Deputy Director of Policy and Research

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND RESEARCH

DEPARTMENT: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

REPORTS TO: DIRECTOR FOR POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FLSA: EXEMPT

Salary Range: $80,769 - $105,000

About the Center 

Founded in 2008, the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, Inc. (the “Center”) is a not-for-profit that promotes and protects affordable homeownership so that all New Yorkers can build strong, thriving communities. With more than 18 years of experience, the Center's work spans direct services, network coordination, and systems-level intervention. It coordinates a citywide network of housing counseling and legal services providers, operates a statewide Homeowner Hub call center, and co-administers approximately $40 million annually in state funding that supports homeowner services statewide. The Center’s mission-driven CDFI, Sustainable Neighborhoods, lends approximately $7 million annually and holds approximately $100 million in net assets as of December 2025. The Center’s work is grounded in collaboration with community-based partners, public agencies, philanthropy, and national leaders in heirs’ property and housing preservation. Through these partnerships, the Center continues to develop scalable, practical solutions that preserve homeownership, stabilize communities, and expand access to economic opportunity.

Position Summary

We are looking for a Deputy Director of Policy and Research who will be responsible for day to day management of the Policy and Research team and lead development and publication of affordable homeownership research at the Center. The Deputy Director of Policy and Research is an exempt position that reports to the Director of Policy and Public Affairs.

The Deputy Director will serve as the Center’s leader for research that advances our goals related to the creation and preservation of affordable homeownership opportunities. The role requires strong data analysis and visualization competencies along with familiarity and experience for how data can advance broader reforms and legislative advocacy goals. Frequent research topics and publications include, but are not limited to, homeowner stabilization and foreclosure prevention, multifamily affordable homeownership development, home repair, disaster recovery and resiliency, and housing market dynamics.

This is a supervisory role that requires experience managing teams to deliver measurable impact. This role will work directly with the Center’s Public Affairs team to enhance our advocacy efforts to build a stronger statewide ecosystem that delivers better outcomes for homeowners.

This is a full-time exempt position based in New York, NY. We operate under a hybrid office model, requiring staff to work a minimum of two days per week on site to support collaboration, connection, and impact. Candidates must be able to meet these in-office expectations.

Essential Functions 

• Serve as lead researcher and thought leader for the Center’s advocacy for homeowners. 
• Identify and communicate emerging trends impacting homeowners and homebuyers through data collection and analysis, and evaluate and analyze outcomes of homeownership and homebuying policies and programs. 
• Draft, edit, and publish reports related to affordable homeownership challenges and opportunities, including market dynamics and foreclosure. 
• Build and manage strong relationships with partner organizations to amplify impact and reach of research findings and policy objectives. 
• Supervise the Policy and Research team, which can include short-term pilot programs and external research collaborations around the topics of affordable homeownership, consumer protection, community development, racial equity, and housing climate resiliency.
• Build strong organizational and wide institutional knowledge by supplying teams with timely updates, talking points, and explainers with regard to developments in affordable homeownership. 
• Work with the VP of External Affairs and Director of Policy and Public Affairs to set strategy for, and development of, the Center’s policy and research agenda and priorities, in consultation with Executive leadership and other key staff members.

• As needed, collaborate with the Center’s Impact and Evaluation team to provide data analysis support. 
• Collaborate with program teams to interpret program data and integrate findings with policy and research to inform strategic priorities.
• Help write and give testimony related to the Center’s policy goals before City Council, State Assembly and Senate, and other government bodies.
• Serve as a subject matter expert spokesperson and communicate the Center’s research findings and recommendations at community events, legislative hearings, press conferences, rallies, and other advocacy activities in support of organizational and policy priorities.
• Work with the Public Affairs team to improve and implement strategy to inform Center leadership and staff of relevant policy, regulatory, and legislative developments; identify opportunities to impact policy outcomes. 
• Collaborate actively with the Marketing & Communications team on strategy around release and engagement of research and other publications. 
• Lead development of policy content for publications, speaking engagements, and events, including the Center’s annual conference, reports, blog posts, and other mixed media materials to inform and engage stakeholders. 
• Collaborate with the Program Analysis Working Group to strengthen and standardize program analysis practices, enhance data quality and data retention, and advocate for effective good data practices across the organization. 
• Other tasks and duties reasonably related to job responsibilities. 

Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum of six years' experience in the nonprofit, public, or community development sector.
• Lived experience or professional experience working with and engaging our core constituencies, communities of color in neighborhoods across New York City. 
• Expertise in housing policy, homeownership, mortgage lending, and consumer protection.
• Passionate about promoting affordable homeownership and an equitable New York 
• Familiarity with data management and analysis tools, such as R, Python, STATA, or SQL is required
• Written and verbal presentation skills are critical, and any applicant should amply demonstrate experience and abilities in both these areas.
• Advanced degree in public policy, urban planning, or relevant degree, or experience in housing policy, law, or finance preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing a team.
• Highly skilled at synthesizing progress, successes, and challenges for senior leadership as well as recommending approaches and solutions
• Demonstrated ownership by showing initiative, acting conscientiously, and putting team results above individual accomplishments
• Demonstrated growth mindset through resilience, engaging in expansive thinking, and showing curiosity
• High-level proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Drive, Asana, and other standard office tools, or a willingness to become proficient within a relatively short time period.
• Work collaboratively by demonstrating the ability to work in teams, exhibiting emotional intelligence, and having positive energy. 
• Strong project management skills, including the ability to work independently and motivate and coordinate a team, possibly across departments.
• Able to multitask and work efficiently to meet diverse organizational needs.
• This is a hybrid role, with both in-person and virtual obligations, for candidates in the NYC area. Work obligations may on occasion necessitate evening or weekend hours. 

Salary

We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Application

To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter with salary requirements and resume through our website. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicant review will continue until the position is filled.

The Center strongly encourages Section 3 residents to participate in this hiring effort. Information to determine if you are a Section 3 resident can be obtained by contacting View email address on us.fitly.work.

Persons requiring reasonable accommodation to participate in this hiring effort are requested to contact: View email address on us.fitly.work.

We thank you for your interest in career opportunities with the Center for NYC Neighborhoods.

The Center for NYC Neighborhoods is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, upgrade, train, and promote for all positions and job classifications without regard t