Deputy Chief of Staff

Job Description

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care and education services. In child welfare, ACS contracts with private nonprofit organizations to support and stabilize families through community-based supports and preventive services and provides foster care services for children not able to safely remain at home. The agency’s Division of Child Protection responds to all reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including community-based supports and alternatives for youth and families, detention, and placement. ACS is also a key part of NYCs early childhood and education continuum, providing child care assistance to thousands of children so their families can access safe, affordable, quality care.

*THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $150,000.00 - $175,000.00*

The New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Commissioner's Office serves as the central management hub for the agency's daily operations and acts as the primary point of contact for external partners, elected officials, City Hall, and key stakeholders. The office works closely with leadership across all ACS divisions to establish priorities, advance strategic initiatives, and address emerging issues affecting the agency and the children and families it serves.

ACS is seeking a highly motivated, proactive, and solutions-oriented Deputy Chief of Staff to serve as a key assistant and advisor to the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff in supporting the leadership and operations of a large, complex agency of 7,000 employees. This position requires an individual who can anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and execute critical projects in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

The successful candidate will be comfortable managing strategic initiatives, coordinating high-level stakeholder engagement, and handling day-to-day operational matters. They must possess exceptional organizational and customer service skills, demonstrate a strong commitment to public service, and be willing to readily step in to address urgent needs and evolving priorities. The Deputy Chief of Staff must be able to work independently while maintaining close alignment with the Chief of Staff's direction, priorities, and leadership objectives.

Reporting directly to the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff, the responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of Staff include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Collaborate with the Chief of Staff to develop and execute strategic goals and objectives, providing data-driven insights for divisional leadership initiatives.
- Oversee and expedite complex issue escalations involving the Chief of Staff and Commissioner, marshaling resources and partnering with relevant citywide and agency stakeholders to achieve prompt resolutions.
- Provide robust project management support to senior leadership agency-wide, focusing on critical citywide initiatives and fostering cross-divisional collaborations for synergistic outcomes.
- Prepare executive-level presentations, talking points, briefing materials, correspondence, and reports for the Commissioner, Chief of Staff, and senior leadership.
- Demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to assume responsibility for emerging priorities, urgent assignments, and operational needs as directed by the Chief of Staff.

- Assist with the logistical and content planning of weekly executive meetings involving the Commissioner’s Cabinet, senior leaders, and cross-agency stakeholders, ensuring actionable agendas and effective outcomes.

- Liaise between the agency and City Hall, proactively engaging with other City agencies to coordinate and advance key organizational initiatives.

- Manage a portfolio of special projects from conception to completion; present comprehensive evaluations and actionable recommendations to the Chief of Staff for strategic decision-making.

- Assist with the tracking, documentation and reporting of the Commissioner's office tasks and projects, offering weekly updates that highlight priorities and pending items requiring immediate action.

- Consolidate, analyze, and synthesize information from internal and external stakeholders, preparing concise briefings, reports, and recommendations for executive decision-making.

- Coordinate and prioritize the Commissioner’s public speaking commitments and high-level meetings, aligning with organizational objectives and ensuring readiness with pertinent deliverables.

- Represent the Chief of Staff in meetings, workgroups, and stakeholder engagements, exercising professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

- Deliver exceptional customer service to both internal and external stakeholders, responding to inquiries and concerns with professionalism, responsiveness, discretion, and a solutions-focused approach.

- Engage in special projects and interdepartmental workgroups as delegated by the Chief of Staff.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE SPECIALIS - 13400

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of responsible full-time paid experience in one or more of the fields of social service, psychology, public relations, urban planning, program evaluation, budget administration or financial administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a closely related field.

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.