Executive Director for the Division of Government Affairs

Job DescriptionThe New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York Plan which was recently expanded and accelerated through Housing New York 2.0 to complete the initial goal of 200,000 homes two years ahead of schedule by 2022, and achieve an additional 100,000 homes over the following four years, for a total of 300,000 homes by 2026.Your Team:The Office of Government Affairs works with city, state, and federal officials, agencies, policy makers, advocates and planners in the public and private sectors to assess housing policy, land use and planning issues, and manage the City's affordable housing legislative agenda. Your Impact:HPD seeks a highly motivated individual with exceptional communication skills to serve as the Executive Director of HPD’s Office of Government Affairs. The Executive Director serves to assess, craft, and secure legislative changes needed to implement HPD’s goals of creating and preserving affordable housing, protecting the quality and safety of the City’s housing stock, and engaging communities in planning for the future of their neighborhoods. Your Role:The Executive Director will be a senior member of the Division of Governmental Affairs team, and plays a critical role, working closely with the Agency’s senior team, Agency partners, and the Mayor’s Office in creating and advancing the Agency’s legislative and policy agenda. Your Responsibilities:Under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs, the selected candidate will be responsible for the following duties:

Leading the Agency’s response to relevant State legislation, providing analysis, and overseeing engagement and negotiations with the State Legislature and City Hall.

Developing and implementing legislative and policy priorities for the Agency.

Providing key political analysis and strategic advice to the Commissioner and senior agency leadership.

Managing inquiries from City Hall, other city agencies and elected officials regarding housing issues.

Work closely and collaboratively with senior staff to develop, draft, advocate for, and implement HPD’s local, State, and federal legislative agenda.

Cultivating and maintaining relationships with elected officials, advocates, and agency partners, including proactively managing regular communication about the work of the Division, both internally and externally.

Regularly interfacing with elected officials to advance key Agency priorities.

Research, draft, and edit public testimony for the Commissioner and other senior staff to deliver at legislative hearings.

Prepare the Commissioner and other senior staff to testify and respond to questions at public hearings.

Representing the agency at public forums and in meetings with elected officials, including testifying at public hearings and at housing policy events.

Coordinate with intergovernmental leadership at City Hall and other government agencies.

Responsible for special projects assigned by the Office of the Chief of Staff as needed.

The ability to carry out the above responsibilities may sometimes require attendance at evening and weekend meetings. Preferred skills:

5+ years of experience working on legislative issues or intergovernmental affairs at the local level.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Flexibility, creativity, and the ability to work well under pressure.

Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple complex tasks.

Knowledge of affordable housing, HPD programs and service, and housing policy broadly.

Relationships with elected officials and relevant stakeholders.

Ability to problem-solve on a wide range of issues.

Qualifications

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of experience in one or more of the following areas: community organization, social work, urban development projects, real estate, public administration, or a related field, of which two years must have been in a field directly related to neighborhood improvement such as housing, community organization, urban renewal or planning, or real estate. A Law Degree or graduate work in an appropriate field may be substituted for up to two years of the general experience required; or

Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", including part-time and/or volunteer experience.

Additional InformationThe 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.