EXECUTIVE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

Job Description

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE.

The Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) office oversees the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Fair Fares NYC (FFNYC), the municipal identification program or IDNYC, the Office of Burial Services (OBS), the Common Benefit ID Card (CBIC)/Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Services Office as well as the Pre-Release Benefits Initiative. Each one of these programs offers the following services:

The CBIC/EBT Services Office is involved with the disbursement of Common Benefit Identification Cards to clients who have available benefits (CA, SNAP and MA). This office serves approximately 600 - 1,000 clients daily from all boroughs for the issuance of new and replacement CBICs.

OBS provides support and, where eligible, financial assistance to survivors, next of kin, legally responsible relatives, friends or other designated entities of deceased indigent or unclaimed persons. OBS connects those who require information about the disposal of decedent remains through public burial or access to public burial to appropriate assistance through the Department of Social Services’ General Support Services. It handles determinations of financial responsibility regarding burial of NYC decedents who passed away in health facilities outside of the five boroughs. This office processes more than 2,000 applications per year.

FFNYC assists low-income New Yorkers with managing their transportation costs by connecting eligible New York City residents to a 50% discount on NYC Transit subway and eligible bus fares, as well as Access-A-Ride Paratransit rides. The program has five locations in Benefit Access Centers throughout New York City (one in each borough) and one (1) Electronic Application Processing Unit (EAPU). The program currently has over 370,000 enrollees.

HEAP assists eligible New Yorkers by issuing benefits to subsidize heating and cooling costs and provides financial assistance to repair heating and cooling systems. The program may help households pay for their energy bills, which includes assistance with electricity, gas and oil bills. HEAP can also help repair or replace a broken furnace or boiler. For the 2023-2024 season, nearly 1 million regular HEAP benefits were issued, and more than 13,000 cooling benefits were issued.

IDNYC is a free government-issued photo ID card for people aged 10 and older who live in NYC which can help residents prove identity for a variety of purposes including employment and health benefits as well as access other City services and benefits. The program operates 13 enrollment sites across the 5 boroughs and a Mobile Command Center that is engaged by elected officials and community organizations for enrollment events across the city. At the close of 2024, IDNYC had over 1.7 million cardholders.

The Pre-Release Initiative is a pilot program designed to assist incarcerated individuals with applying for Cash Assistance and SNAP benefits prior to their release from state correctional facilities. This pilot program operates through a partnership among the Department of Social Services, DOCCS and the National Executive Council (NEC), a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Columbia Center for Justice and is currently available in 7 correctional facilities statewide.

Under the executive direction of the HRA Chief Program Officer, with a very high degree of discretion for independent judgment and decision making, the Executive Deputy Commissioner of Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) is responsible for the overall administration and direction of the operations for the five major programs within SPI (HEAP, FFNYC, IDNYC, OBS, CBIC), as well as the Pre-Release Benefits Initiative, ensuring the established Agency goals and objectives are met efficiently and in a timely manner. The Executive Deputy Commissioner ensures the implementation, execution and proper functioning of provisions related but not limited to: HEAP, identification, transit discount, burial assistance, EBT card replacement and pre-release assistance to eligible New Yorkers across the five boroughs. Additionally, the Executive Deputy Commissioner participates in the policy development, implementation, planning and legislative analysis of all policy decisions related to the programs within SPI.

Supportive Programs and Initiatives (SPI) is recruiting for one (1) Administrative Director of Social Services M-VI, to function as an Executive Deputy Commssioner, who will:

- Administer, plan, and direct the activities of all the programs under the SPI umbrella and is responsible
for the management of nearly 340 staff serving more than 1 million New Yorkers across the five
boroughs. Provide strategic leadership/gu