Senior Director

Job Description

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the largest public housing authority in North America, was created in 1935 to provide decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers. NYCHA is home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers, providing affordable housing to 528,105 authorized residents through public housing and Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) programs as well as Section 8 housing. NYCHA has 177,569 apartments in 2,411 buildings across 335 conventional public housing and PACT developments. NYCHA’s mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility. Since the 2019 Agreement between NYCHA, the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY), NYCHA has been working under a Federal Monitor structure. The HUD Agreement sets the requirement to create a new Organizational Plan in collaboration with the Federal Monitor and sets forth various compliance related targets for NYCHA across major operational areas including: Lead, Mold, Heat, Elevators, Pest, Waste Management, and Inspections.

The Department of Resident Services, Partnerships and Initiatives (RSPI) engages NYCHA residents in critical programs, services, and initiatives in the areas of economic opportunity, youth, senior and social services; serves as a liaison between residents and departments across the Housing Authority; supports NYCHA’s extensive network of Resident Associations; and connects residents to opportunities such as financial empowerment, business development, career advancement, and educational programs.

The Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) empowers residents to increase their income and assets through programs, policies and partnerships in four key areas: employment and advancement, business development, adult education and training, and financial literacy and asset building.

NYCHA seeks a passionate, dynamic, and results-oriented leader to join RSPI as the Senior Director of Resident Economic Empowerment and Sustainability (REES). Reporting to the Vice President of Resident Partnerships, responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Direct and manage a team of approximately 61 employees including a Deputy Director, Assistant Directors, and supervisory staff. Oversee staff hiring and performance evaluations in coordination with REES supervisors and NYCHA’s Human Resources department.
2. Oversee the continued implementation and enhancement of NYCHA's zone model; a localized service coordination delivery approach including ensuring engagement and participation from stakeholders including Residents, Economic Opportunity Partners, and front-line NYCHA staff.
3. Oversee the development, implementation, and institutionalization of new strategics to maximize resident job opportunities through NYCHA’s operations and contracting, including Section 3; monitor and provide guidance on external and internal policies impacting economic opportunities for public housing residents.
4. Work internally with NYCHA colleagues from critical departments such as Finance, Human Resources, Law, and IT to advance key initiatives and policies.
5. Create, maintain, and strengthen relationships with City agencies, organizations, funders, and employers to attract resources to public housing neighborhoods and for public housing residents.
6. Support the administration of key city-funded programs such as the Jobs-Plus program at select NYCHA developments throughout in collaboration with the Human Resources Administration (HRA), NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s Office of Financial Empowerment (DCA OFE), and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity); ensure NYCHA serves as a valuable contributor in the Jobs-Plus collaborative.
7. Expand and enhance key privately funded programs such as the NYCHA Resident Training Academy (a public-private partnership that provides employment-linked vocational training), Business Pathways (an accelerated business development program for new and existing NYCHA resident entrepreneurs); and develop the NYCHA Business School (a business training program connecting residents directly to NYCHA contracting opportunities).
8. Maintain and grow key HUD-funded programs such as Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) (an asset-building program aimed at increasing residents’ earnings) and Resident Opportunities and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) (a program for public housing residents with supportive services, resident empowerment activities, and assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient).
9. Oversee the department’s budget and handle key fiscal responsibilities including review and approval of cost allocations; approval or disapproval of spending and oversee gr