Associate Director of Policy Initiatives, SEO - 22342

Position Summary: Under the direction of the Executive Director of Policy in the Special Education Office, with wide latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative, the Associate Director of Policy Initiatives is responsible for high-level project management related to special education programs and policy, as well as internal and external communications, team coordination, and administrative functions.

The Associate Director identifies and responds to specific policy-level issues of significance relating to students with IEPs, conducting research, analyzing data, and gathering contributions from content-area experts and other stakeholders to develop updated strategies, policies, operating procedures and guidelines. This position serves as a point person for the various workflows related to special education policy and procedures and legal and regulatory matters, organizing internal and external meetings, drafting memoranda and correspondence, and responding to escalations. Performs related work.

Reports to: Executive Director, Policy

Direct Reports: Consultants and temporary staff, as needed

Key Relationships: Managers within the Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support; Office of the Auditor General; Office of Legal Services; Division of School Leadership; Division of Operations; Division of Finance; Office of Academic Policy; Division of English Language Learners and Student Support.

Responsibilities

Organizational Research

Conducts research and analysis and strategic planning for long-term operational needs.Manages projects for the development and revision of policies, strategies and operating procedures related to special education, in conjunction with the Executive Director and other members of the Special Education Office policy and leadership team.Prepares data and written materials in response to external audits, lawsuits, legislative inquiries, investigations, press inquiries, FOIL requests, etc.Supports students and families in collecting required documentation and processing complex, time-sensitive transactions relating to special education services, such as reimbursement for private transportation, procurement of specialized equipment, and direct payment to private service providers.Manages and evaluates the effectiveness of ongoing special education policies and initiatives.Designs and performs data analysis related to special education reports in order to assess program effectiveness, analyzing trends in the provision of special education services from year to year, and correlating outcomes with other school accountability data.Applies structured, thoughtful analytical approaches to the examination and resolution of a wide variety of policy issues.Establishes relationships and liaises with families, advocacy groups and service providers, including tracking and responding to escalations.Coordinates workflows within and across offices within DSISS and throughout the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) to support the Special Education Office’s policy goals and objectives.Drafts internal and external correspondence and other documents.

Personnel Administration

Prepares training and guidance materials for central, field, and school staff on significant NYCPS policies, procedures and systems.Assists the Executive Director with the coordination of day-to-day management and operations, including meetings and other related administrative matters.

Budgeting

Tracks program participation when a direct result of policy or regulation; aligns policy team budget resources to events and tools that will result in improved participation. Participates in budget planning for policy initiatives, as applicable, including but not limited to stimulus funded initiatives.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum  

A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, or a closely related field and one year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in budget administration, economic or financial administration, fiscal or economic research; management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; educational, personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, labor relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, fiscal management, or a related area, for educational program(s) and/or institution(s); orA baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and three years of satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in "1" above.

Plus

Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Outlook.

Preferred

Familiarity with Special Education support functions at the NYCPS. Experience in building service-oriented relationships and providing successful consultative support. Excellent spoken and written communication. Ability to lead a team and rally others around a common goal. Ability to plan, multitask, and manage time effectively. Ability to take initiative and offer new ideas. Strong interpersonal skills; the ability to work with people at all levels and motivate others. Strong presentation skills. Strong project management skills. Attention to detail and ability to multitask. Ability to work effectively on a team. Ability to manage multiple projects in a rapidly changing environment. Ability to organize facts and present information and figures in a clear, concise and logical manner, both orally and in writing.

Salary: $103,446 - $120,000

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

New York City Residency is NOT Required *

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy

The Department of Education of 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 upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.