Agency Description:

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.



Your Team:


The Office of Development (OOD) leads the agency’s effort to create and preserve affordable housing in collaboration with other HPD offices as well as other city, state and federal agencies. The OOD is comprised of eight divisions that administer a range of programs. These divisions include New Construction Finance, Special Needs Housing, Housing Incentives, Building and Land Development Services (BLDS), Homeownership Opportunities and Preservation, Preservation Finance, Portfolio Management and Conversions, and Compliance and Enforcement.


The Division of Building and Land Development Services (BLDS) provides architectural, engineering, cost valuation, environmental planning, and construction support services to the various divisions within HPD’s Office of Development. BLDS is the largest division within the Office of Development with over 100 staff composed of seven units which include: the Bureau of New Construction Design Review Services, the Bureau of Preservation Design Review Services, the Bureau of Engineering, the Bureau of Construction Services, the Environmental Planning Unit, the Policy Unit, and the Program Management Unit.


As Chief of Staff, you will be responsible for managing and implementing a portfolio of initiatives implemented by BLDS Executive Office. The Chief of Staff will be the liaison among the BLDS Executive Office, the Office of Development and external stakeholders, such as Department of Buildings, Con Ed and Department of Environmental Protection, among others.



Your Role:


As the Chief of Staff for BLDS, you will report to the Associate Commissioner of BLDS, and help to manage the division’s operations, develop policy, and assist with the implementation of the Executive Office’s priorities. This position will include close collaboration with the Office of Development leadership and partner agencies.

The ideal candidate should have management experience and a Bachelor or Graduate degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field; technical skills and experience in affordable housing development are strongly preferred. S/he should possess excellent organizational and communication skills and be competent in negotiating with diverse technical specialists and applying sound judgment in technical matters.

Your Responsibilities:

As the Chief of Staff, you will perform duties including, but not limited to, the following:

- Work closely with the Associate Commissioner and the BLDS Executive Office to develop, implement, track progress, and evaluate various operational, policy, and strategic planning strategies for the division, and assure they are aligned with the Agency’s mission;

- Work collaboratively with Office of Development leadership and various parts of the Agency to ensure that the division’s efforts are aligned with the Agency’s and Administration’s goals and priorities, as outlined in the Housing Blueprint;

- Serve as a liaison with senior leadership team members across the agency to represent the division in intra- and inter-agency objectives, initiatives, and special projects;

- Review proposed policy and/or legislation and identify potential impacts on project pipelines, programmatic timeframes, and technical services provided by the division;

- Develop tracking tools, technical reports, and other deliverables, as requested;

- Assist in data management and data analysis for the division;

- Develop and maintain communication and strong working relationships with teams across BLDS, the Office of Development, and HPD, and support the division’s role in interagency-related initiatives;

- Respond to various inquiries and attend meetings on behalf of the Associate Commissioner, as necessary;

- Assist with operational and/or policy-related tasks and time-sensitive requests, as necessary.


Preferred Skills:

Strong preference for candidates who possess:

- Demonstrated capacity for performing multiple tasks, analyzing complex processes, and using independent judgment.

- Knowledge of or experience working with affordable housing developments and /or capital projects.

- Knowledge of or experience with the design and construction process; ability to read architectural drawings and familiarity with the City’s zoning and building codes is a plus.

- Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.

- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

- Proficiency using Microsoft Office suite; data visualization experience is a plus.

Authorization to work in the United States is required for this position. The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development does not provide sponsorship for international employees for visa applications, extensions, or status changes, including H-1B visas. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they meet all qualifying requirements for this position at the time of application.

ASSOCIATE URBAN DESIGNER - 22124

Minimum Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree in architecture from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of full-time experience in planning, design, research, investigations and/or studies related to urban design development programs; or

2. A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to ""1"" above. However, a baccalaureate degree in architecture is required of all candidates. Graduate work
leading to an advanced degree in architecture, urban design or city planning maybe substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

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/.

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.

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.