online school in New York since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor's and master's degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor's degree, progress from an associate's degree, earn a master's degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School's renowned and affordable online programs ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule. As CUNY SPS moves beyond its' 20th year, we dedicate ourselves to engendering an innovative and transformative student-centered experience.

Partnership Description:

CUNY SPS ILS partners with the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) to provide foundational and continuous professional development learning for child welfare and juvenile justice direct service staff and supervisors through ACS's Office of Training and Workforce Development (OTWD). OTWD encompasses three entities: ACS James Satterwhite Academy, the ACS Workforce Institute and the ACS Institute for Leadership Development.

Position Description:

The Deputy Director of Organizational Development & Innovation reports to the Associate Commissioner and successfully executes projects, initiatives, and other work related to the organization's strategic objectives. This role works closely with ACS and OTWD senior leadership to focus on the following strategic objectives: readiness & integration, change strategy, alignment, organizational culture, organizational strategy, and operational effectiveness.

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

STRATEGIC PLANNING DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead organizational design, process improvement, and change management efforts to enhance operational efficiency and organizational effectiveness.
• Identify dependencies, integration opportunities, and potential risks across strategic initiatives to improve coordination and support informed decision-making.
• Conduct needs assessments and evaluates operational impacts on programs, processes, and stakeholder groups.
• Develop and implement frameworks to assess program effectiveness, operational performance, and organizational impact.
• Collaborate with ACS and OTWD leadership and strategic partners to strengthen cross-functional coordination and streamline organizational processes.
• Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support agency priorities and ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Advise the Associate Commissioner on strategic priorities, operational planning, and emerging opportunities, serving as a trusted thought partner on organizational and programmatic decisions.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop business cases and support priority-setting efforts in collaboration with senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Define project objectives, scope, timelines, resource requirements, and success measures to ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Lead project planning and execution, including facilitating stakeholder meetings, tracking progress, and managing deliverables, budgets, and timelines.
• Monitor project risks, dependencies, and roadblocks, and implement mitigation strategies to support successful project outcomes.
• Provide guidance on project management methodologies, tools, and best practices to strengthen project delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Lead project closeout activities, including documenting lessons learned and best practices to inform future planning and continuous improvement.

EVALUATION DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create and mainta