Senior Advisor to the First Deputy Commissioner

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed at moving the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Importantly, safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

The DOC seeks to recruit a Senior Advisor to the First Deputy Commissioner (FDC) to support the implementation of the Commissioner’s People First agenda moving DOC into the future. Reporting to the FDC, the Senior Advisor will support the internal management of work across four workstreams critical to the Department’s future success; the evolution of the agency’s organizational culture to meaningfully support staff and people in the Department’s care; the design and building of the four borough based jails; the operational transition to the borough-based jails, strategies to achieve public safety through support of people in custody. This person will manage and track priorities, driving progress and troubleshoot issues as they arise. The Senior Advisor will be a critical thought partner to the FDC and senior leadership and will use strategic thinking, strong project management and collaboration skills to ensure that initiatives are effectively implemented. The Senior Advisor will liaise with other agencies, internal and external stakeholders, and community organizations to develop new policies in line with ongoing transformation efforts; and be empowered to serve as proxy for the FDC as appropriate.

The Senior Advisor will routinely advise the First Deputy Commissioner on policy matters, the status of high priority projects, and assist in the coordination of direct reports to the FDC including Policy and Strategy, Management Analysis and Planning, Training and Development, Quality Assurance and Compliance, Programs, and the Nunez Consent Judgement. The incumbent will confer with all levels of departmental staff to secure information in connection with matters requiring the FDC’s decision. Performs related duties as required.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to lead senior leaders (though influence, without direct authority) to ensure their complex, inter-related, fluid workstreams are moving forward cohesively and effectively
• Strong project management skills with the ability to plan, organize and coordinate the efforts of numerous individuals, workstreams, and stakeholders to implement viable and effective program service delivery systems
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, listening, and collaboration skills
• Strategic thinking and troubleshooting, to ensure workstreams, activities and actions are aligned with the ultimate goals
• Ability to work independently and effectively, building relationships at all levels within the organization and with external stakeholders
• Ability to adapt to rapid change, multi-task, and meet restrictive deadlines
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills, including preparation of briefings, reports, and talking points
• Ability to analyze risk and feasibility in the execution of large intra- and inter-agency projects in corrections and/or government context.
• Professional demeanor, kindness, good sense of humor, and an ability to work well in a high-pressure executive environment

DIRECTOR OF CORRECTIONAL STAND - 52620

Qualification Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and four years of full-time experience in corrections, social work, psychology, law, public administration, law enforcement, or a related field providing direct services to an inmate or detention population within a correctional or related facility, at least one (1) year of which must have been in a responsible supervisory, administrative or consultative capacity; or
• A high school diploma or evidence of having passed a high school equivalency examination and six (6) years of full-time experience as described above; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Service as an inmate in correctional or related facility may be substituted for a portion of the required experience up to a maximum of two years on a year for year basis. A graduate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, psychology, law, criminal justice or public administration which includes a field placement performing duties as described above, may be substituted for up to one year of full-time experience as described in "1" above. However, all candidates must have at least two years of full-time experience as described in "1" above, at least one year of which must have been in a supervisory, administrative or consultative capacity.