The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES), situated within NYCHA’s Department of Resident Services, Partnerships and Initiatives (RSPI), is charged with working to develop and implement programs, policies and collaborations to measurably support residents increased economic opportunities with a focus on asset building, employment, advancement, adult education and training, and business development.

NYCHA has implemented a Zone Model approach, which leverages NYCHA’s and partner resources to expand economic opportunity for public housing residents through place-based service coordination. Through this new approach, REES enables NYCHA to (1) Generate more economic opportunities for NYCHA residents and NYCHA neighborhoods, while strategically investing and leveraging NYCHA’s spend; (2) Provide a more comprehensive economic empowerment platform with additional capacities around financial literacy, asset building and business development; (3) Reduce the duplication of services – better investing limited resources; (4) Enable NYCHA to be a better partner to community-based organizations, government agencies, philanthropies, community colleges, schools, employers and other key stakeholders; and (5) Drive more resources and investment into public housing neighborhoods.

REES is seeking a dynamic Assessment Specialist to join the Intake and Assessment team. The Intake and Assessment team engages NYCHA residents and NYCHA Section 8 voucher holders daily providing vital information and connections to economic opportunity resources via REES’s service coordination model and partner network. The team also plays a crucial role in administering the award-winning NYCHA Resident Training Academy (NRTA), REES Information Sessions and the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program. The Assessment Specialist will report to the Manager, Intake and Assessment.

Responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Work within a team of Assessment Specialist and Referral Associates as the resident facing unit for the REES department.
2. Facilitate virtual and in-person REES information sessions and conduct intake assessments of residents to make appropriate referrals to approved REES partners in the areas of adult
education, job training, financial counseling, business development and job placement assistance.
3. Maintain a thorough understanding of citywide, borough wide, zone specific and development specific economic opportunity programs to ensure the best possible referral.
4. Review customer intake forms for completion and data entry following every resident assessment. Use the NYCHA’s Siebel system to conduct required data entry. Adhere to NYCHA’s privacy protocols around personal identifiable information.
5. Travel off-site to various NYCHA developments throughout the city to conduct off-site sessions, as needed.
6. Participate in the application process for the NYCHA Resident Training Academy (NRTA) which includes proctoring and scoring resident Assessment or TABE testing in-person and virtual. Conduct one-on-one pre-screenings and setting up partner information sessions.
7. Work in partnership with other REES Intake and Assessment team members, the REES Adult Education & Training unit and NRTA third party providers to meet yearly program goals.
8. Meet with residents interested in enrolling in NYCHA’s Family Self Sufficiency program providing guidance around successful participant contract completion.
9. Conduct NYCHA resident pre-screening via phone or in-person and make referrals to employment opportunities when appropriate.
10. Respond to resident phone, email or in-person inquires in a timely manner.
11. Participate in unit-specific and REES-wide meetings.
12. Participate in occasional tabling duties when requested.
13. Perform other related duties as required.

Additional Information

1. NYCHA employees applying for transfer, promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
2. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

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.

1. Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills. 2. Commitment to excellent customer service and passion for serving NYCHA residents. 3. Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint and excellent data entry skills. 4. At least three years of past related professional experience, preferably in intake, pre-screening, assessment or case management for job training or job readiness programs. 5. Ability to work as part of a team. 6. Bilingual in English-Spanish preferred. 7. Workshop facilitation experience. 8. Willingness to work occasional events in the evenings and weekend tabling during the summer. 9. Experience with proctoring the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE).

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/.

NYCHA has no residency requirements.

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.