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Job Description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE.

The Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) office oversees the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Fair Fares NYC (FFNYC), the municipal identification program or IDNYC, the Office of Burial Services (OBS), the Common Benefit ID Card (CBIC)/Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Services Office as well as the Pre-Release Benefits Initiative. Each one of these programs offers the following services:

The CBIC/EBT Services Office is involved with the disbursement of Common Benefit Identification Cards to clients who have available benefits (CA, SNAP and MA). This office serves approximately 600 - 1,000 clients daily from all boroughs for the issuance of new and replacement CBICs.

OBS provides support and, where eligible, financial assistance to survivors, next of kin, legally responsible relatives, friends or other designated entities of deceased indigent or unclaimed persons. OBS connects those who require information about the disposal of decedent remains through public burial or access to public burial to appropriate assistance through the Department of Social Services’ General Support Services. It handles determinations of financial responsibility regarding burial of NYC decedents who passed away in health facilities outside of the five boroughs. This office processes more than 2,000 applications per year.

FFNYC assists low-income New Yorkers with managing their transportation costs by connecting eligible New York City residents to a 50% discount on NYC Transit subway and eligible bus fares, as well as Access-A-Ride Paratransit rides. The program has five locations in Benefit Access Centers throughout New York City (one in each borough) and one (1) Electronic Application Processing Unit (EAPU). The program currently has over 370,000 enrollees.

HEAP assists eligible New Yorkers by issuing benefits to subsidize heating and cooling costs and provides financial assistance to repair heating and cooling systems. The program may help households pay for their energy bills, which includes assistance with electricity, gas and oil bills. HEAP can also help repair or replace a broken furnace or boiler. For the 2023-2024 season, nearly 1 million regular HEAP benefits were issued, and more than 13,000 cooling benefits were issued.

IDNYC is a free government-issued photo ID card for people aged 10 and older who live in NYC which can help residents prove identity for a variety of purposes including employment and health benefits as well as access other City services and benefits. The program operates 13 enrollment sites across the 5 boroughs and a Mobile Command Center that is engaged by elected officials and community organizations for enrollment events across the city. At the close of 2024, IDNYC had over 1.7 million cardholders.

The Pre-Release Initiative is a pilot program designed to assist incarcerated individuals with applying for Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits prior to their release from state correctional facilities. This pilot program operates through a partnership among the Department of Social Services, DOCCS and the National Executive Council (NEC), a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Columbia Center for Justice and is currently available in 7 correctional facilities statewide.

Under the executive direction of the HRA Chief Program Officer, with a very high degree of discretion for independent judgment and decision making, the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) is responsible for the overall administration and direction of the operations for the five major programs within SPI (HEAP, FFNYC, IDNYC, OBS, CBIC), as well as the Pre-Release Benefits Initiative, ensuring the established Agency goals and objectives are met efficiently and in a timely manner. The Executive Deputy Commissioner ensures the implementation, execution and proper functioning of provisions related but not limited to: HEAP, identification, transit discount, burial assistance, EBT card replacement and pre-release assistance to eligible New Yorkers across the five boroughs. Additionally, the Executive Deputy Commissioner participates in the policy development, implementation, planning and legislative analysis of all policy decisions related to the programs within SPI.

Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Director of Social Services M-VI, to function as an Executive Deputy Commssioner, who will:

- Administer, plan, and direct the activities of all the programs under the SPI umbrella and is responsible

for the management of nearly 340 staff serving more than 1 million New Yorkers across the five

boroughs. Provide strategic leadership/guidance to the Deputy Commissioner for IDNYC, HEAP and

FFNYC and the Executive Director for OBS and CBIC. Oversee the negotiation of roles and

responsibilities for SPI programs, the determination of work scope and/or program design, budget

allocations and contractual requirements, identification of resources/procurement, and the planning/

implementation of high-level cross-agency projects.

