Director of External Affairs

New-York-City-Department-of-Citywide-Administrative-Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

55a Program

Public Service Loan Forgiveness info

Job summary

New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services is seeking a Director of External Affairs to guide legislative and regulatory priorities and coordinate with City Hall and other agencies. This role focuses on strategic outreach, stakeholder engagement, and policy implementation across city government.

The candidate will analyze pending proposals impacting the agency, advise leadership, and supervise public affairs initiatives, including testimony and briefing materials for City

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with focus in administration/urban planning or related field and 3 years’ professional experience; managerial/executive experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree plus 5 years’ relevant experience including 2 years in management or executive capacity; relevant fields preferred.
• Graduate credits that count toward experience requirements as per city rules; two years of managerial/executive experience required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and advance the agency’s legislative and regulatory agenda with senior leadership.
• Serve as primary liaison to City Hall, elected officials, and sister agencies on high-level matters.
• Coordinate intergovernmental/public affairs activities with city agencies and partners.
• Establish and maintain relationships with community boards and leaders.
• Lead preparation for City Council hearings, task force meetings, and oversight proceedings; develop testimony and talking points.
• Monitor legislative/regulatory developments and provide strategic recommendations.
• Oversee implementation of the agency’s government affairs strategy.
• Manage responses to inquiries from City Hall and City Council.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Communications

Government relations

Leadership

Organizational skills

Excel proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, urban planning, economics, urban affairs, marketing research, finance, or political science

Bachelor’s degree with five years of professional experience including two years in managerial/executive role

30 graduate credits equivalent to one year of experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

DCAS's mission is to make city government work for all New Yorkers. From managing New York City’s most iconic courthouses and municipal buildings, to purchasing over $1 billion annually in goods and services for more than 80 City agencies what we do ensures that all agencies can deliver on their mission. Our reach touches every facet of city government and is instrumental to the successful day-to-day operations of the City of New York.

Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the critical resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.
• Managing 56 public buildings.
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.
• Leading the City's efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

When you work at DCAS, you're not just working for one agency, but in service of them all. It's an opportunity to provide impactful support, quality customer service, and help protect the future of New York City for generations to come. Visit our website at nyc.gov/dcas to learn more about the work we do.

Public Affairs plays a vital role in advancing the agency’s priorities and strengthening relationships with elected officials, government agencies, community leaders, and other key stakeholders. The team is responsible for developing and executing intergovernmental engagement strategies that promote the agency’s initiatives, facilitate coordination across government, and ensure the agency is responsive to the needs and priorities of its external partners. Through strategic outreach, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement, Public Affairs helps position the agency as a trusted partner and effective resource within city government.

The Director of External Affairs will play a key role in supporting the deputy commissioner and providing guidance on the implementation of critical communication and legislative initiatives. This individual will provide thorough and detailed analysis to the Deputy Commissioner of pending legislative proposals impacting the agency and work to ensure compliance with all applicable local laws and executive orders. The Director of External Affairs will also serve as a primary contact for various internal and external stakeholders, taking initiative to troubleshoot issues on behalf of the DC and work to identify suitable solutions.

This individual will provide critical support to the agency on the impact of legislative proposals with a particular focus on state legislative items. Currently, there is no individual within the agency dedicated to state legislative items. We typically support the Mayor’s Office as needed. Having a dedicated individual will allow the agency to better assess proposals and explain with greater detail the impact on the agency and city operations.

Reporting to the Deputy Commissioner, with latitude for independent judgment and initiative, the Director of External Affairs will be responsible for but not limited to the following:

• Develop and advance the agency’s legislative and regulatory agenda in coordination with the Commissioner and executive staff.
• Serve as the primary liaison to City Hall, elected officials, and sister agencies on high-level legislative, intergovernmental, and constituent matters.
• Coordinate intergovernmental and public affairs activities with other city agencies and non-government partners.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with community boards and community leaders to support the agency’s work.
• Lead the agency’s preparation for City Council hearings, task force meetings, oversight proceedings, and other governmental engagements, including the development of testimony, briefing materials, and talking points.
• Monitor, analyze, and assess legislative and regulatory developments and provide strategic recommendations to agency leadership.
• Lead the effective implementation of the agency’s government affairs and external relations strategy.
• Oversee the agency’s response to City Hall and City Council inquiries, ensuring responses are accurate, timely, coordinated, and strategically aligned with agency priorities.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business administration, public administration, urban planning, economics, urban affairs, marketing research, finance, or political science and three years of satisfactory full-time professional experience handling business promotion related to capital projects, urban planning, economic development, or financial development at least two years of which must have been in a managerial or executive capacity; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in "1" above, including two years of managerial or executive experience described in "1" above; or

3. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Thirty (30) graduate semester credits from an accredited college or university will be considered equivalent to one year of the required experience. However, all candidates must have two years of managerial or executive experience as described in "1" above and a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Experience in a managerial capacity must include, but is not limited to, responsibilities such as: strategic planning for an office/division; creating and implementing policies; setting standards and best practices defining and documenting project scope; root cause analysis with recommendations; collaborating with other managers and executives to define future state of a program; and/or forecasting.

Experience in an executive capacity must include, but is not limited to, responsibilities such as managing multiple bureaus, areas and/or divisions; formulating the organizational strategy/governance; formulating the organization’s architectural strategy; developing, setting and enforcing the organization’s policies; developing partnerships; and/or developing the organization’s budget, cost savings, and revenue generation.

Preferred Skills

• Strong background in communications and government relations.
• Ability to communicate clearly in oral and written form with strong interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Successful candidates should be detail-oriented and self-motivated with exceptional organizational and leadership skills.
• Proficient computer skills, including advanced Excel.
• Must be flexible, with an ability to prioritize and adapt to change and be a team player. Emotional intelligence, flexible work style, and excellent diplomatic skills across all levels of the agency.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

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.