Agency Description
The New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) is a vibrant, client-centered agency whose mission is to serve New York’s small businesses, jobseekers and commercial districts. SBS makes it easier for companies in New York City to start, operate, and expand by providing direct assistance to business owners, supporting commercial districts, promoting financial and economic opportunity among minority- and women-owned businesses, preparing New Yorkers for jobs, and linking employers with a skilled and qualified workforce. SBS continues to reach for higher professional standards through innovative systems, new approaches to government, and a strong focus on its employees. SBS also works to make changes to the overall regulatory environment to help the small business community.

Division Description
The Division of Business Services (DBS) is dedicated to helping NYC businesses start, operate, and expand in New York City while leading systemic change to improve the regulatory environment for businesses. The Division is guided by principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Job Description:
NYC BEST (Business Express Service Team) as outlined in the Mayor's Blueprint for New York City's Economic Recovery, is a dedicated team serving as a single point of contact between City agencies and small businesses operating in the five boroughs. As part of the NYC BEST Initiative, Compliance Advisors work directly with new and existing businesses looking to open and operate in New York City. Compliance Advisors visit small businesses throughout the five boroughs and assess the business space in order to help owners understand how to comply with City, State, and Federal rules and regulations and avoid violations. Through these consultations and ongoing education and outreach activities, Compliance Advisors educate small businesses on compliance issues while providing a high level of customer service. The team also works to make changes to the overall regulatory environment to help the small business community.

The onsite consultations performed by Compliance Advisors do not include any compliance enforcement or issuing of violations. Rather, the Compliance Advisors help business owners understand City, State, and Federal regulations and recommend actions businesses should take to become compliant. To facilitate this work, Compliance Advisors will become experts in the regulatory requirements of multiple City or State agencies, as well as relevant Federal regulations as needed, including but not limited to: the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), Department of Buildings (DOB), Fire Department (FDNY), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Sanitation (DSNY) and the Department of Consumer & Worker Protection (DCWP).


Responsibilities include:

Conduct onsite walkthroughs with small businesses, providing one-on-one guidance that addresses a business’ specific questions and needs regarding compliance. Tasks include:

Describe the regulatory inspection process and what business owners should expect during an inspection, including when an inspection may occur, what inspectors look for, how violations are issued, and the range of fees associated with various violations.

Identify potential violations to City and State codes, zoning requirements, and permits at the business site.

Explain possible actions business owners could take to eliminate conditions contributing to noncompliance with City, State, and Federal laws, rules, and regulations.

Be prepared to outline the adjudication process for violations received, including general timeframes and the appropriate tribunal court for hearings.

Refer business owners to additional resources or information as needed to further promote and enable compliance.

Document key findings from the consultation and follow up as needed with business owners to provide additional clarification or compliance-related support.

Support promotional activities to raise awareness among business owners around the availability of Compliance Advisor and SBS services, including door-knocking, participating in speaking engagements or distributing promotional materials at community events.

Work collaboratively and professionally with other members within the Division and vendor partners to coordinate services and responses to business owner inquiries, and generally participate in the open exchange of information to support this team-based environment.

Establish and maintain positive relationships with business owners by providing the best possible customer service and setting clear expectations regarding City, State, and Federal requirements, including the typical timing for regulatory inspections and courses of action to avoid violations.

Consistently and accurately collect and maintain information on all services provided to business owners, including collecting data on common violations and utilizing the data for ongoing staff development and targeted efforts to help businesses reduce repeat violations.

Maintain accurate and specific status reports within various databases of establishments participating in these services, including inspection activity and issues encountered.

Other duties as assigned.

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.

Previous experience working as a City, State, or Federal inspector, examiner or enforcement agent is required (Candidates with previous experience related to compliance issues at DOHMH, DOB, FDNY, DEP, DSNY, DCWP or other NYC regulatory agencies are strongly preferred). Experience that demonstrates a proven record of providing assistance to individuals, clients and/or business owners. Ability to communicate complex, technical information – such as City codes, zoning requirements, and permitting procedures – in plain language that individuals without technical training can easily comprehend. Good observational skills, including the abilities to adequately describe observations in detail, deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risk, and accurately document findings or observations. Experience that demonstrates a strong working knowledge of City rules and regulations steps a business can take to resolve a violation and agency protocols for reassessing violations and strong customer service skills. An understanding of New York City’s operational agencies, including the ability to identify which agencies are relevant to a business’s concern via conversations with the business owner. Strong interpersonal skills: Ability to interact positively with business owners and colleagues, ask questions to understand the core issues facing the business, identify supplemental resources to connect the business to as needed, and build trust during the conversation and interactions with staff from all levels of the organization. Flexibility, multi-tasking capability, and proactive work ethic. Strong active listening skills as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of MS Office (i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Previous experience with Microsoft Dynamics a plus. Preferred fluent or working knowledge of Arabic, Bengali, French, Italian and Urdu. Willingness to travel and/or drive to businesses across the five boroughs. A Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the State of New York may be required for certain assignments. Ability to climb stairs and ladders and engage in extensive walking at facilities being inspected including those under construction and renovation while following all mandated safety procedures.

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/

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.