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 45,000 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 is seeking a Senior Program Officer to join OFE’s Financial Counseling and Coaching team. The Senior Program Officer will primarily be responsible for developing, implementing, and leading programs that help New Yorkers and communities with low incomes access financial counseling and coaching to build savings, reduce debt, establish and improve credit, and access safe and affordable financial products and services to improve their financial health and economic mobility. Under general direction, with wide latitude for independent initiative and judgment, this individual will bring a strategic, equity-minded, and collaborative approach to launch and grow initiatives that build the capacity of residents to positively influence their financial outcomes, including OFE’s flagship initiative – the Financial Empowerment Centers. The ideal candidate excels at building relationships, is deeply committed to financial inclusion, and can effectively and independently manage multiple projects and timelines.
Duties shall include, but are not limited to:
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of OFE’s financial counseling and coaching programs as the program manager, with a focus on operational efficiency, achieving program growth, maximizing client outcomes, and reaching New Yorkers who need financial empowerment services the most;
• Supervise one Program Officer, providing oversight and guidance on project quality and deliverables, as well as professional development and growth opportunities;
• Liaise with the financial counseling nonprofit service providers, monitoring operations and service delivery, maintaining relationships with provider managers, and reporting on trends at the Financial Empowerment Centers;
• Work with the Assistant Director of Financial Counseling and Coaching to define and implement OFE’s strategy to integrate financial empowerment services into the programs and services of other City
• agencies in line with OFE’s mission and strategic priorities;
• Lead efforts through inception, development, launch and implementation, and manage a portfolio of financial counseling and coaching projects and relationships designed to improve the financial health of New Yorkers and communities with low and moderate incomes;
• Identify effective and scalable financial empowerment integration strategies and models, leveraging technology and behavioral economics, and engaging communities, clients, and other stakeholders in developing and executing solutions;
• Build and maintain partnerships with external partners from other City agencies, the nonprofit sector, and private industry; develop feedback loops with partners to capture ideas for improving programs, services, and policies to better support economic opportunity for New Yorkers;
• Assist with the solicitation and evaluation of contract proposals from potential program partners; monitor program performance to ensure contract compliance;
• Work with OFE’s research and data analysis team to understand and document the performance of programs and to establish evaluation mechanisms to assess impact and inform program and strategy refinements;
• Stay abreast of policies, programs, and research, identifying linkages to OFE’s programs and services and providing market and consumer insights to inform OFE’s work. Share findings and write research briefs to inform the broader financial empowerment and economic development fields;
• 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;
• Represent OFE at outreach events, as appropriate, and help to plan, organize, and execute various events including meetings, conferences and convenings; and
• Support and contribute to broader team projects as needed.
Minimum Qual Requirements
1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1” or “2” above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in “1” above.
Preferred Skills
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, with good decision-making skills;
• A creative and strategic thinker, adept at program innovation, design, development, management, research, and evaluation;
• Experience in financial capability, asset building, financial services, or community development, and a passion for supporting people with low or moderate incomes to build greater self-sufficiency. Prior experience with financial counseling or coaching programs is a plus;
• Experience cultivating partnerships with local, regional, and national stakeholders, preferably in the fields of financial empowerment, financial inclusion, asset building, or community development;
• Effective project manager with a demonstrated ability to successfully guide and manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and to independently organize and drive projects to timely completion;
• Attention to detail and ability to work with a sense of urgency while still ensuring a high-quality work product;
• Excellent analytic, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills;
• Excellent organizational, communication (written and oral), and presentation skills;
• Ability to use data to drive program planning and implementation;
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; and
• Fluency in one of the New York City’s priority languages (Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Italian, and Haitian Creole), a plus but not required.
To Apply
For Non-City/External Candidates: Visit the External Applicant NYC Careers site and type Consumer Affairs on the search line. Then locate the Job ID number.
For Current City Employees: Visit Employee Self Service (ESS) to view and click on Recruiting Activities, Careers, and search by Job ID number.
A RESUME AND COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED.
PLEASE INDICATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER HOW YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS POSITION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
NO PHONE CALLS, FAXES, E-MAILS OR PERSONAL INQUIRIES PERMITTED.
NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED.
**LOAN FORGIVENESS The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with DCA qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program’s other requirements. Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service
Public Svc 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 StudentAid.gov/PSLF .
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
POSTING DATE
07/21/2023
POST UNTIL
09/15/2023
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.