Special Advisor to the Superintendent for Technology Policy (Special Assistant, NS)

New York State Department of Financial Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 181,000 - 224,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York State Department of Financial Services seeks an experienced Special Advisor to the Superintendent for Technology Policy in the Executive Division. The role provides strategic counsel on technology regulation and leads priority implementations across regulatory domains.

Responsibilities include guiding AI policy, engaging a broad set of stakeholders, and advancing Responsible AI initiatives, with travel up to 10%.

Qualifications

• At least 14 years of relevant work experience, including five years in financial or technology policy development and regulation; 5 years at the managerial level.
• Master’s degree in public policy, computer science, or business; a law degree or Ph.D. in finance/economics preferred.
• Substantial policy and regulatory experience in data privacy, ML/AI regulation, and algorithmic decision-making.
• Familiarity with DFS’s jurisdiction: banking, non-bank financial services, virtual currency, and insurance.
• Ability to navigate broad policy across regulatory domains and present clear written analyses.

Responsibilities

• Serves as subject matter expert and advisor to the Superintendent on technology regulation, providing policy options.
• Develops capacity to oversee emergent technology, including Artificial Intelligence, and the associated risks.
• Advances goals of encouraging technology innovation while protecting consumers through regulation, guidance, or thought leadership.
• Drives policy development through outreach to think tanks, academics, consumer/industry groups, and regulators.
• Supports implementation of the Responsible AI Safety & Education (RAISE) program and collaboration with DIGIT.
• Drafts policy reports, regulatory proposals, and briefing materials; leads executive briefings.
• Collaborates with staff on ongoing policy and regulation and exploration of new tools.
• Supports development of New York State's Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity & Trust (DIGIT).
• Travel may be required up to 10%.

Skills

Policy development

Regulatory affairs

Technology policy

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Master’s degree in public policy, computer science, or business

J.D. or law degree

Ph.D. in finance, economics, or related field

Associate’s degree substitution for experience

Job description

Duties DescriptionThe New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system that benefits individuals and supports business. Through engagement, data-driven regulation and policy, and operational excellence, the Department and its employees are responsible for empowering consumers and protecting them from financial harm; ensuring the health of the entities we regulate; driving economic growth in New York through responsible innovation; and preserving the stability of the global financial system.

DescriptionDuties DescriptionThe New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, transparent, and resilient financial system that benefits individuals and supports business. Through engagement, data-driven regulation and policy, and operational excellence, the Department and its employees are responsible for empowering consumers and protecting them from financial harm; ensuring the health of the entities we regulate; driving economic growth in New York through responsible innovation; and preserving the stability of the global financial system.

ResponsibilitiesThe Department of Financial Services is seeking candidates for the position of Special Advisor to the Superintendent for Technology Policy in the Executive Division. Under the direction of the Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, the incumbent of this position will provide strategic counsel, subject matter expertise, and serve as lead implementer of identified priorities. Responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:

• Serves as the subject matter expert and advisor to the Superintendent on technology regulation, providing insights and guidance on options for policy and regulatory approaches;
• Develops capacity to oversee emergent technology, including Artificial Intelligence, and the associated risks across a broad range of economic activity;
• Advances the state’s goals of encouraging technology innovation while protecting consumers through multiple policy approaches, which could include regulation, legislation, guidance, or thought leadership.
• Drives policy and regulatory development through outreach to and, as appropriate, collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, including think tanks; academics; consumer and industry groups; and state, federal, and foreign regulators;
• Supports implementation of the Responsible AI Safety & Education (RAISE), under Article 44-B of the General Business Law;
• Drafts policy reports, proposals for new regulatory approaches, and decision memoranda and leads executive-level briefings; and
• Collaborates with staff on ongoing policy and regulation and the exploration of new regulatory tools and approaches;
• Supports development of New York State's Office of Digital Innovation, Governance, Integrity & Trust (DIGIT); and
• Other duties as assigned.
• Travel may be required up to 10%.

Preferred Qualifications Minimum Qualifications

• At least 14 years of relevant work experience, including five years in financial or technology policy development and regulation; 5 years of experience must have been at the managerial level.
• Substitutions: an associate’s degree may substitute for two years of experience, a bachelor's degree may substitute for four years of experience, a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience, a J.D. may substitute for six years of experience, and a Ph.D. may substitute for seven years of experience.
• A master’s degree in public policy, computer science, or business; a law degree; or a Ph.D. in finance, economics, or other relevant discipline preferred;
• Substantial policy and regulatory experience in several of the following areas: data privacy, collection and aggregation, portability, and governance; advertising and the attention economy; machine learning and algorithmic decision making and pricing; use of dark patterns; behavioral economics; automated decision-making; agentic AI regulation; and AI and other technologies’ surveillance and monitoring of private behavior and the treatment of protected populations;
• Familiarity with policy and regulatory issues within DFS’s jurisdiction, including banking, non-bank financial services, virtual currency, and insurance;
• Ability to navigate state and federal policy making and conceptualize strategies for new regulatory authorities and structures;
• A record of sustained, rigorous analysis of complex problems in technology, financial, or other areas of regulation and of expressing the results of such analysis in clear, persuasive written work product;
• Ability to independently navigate broad areas of fast-evolving policy across many regulatory domains and identify areas for pragmatic regulatory responses; and
• Ability to support existing agency work and processes while driving forward collaboratively with new policy approaches and initiatives.

Appointment MethodThis is an appointment to a position in the exempt jurisdictional class. As such, the incumbent of this position would serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Additional Comments Please note that a change in negotiating unit may affect your salary, insurance and other benefits. Salary: $180,562 - $223,625 (salary commensurate with experience) Positions located within the New York City metropolitan area, as well as Suffolk, Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, are also eligible to receive an additional $4,150 annual downstate adjustment. Appointment Status: This is an appointment to a position in the exempt jurisdictional class. Appointment to this position is pending Governor Appointment’s Office and Division of Budget approval.