Assistant Director Of Asset Building Programs

Job Description

THIS POSITION MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR REMOTE WORK FOR UP TO 2 DAYS PER WEEK, PURSUANT TO THE REMOTE WORK PILOT PROGRAM.

To Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to dcwpjobs@dcwp.nyc.gov with the Job ID number and Position Name in the subject line.

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses more than 51,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection, licensing, and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources and, by helping to resolve complaints, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance. Through its community outreach and the work of its offices of Financial Empowerment and Labor Policy & Standards, DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to be educated consumers and to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp or on its social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Within DCWP, the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) focuses on initiatives that support New Yorkers and communities with low incomes in building wealth and improving their financial health. OFE is the first local government initiative in the country with the mission to educate, empower, and protect New Yorkers and neighborhoods with low incomes so they can build assets and make the most of their financial resources. OFE uses data and research, policy, partnerships, and convenings to advance its mission. Using this model, OFE is able to develop, offer, and advocate for innovative programs and products for all New Yorkers.

OFE coordinates the Annual Tax Season Initiative, which seeks to increase awareness of and access to free tax preparation services and valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the New York City Child Care Tax Credit (NYC CCTC). The Annual Tax Season Initiative (Initiative) is a key component of DCWP OFE s strategy to promote services that help New Yorkers build assets, save for emergencies and increase their financial stability. The Initiative, through its primary activity, the NYC Free Tax Prep program, seeks to increase access to and awareness of free tax preparation services and valuable tax credits and use tax time as an opportunity to connect filers to Asset Building and financial health resources. Through NYC Free Tax Prep, OFE coordinates a network of more than fifteen providers who deliver Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (VITA/TCE) and AARP Tax-Aide programs at approximately 130 sites throughout the city, as well as online self-preparation at nyc.gov/taxprep. In February 2023, NYC Free Tax Prep was expanded to include services for self-employed New Yorkers, including freelancers, gig workers, for-hire drivers, and small business owners, who often struggle to file taxes and manage financial recordkeeping and face limited access to capital, banking services, and loans. Since 2015, more than 950,000 returns have been completed for New Yorkers, helping them to save an estimated $146 million in tax prep fee savings.

OFE is seeking an entrepreneurial, driven, innovative and highly-organized Assistant Director of Asset Building Programs to join OFE’s Programs team. The Assistant Director of Asset Building Programs will lead a team to manage OFE’s Annual Tax Season Initiative and the development and implementation of programs that help New Yorkers and communities with low incomes build savings, reduce debt, establish and improve credit, and access valuable services to increase their financial stability and economic mobility. The ideal candidate excels at building relationships, is deeply committed to financial inclusion, and can effectively and independently manage multiple projects and timelines.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the development, implementation, and growth of a portfolio of initiatives and programs designed to improve the financial health of New Yorkers and communities with low incomes, particularly the Annual Tax Season Initiative;

• Lead a team of 4-5, directly supervising two Senior Program Officers, providing thought partnership, oversight and guidance on project quality, deliverables, and resourcing, and maximizing collaboration

• Collaborate with the data analysis and evaluation team to conduct research that may inform OFE’s programs/services; to evaluate programs, assess impact, and identify opportunities to improve performance; and to assess and respond to policy proposals;

• Engage communities, clients and other stakeholders in developing and executing solutions, using research, technology, and behavioral economics; integrate financial inclusion and community wealth building principles and strategies into OFE’s programs and services;

• Provide timely updates to the Director of Programs and other stakeholders on the status of programs, progress toward deliverables, unanticipated challenges and strategies for addressing those challenges;

• Collaborate with other OFE team members to identify linkages across OFE’s programs and initiatives, integrate access to safe and affordable financial products and services within programs, and support cross collaboration amongst programs;

• Understand the landscape of free tax preparation, Asset Building, volunteerism, and financial products and services offered in New York City, and build and maintain relationships with organizations providing those services;

• Draft strategic communications to update external stakeholders on OFE’s work and build awareness about issues impacting the field of financial empowerment and the financial health of New Yorkers;

• Draft, proofread and/or edit a range of materials, including but not limited to grant proposals, publications, reports, program documents, policy memos, presentations, and press releases;

• Build and manage relationships with City agencies, community-based organizations, funders, grantees, and other external stakeholders and act as a liaison internally with other DCA divisions;

• Implement and manage special projects as needed to reduce systemic inequality and build individual and community wealth and assets;

• Represent OFE at outreach events as appropriate and help to plan, organize and execute various events including meetings, conferences and convenings.

Qualifications

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.

To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:

1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or

2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or

3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:

Probationary Period

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.