DSS EXECUTIVE PROJECT MANAGER (EPM)

HRA/DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES; World Trade Center (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Social Services (DSS) Executive Project Manager, under executive management of the DSS First Deputy Commissioner, is responsible for leading DSS IT initiatives across DSS-HRA-DHS, aligning them with agency priorities and maintaining high-quality standards.

The role oversees the portfolio, drives project development, and implements program policy and operations initiatives with executive-level scope.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and ≥4 years IT experience in listed domains, with ≥18 months in executive/managerial roles.
• Education and/or experience equivalent to above, with at least a four-year high school diploma and ≥3 years of relevant IT experience including executive responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the DSS IT portfolio and manage IT initiatives across DSS/HRA/DHS.
• Brainstorm, develop, manage projects and implement program policy with high standards.
• Coordinate with Chief Officers and Deputy Commissioners on agency concerns and interagency initiatives.
• Advise on data, technology and information systems; liaison for city-wide efforts.

Skills

Data-driven insights

Executive updates

Business-value metrics

IT liaison

Oral and written communication

Organizational skills

Education

Baccalaureate degree

Job description

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.

The Office of the DSS First Deputy Commissioner is recruiting for a DSS Executive Project Manager who under executive management of the DSS First Deputy Commissioner, with broad latitude for the exercise of independent judgement and action, carries out the responsibility for managing DSS initiatives in information and technology, including cross DSS-HRA-DHS initiatives. As the Executive DSS Project Manager, exercises authority, makes executive level decisions, with and without review of the DSS First Deputy Commissioner (FDC), in critical matters/situations and in the implementation of initiatives. The Executive DSS Project Manager serves as a special advisor and as an executive project manager with authority for operations and program development.

The DSS Executive Project Manager will oversee the DSS portfolio of IT work. The candidate will brainstorm, develop, manage projects, and implement program policy and operations initiatives with the highest quality standards of practice as these pertain to program areas under the DSS FDC, DSS General Counsel, and DSS Chief Financial Officer. This portfolio includes the following program areas: Office of Program Accountability; Office of Human Resources Solutions; Information Technology Services; Office of Operations; Office of General Counsel (Legal Affairs, Contracts, Policy Procedures and Training); Office of Emergency Management; Office of Program Planning and Financial Management. The DSS EPM advises on the development of a stronger integration of citywide and agency-wide services.

The DSS EPM will also be responsible for:

• Collaborating with Chief Officers and Deputy Commissioners on critical agency concerns, i.e., budget, fulfillment of mission by program areas, functional/staffing concerns, cross-program initiatives, interagency communication, that are central to improving the quality of life of individuals to whom DSS/HRA/DHS programs are tailored while ensuring adherence to federal, state and local mandates. Responsible for making time-sensitive operational and policy decisions in collaboration with the DSS FDC, Chief Officers, and Deputy Commissioners that will have agency wide impact, affecting service delivery within any functional area under the auspices of DSS.
• Acting as the lead, and on behalf of the DSS FDC, collaborates with executives from HRA-DHS on critical interagency initiatives, (i.e., IT system solutions, program monitoring, resource allocation and fiscal management, legal settlement compliance, contract management, interagency project and operation coordination), where seamless integration effort would serve to enhance the quality of life for agency clients, and in special projects relating to IT and budget management. On behalf of FDC and Commissioner office, coordinate enterprise IT initiatives pre-project planning sessions by establishing working committee and leads the agency’s steering committee of executive project managers and IT counterparts to coordinate, manage, prioritize and streamline the operation, staffing and executive of IT solutions.
• Exploring current operations, program services and governing rules and regulations to recommend new initiatives that address the needs of the DSS program participants. Serves as agency liaison to task forces and other city-wide efforts relating to new initiatives and governing rules and regulations in the areas of data, technology and information systems. Advises the DSS FDC and Commissioner on emerging trends and opportunities in information and technology.
• Researching and keeping abreast of current practices, programs and legislative enactments on DSS operational and program issues; disseminates new information, best practices and funding opportunities to the Chief Officers.
• Participating in, and in the DSS FDC’s absence, represents the DSS FDC in regular meetings with DSS Leadership, such as with the Commissioner, the Chief Officers and others, as well as leaders of the City and State partner agencies in the formulation of long and short-range plans with respect to policy formulation/implementation issues.

Hours/Shift:

Managerial Work Schedule

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF IT - 95614

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of progressively more responsible, full-time, satisfactory experience using information technology in computer applications programming, systems programming, computer systems development, data telecommunications, database administration, planning of data/information processing, user services, or area networks, at least 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative capacity in the areas of computer applications programming, systems programming, computer systems development, data telecommunications, data base administration, or planning of data processing or in the supervision of staff performing these duties; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have at least a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's department of education or recognized accrediting organization and must possess at least three years of experience as described in "1" above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative or supervisory experience as described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

• Demonstrated ability to use data-driven insights to effectively prioritize tasks, manage multiple overlapping project lifecycles, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong ability to translate complex project metrics and analytics into concise executive updates and reports for agency leadership.
• Ability to distill technical IT complexities into clear, business-value metrics for non-technical leadership.
• Ability to serve as the primary liaison between IT teams and business units to ensure strategic alignment and remove communication barriers.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills

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.