Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs / Agency Chief of Staff

About the Agency:

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation 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 External Affairs advances and promotes the agency's priorities in support of HPD's mission. It is comprised of two divisions: the Division of Government Affairs and the Division of Communications.

The Division of Government Affairs works with City, State, and federal elected officials, as well as agencies, policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders to assess, craft, and secure legislative changes needed to implement HPD’s goals of creating and preserving affordable housing and protecting the quality and safety of the City’s housing stock.

The Division of Communications crafts, shapes, and distributes content across various media platforms to promote the agency’s programs, efforts, and mission to the public.

Your Impact:

As Deputy Commissioner for External Affairs / Agency Chief of Staff, you will lead the agency’s external affairs and communications strategy, ensuring alignment with the priorities of the Commissioner, Deputy Mayor, and Mayor.

The Chief of Staff to the Commissioner acts as a key liaison between HPD and City Hall, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with external stakeholders while managing the flow of information between the Executive Office and agency leadership. This role is also critical to ensuring Mayoral housing priorities outlined in the Housing Our Neighbors Blueprint are tracked, coordinated across agencies, and effectively implemented.

Your Role:

You will oversee the Government Affairs and Communications divisions and provide strategic leadership for the agency’s engagement with elected officials, government partners, advocates, media, and the public.

The Deputy Commissioner will exercise direct supervisory authority over the Assistant Commissioners for Intergovernmental Affairs and Communications and oversee high-profile initiatives requiring coordination across city, state, and federal partners.

Your Responsibilities:

- Develop and execute external affairs and communications strategies to advance agency priorities.

- Oversee Government Affairs and Communications teams to ensure coordinated messaging and stakeholder engagement.

- Manage public relations, media strategy, and agency communications.

- Advance the agency’s legislative agenda and coordinate engagement with City, State, and federal policymakers.

- Prepare and represent the Commissioner at meetings, hearings, and public events as needed.

- Ensure agency readiness for legislative hearings and external inquiries.

- Strengthen coordination across agency leadership, internal teams, and City Hall.

- Foster a collaborative team culture grounded in equity, inclusion, and accountability.

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.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (HOUSING P - 95532

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of experience in one or more of the following areas: community organization, social work, urban development projects, real estate, public administration, or a related field, of which two years must have been in a field directly related to neighborhood improvement such as housing, community organization, urban renewal or planning, or real estate. A Law Degree or graduate work in an appropriate field may be substituted for up to two years of the general experience required; or

2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", including part-time and/or volunteer experience.

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.