Deputy Director of Community Action Programs - City of New York

ONLY CANDIDATES WHO ARE PERMANENT ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST OR WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT FROM THE OPEN COMPETITIVE OR PROMOTIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST LIST WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION.

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) invests in a network of community-based organizations and programs to alleviate the effects of poverty and to provide opportunities for New Yorkers and communities to flourish.

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) supports youth and community services through contracts with a broad network of Community-Based Organizations (CBO) throughout New York City.  Our central task is administering available city, state, and federal funds to a wide range of innovative, practical, and quality programs that positively impact youth and communities. DYCD is the designated Community Action Agency for New York City and administers federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funded programs to assist low-income individuals and families to attain the skills, knowledge, motivation, and opportunities they need to become self-sufficient and productive members of their communities.

In order to maximize the impact of CSBG funding, DYCD targets funds to low-income communities it designates as Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs). The NDA Initiative fosters community-level engagement to ensure that services address the most pressing needs of each community.

DYCD is seeking a Deputy Director to help lead its NDA Initiative portfolio. Under the supervision of the Director, with wide latitude for independent action and decision-making, the Deputy Director will perform the following duties:

• Provide direct supervision to assigned program managers involved in contract management, development, and monitoring of NDA Initiative contracts and ensure that staff provides effective oversight.
• Review site visit reports prepared by program managers using the Agency’s evaluation monitoring tool and ensure they and all contract monitoring instruments are completed promptly and efficiently.
• Ensure that Strategic Action and/or Corrective Action Plans are completed and submitted in a timely manner.
• Provide technical assistance to underperforming contractors and assist CBOs generally to identify resources, strengthen linkages and referrals, and refine practices.
• Review budgets, programmatic and contract documents for final approval.  Provide technical expertise for contract negotiations and development.
• Provide technical support for staff and CBOs and coordinate training with the Capacity Building Unit. 
• Accompany program managers at on-site programmatic visits during program hours (including weekends and evenings).
• Monitor each CBO’s program design, work scope, and other documentation and procedures to ensure they align with the stated programmatic goals and objectives per the Request for Proposal and contract.
• Monitor and analyze the longitudinal performance of contractors and programs and provide periodic reports.
• Coordinate with ACCO, Fiscal, Legal, and other DYCD departments to manage the flow of contract development.
• Coordinate with ACCO, Fiscal, Legal, and other DYCD departments to track and monitor contract actions.
• Become proficient and provide training as needed to CBOs on DYCD’s web-based program management systems and DYCD’s protocols (e.g., case management standards).
• Provide regular updates to supervisory staff concerning poor-performing programs and recommendations to improve program performance.
• Prepare reports and carry out special assignments, tasks, and projects as the Director and Assistant Commissioner assign.
• Coordinate Unit events, special projects, and inter-agency meetings with external stakeholders.
• Supervise preparing and facilitating routine provider meetings for each program area.
• Prepare staff evaluations.
• Assist with developing new program areas and Request for Proposals.
• Maintain Unit policy manuals, rubrics for outcome indicators, and related documentation, updating as needed on an annual basis.
• Serve as a contact point for borough-based issues on behalf of the Community Development programs and the agency; help address borough and geographical issues and resources needed on behalf of Community Development for Internal and external stakeholders.
• Represent DYCD at public meetings, conferences, symposia, and other forums.

Other duties as assigned.

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U. S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and four years of satisfactory, full-time community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, developing, evaluating and/or administering a large community service program or activity; or
2. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and eight years of satisfactory, full-time experience as described in "1" above, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above; or
3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, on the basis of 30 graduate credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 2 years. However, all candidates must possess a four-year high school diploma or its educational
equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and two years of full-time experience in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

1. Knowledge of New York City contracting processes.
2. Must possess strong oral and written communication, organizational and analytical skills.
3. Strong ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities at once.
4. Demonstrated working knowledge of target populations shown through management of relevant programs.
5. Extensive experience in and working knowledge of developing human services programs and program budgets.

Computer literate with advanced skills in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access

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.