- Manage and develop policies and legislative proposals related to the provision of services by the SPI

programs and procedural protocols within this division and collaborates with all parties in decision-

making processes to put such proposals into effect. Play a major role in the administration of

agreements and waivers with federal, state and local agencies for the purpose of exchanging data and

advancing key initiatives to benefit mutual clients. These include relationships with entities such as the

NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the NYC Mayor’s Office, the Metropolitan

Transportation Authority (MTA), and the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

(DOCCS).

- Be accountable for the analysis; oversight monitoring and evaluation of existing SPI programs and

policies to determine the program’s operational and fiscal effectiveness, ensure the implementation of

new policies and procedures designed to maximize the number of eligible recipients while achieving

greater cost effectiveness and savings. Based on the analysis of program data and existing procedures,

the Executive Deputy Commissioner identifies and secures staffing, ITS and other resources as well as

identifies data matches, key partnerships, and changes in policies and procedures to improve service

delivery. Develop corrective action plans where necessary to ensure compliance with federal, state and

local rules and regulations for the operations under the SPI umbrella.

- Collaborate with various public, private and community agencies concerned with the activities of the

assigned programs; interpret provisions of legislation, rules, policy and procedures for the key aspects

of the SPI programs to these agencies. Lead or moderate’ panels on policy and best practices related

to issues such as reduced fare transportation initiatives for low-income New Yorkers and opportunities

for incarcerated individuals to apply for social service programs and benefits; such as, Cash Assistance

and SNAP, prior to reentry into the community.

- Represent the Administrator/Commissioner, or Chief Program Officer before the City Council or other

legislative bodies and in discussions with State and Federal agencies in areas of mutual concerns,

administration of agreements and waivers with federal, state and local agencies for the purpose of

exchanging data and advancing key initiatives to benefit mutual clients.

- Plan, develop, and enforce implementation of innovative procedures to ensure adherence to quality

standards in order to reduce fiscal risk to the city. Ensure proper compliance with federal, state, and

local rules and regulations governing the SPI programs. This includes corrective action plans to meet

federal and state quality standards and other quantifiable goals as well as overall quality control

initiatives throughout SPI.

- Direct management audits of operating routines, methods and processes in SPI programs and

initiatives; check on adherence to and effectiveness of new methods and procedures; and ensure

continuing administrative studies of all levels of management procedures and systems. Based on audit

findings and recommendations, oversee the preparation of correction action plans related to the

methods, systems, forms, policies and procedures.

- Coordinate with external partners including the NEC and DOCCS and integrate the activities of internal

divisions including the Family Independence Administration, Office of Community Outreach, Office of

Performance Management and Data Analytics , Office of Research and Program Innovation, to ensure

the successful operation of the Pre-Release pilot program in assisting individuals who are leaving state

prison facilities to apply for Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits prior to their discharge; oversee the

implementation of a strategic plan to expand this pilot, incorporate other benefit assistance for formerly

incarcerated individuals over time and measure overall efficiency and effectiveness of the program.

Hours/Shift:

8:30AM – 5:30PM

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOC - 10056

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of progressively responsible experience, in a large governmental agency, business firm, civic or community organization operating in the area of social services, including one year at the administrative or managerial level; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. Graduate education or a license may substitute for up to a maximum of three years of experience in the area of social services, but not for the one year of experience at the administrative or managerial level as described in "1" above, as follows:

(A) A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business, child welfare, counseling, economics, education, finance, human resources, labor relations, management, management science, nursing, operations research, organizational behavior, personnel or public administration, political science, psychology, sociology, social work, statistics, and/or urban studies may substitute for two years of experience; and/or

(B) Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university in the area(s) listed in “2(A)” above for each year of experience up to a maximum of three years; or

(C) A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) may substitute for three years of experience.

However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and one year of experience at the administrative or management level as described in "1" above.

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.

Salary Min: $229,603.00

Salary Max: $237,065.00