Director of Policy Development and Special Initiatives, Division of Housing Policy

About the Agency

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) promotes quality and affordability in the city’s housing, and diversity and strength in the city’s neighborhoods because every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable place to live in a neighborhood they love.

We maintain building and resident safety and health.

We create opportunities for New Yorkers through housing affordability.

We engage New Yorkers to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity.

HPD is entrusted with fulfilling these objectives through the goals and strategies of “Housing Our Neighbors: A Blueprint for Housing and Homelessness,” Mayor Adams’ comprehensive housing framework. To support this important work, the administration has committed $5 billion in new capital funding, bringing the 10-year planned investment in housing to $22 billion – the largest in the city’s history. This investment, coupled with a commitment to reduce administrative and regulatory barriers, is a multi‑pronged strategy to tackle New York City’s complex housing crisis, by addressing homelessness and housing instability, promoting economic stability and mobility, increasing home ownership opportunities, improving health and safety, and increasing opportunities for equitable growth.

HPD’s Office of Policy and Strategy (OPS) leverages its expertise to guide and support HPD and its many offices in their efforts to deepen their impact, optimize their efficiency, and become more data‑driven, climate‑adaptive, and mission‑focused. The Division of Housing Policy (DHP) within OPS conducts rigorous policy and data analysis to advance sound housing policy to advance HPD’s mission in service of all New Yorkers.

DHP analyzes proposed legislation, develops new policy and programs and supports efforts to reform existing policy and programs. DHP is a fast‑paced, engaged and ambitious team at the intersection of many of the most important policy issues impacting New York City.

Within DHP, the Policy Development and Special Initiatives unit (PDSI) collaborates with teams across the agency to assess policy proposals, design new initiatives, and review the impacts of existing and proposed legislation on HPD’s work. The Director of PDSI will report to the Assistant Commissioner for Housing Policy, managing a team of policy analysts and policy advisors working directly with stakeholders at all levels inside and outside the agency.

The director will serve as the primary point of contact for policy analysis projects and cross‑agency initiatives and will work closely with both the Assistant Commissioner and the members of the Division on a daily basis in a rigorous, growth‑oriented and supportive environment.

• Lead a team of policy analysts and advisors, building and maintaining a culture of rigor, collaboration and inclusivity.
• Provide strategic direction for the team’s work, ensuring alignment with agency priorities.
• Leverage expertise within DHP and OPS more broadly to incorporate complex analytical concepts, findings and financial modeling into policy recommendations for a variety of audiences.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with internal and external partners to inform decision‑making.
• Participate in working groups and meetings with team and agency leadership to support the development of and generate support for policy recommendations.
• In coordination with the Assistant Commissioner, develop team policies and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient management of the team’s work; and
• Undertake critical special projects/initiatives as requested by the Assistant Commissioner.

• Very strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills as well as creativity and grit.
• Strong understanding of local, state and federal housing policy, particularly in the New York City context and/or other large American cities.
• Very strong leadership skills with the ability to build team culture, provide feedback and build capacity among individual team members.
• Very strong people skills with the ability to build relationships, influence others to achieve outcomes and thrive in a team environment.
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