Chief of Staff to the Commissioner

Chief of Staff to the Commissioner

The New York City Department of Design and Construction is seeking a highly motivated, strategic, and collaborative individual to serve as Chief of Staff to the Commissioner. Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the Chief of Staff will act as a trusted advisor on strategic, operational, and policy matters and will play a central role in advancing the Commissioner's priorities across the agency. As part of DDC's senior leadership team, the Chief of Staff will help develop, manage, and implement the agency's strategic planning initiatives, facilitate executive decision-making, and ensure the effective day-to-day operations of the Commissioner's Office. The Chief of staff will also oversee key administrative and operational functions, including Fleet, Facilities, Security, Records Management, and Mail and Stockroom operations.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented, with exceptional judgement, communication, and relationship-management skills. The successful candidate will be able to think strategically and holistically, anticipate challenges, and manage competing priorities.

Responsibilities The Chief of Staff will:

• Serve as a strategic partner and principal advisor to the Commissioner on agency priorities, policy matters, and operational issues.
• Provide counsel and support to the Commissioner on sensitive and high-profile matters requiring sound judgement and discretion.
• Partner with executive and senior leadership to ensure the Commissioner's Office is meeting the needs of the agency.
• Prepare and brief the Commissioner for internal and external meetings, events, and public engagements.
• Draft, review, and manage briefing materials, presentations, reports, correspondence, memoranda, and other executive-level communications.
• Streamline communication and information flow between the Commissioner's Office, agency divisions, oversight entities, and external stakeholders.
• Identify, assess, and coordinate responses to issues escalated to the Commissioner's Office.
• Represent the Commissioner at meetings and events, and act on the Commissioner's behalf, as appropriate.
• Oversee key operational and administrative functions, including Fleet, Facilities, Security, Records Management, and Mail and Stockroom Operations.
• Perform other high-level executive and strategic duties as assigned by the Commissioner.

Please note: All candidates must be currently authorized to work full-time in the United States (U.S.). In compliance with Public Law 99-603, candidates are required to present original documents proving citizenship or the legal right to work in the U.S. DDC is unable to support or sponsor any visa application or visa extension, including but not limited to OPT/STEM visas, H-1B visas, F-1 practical training, permanent residence sponsorship, or any proposed change of visa type. DDC does not offer a training program as required by U.S. immigration law and is not hiring temporary employees. Candidates must have proper work authorization when an employment offer is made. Additionally, educational credentials must be from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accredited institution. Credentials from foreign institutions require independent equivalency verification from an approved evaluation service.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college and 4 years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position; or A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have the 18th months of administrative, managerial, executive, consultative, or supervisory experience described in "1" above.

Preferred Skills

- Experience serving in a senior managerial or executive role within government, preferably New York City government. - Demonstrated experience developing and implementing organizational policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives. - Proven ability to manage executive priorities, coordinate decision-making processes, and drive accountability for high-level deliverables. - Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, oversight agencies, elected officials, and external stakeholders. - Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to build consensus and foster collaboration across diverse teams. - Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple assignments and meet deadlines independently. - Ability to exercise sound judgement, maintain confidentiality, and manage sensitive matters with discretion.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.