The Office of Food Policy is a Mayoral office that works to advance the City’s efforts to increase food security, promote access to and consumption of healthy foods, and support economic opportunity and environmental sustainability in the food system. The Office has a critical role to play integrating an equity frame into food policy priorities and solutions and ensuring an equitable and sustainable economic recovery in the food sector. The Office is responsible for building public awareness and understanding of City Food Policy. To accomplish this mission, the Office acts as a thought leader, facilitator, and convener, playing a lead role in:

- Providing guidance to the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, and agencies within and beyond the Strategic Initiatives portfolio regarding food policy positions and legislation.
- Communicating City food policy to the public through media and press, and other public stakeholder groups
- Leading the incubation, development and driving successful delivery of cross-agency initiatives that continue to place New York City on the cutting edge of food policy.
- Advising and coordinating City agencies and Mayoral offices, across all portfolio areas, to ensure a systems approach to food policy initiatives.
- Ensuring the implementation of NYC’s 10 Year Food Policy Plan, Food Forward NYC.
- Creating partnerships with advocates, nonprofit and community organizations, academic institutions, and private industry to further carry out its mission.

About the Role:

MOFP is seeking to hire a strategic, highly organized individual to serve as Chief of Staff to the Executive Director. This person will oversee the day-to-day operations of MOFP and provide strategic advisement to the Executive Director and other senior leadership. The Chief of Staff will ensure all communications to internal and external stakeholders are pro-active, aligned with City Hall priorities, and effective.

The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of and demonstrated interest in food policy. Additionally, the candidate is naturally pro-active, anticipating next steps, roadblocks, risks, and opportunities. They will drive initiatives forward and manage key relationships in a collaborative, supportive, yet direct manner. They will have experience in communicating with leaders, line-staff, and the public.

Specific Responsibilities:

- Drive the strategy and direction of the team, office operations, and workflow management; manage team meetings to ensure alignment with Office and Administration priorities. Direct the staff in the effective application of administrative policies as well as effective communication styles.

- Manage public affairs for MOFP to ensure a strong feedback loop between non-governmental partners and City Hall exists on issues related to food policy. This involves coordination across different agencies and Mayor’s Offices.

- Prepare and deliver informative, well-organized presentations and written deliverables including talking points and memos for both internal and public audiences. This includes communicating about programs, policies and procedures to both internal (City Agency) and external (community groups and non-governmental partners).

- Oversee the communications strategy of critical food policy developments in sync with City Hall and agencies. Respond to urgent needs of Office and City Hall while managing ongoing priorities and deadlines.

- Work closely with the Executive Director to provide guidance on strategy and policy that leads the coordination and strategic alignment of diverse Office functions.

- Identify and manage critical issues that have public impact and require the attention of the Executive Director, and/or other senior leadership.
- Manage office budget, grants, and contracts.

- Ensure the Executive Director is prepped and ready for all external meetings and events, including those with media.

- Serve as a liaison with City Hall, other City agencies and offices, and external stakeholders; maintain strong working relationships with both programmatic as well as public information
and communication leads.

- Oversee recruitment, on-boarding, leadership coaching to professional skill development across staff lines. This includes the design, administration, and coordination of comprehensive staff training programs.

- Manage staff and teams as needed; help to build and foster a collaborative and productive team culture.

- Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely fashion.

- Represent and/or join the Executive Director at public functions and outreach events.

1. A Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college with 24 credits in English, journalism or public relations, plus five (5) years of full-time paid experience in public relations, journalism or advertising, including two (2) years in an administrative, supervisory or consultative capacity; or
2. A combination of education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above. Graduate study in English, journalism, or public relations may be substituted for up to one year of required experience. However, all candidates must have at least two (2) years of administrative, supervisory, or consultative experience in public relations, journalism or advertising.

- Orientation to anticipation and proactive. - Knowledge and application of local, regional, and national food and nutrition policy, strategy, and legislative issues. - Understanding of City Government, and drive to GSD. - Strong experience working in food policy domains including nutrition, food access, food and economic insecurity, food equity and justice, sustainability, and social determinants of health. Ability to work independently and within a fast-paced small team environment, as well as thrive in a collaborative and supportive team environment. - Strong interpersonal skills: effective and creative leadership ability with the capacity to work both independently and cooperatively to effect key strategies. - Direct, inquisitive, relentless, and ongoing. - Exceptional verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

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.

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.

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.