Special Assistant

SPECIAL ASSISTANT

You must be permanent in the Principal Administrative Associate title.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Cash Assistance, Emergency Assistance, Medicaid, Child Support, Fair Fares, as well as eviction prevention and rehousing assistance.

DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self‑sufficiency as quickly as possible. DSS also includes administrative and supportive divisions such as the Office of Legal Affairs which includes the Fair Hearing Administration, among other litigation and counseling units.

The Office of Procedures provides the critical link between policy development and worker execution of the agency programs. Up‑to‑date, well‑written procedures, supported with effective training, provide workers with the knowledge and standards required to operate the agency's program consistently and effectively.

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the Office of Policy, Procedures and Training/Office of Procedures with latitude for some independent judgement and initiative, the Special Assistant performs difficult administrative work related to the day‑to‑day management of the Office Procedures. The Special Assistant collaborates with DSS/HRA/DHS program areas to assist with procedures need requests and monitoring completion.

The Office of Policy, Procedures and Training (OPPT) / Office of Procedures is recruiting for one (1) Principal Administrative Associate III to function as a Special Assistant who will:

• Manage the creation and tracking of procedures requests from the DSS/HRA/DHS program areas to ensure requests are recorded and assigned to the appropriate OPPT Senior Directors. Monitors the progress of the requests reporting findings and discrepancies to the Executive Director.
• Perform professional work in the preparation and conduct of surveys, work measurements, analyses, and evaluation of organizational structures of the Office of Procedures.
• Assist in the development and implementation of special projects and existing procedures.
• Review data and prepare written and statistical reports as to the effectiveness and efficiency of projects.
• Collaborate and liaise with program heads and other city agencies to provide updates and schedules.
• Maintain a high level of expertise in social services policies, procedures and business practices and ensure DSS-HRA-DHS's staff is knowledgeable of regulations and policies needed to address the in consistences in agency practices.
• Manage general correspondences for the office of the Executive Director; draft and edit responses.
• Participate and represent the Executive Director at meetings as required.

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full‑time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience, one year of which must have been in an administrative capacity or supervising staff performing clerical/administrative work of more than moderate difficulty; or
• An associate degree or 60 semester credits from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full‑time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience described in “1” above; or
• A four‑year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and five years of satisfactory full‑time progressively responsible clerical/administrative experience including one year of the administrative supervisory experience as described in “1” above;
• Education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above. However, all candidates must possess the one year of administrative or supervisory…