ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER

APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES CIVIL SERVICE TITLE OR BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE OR BE REACHABLE WITH THE SCORE OF 100 ON THE OPEN COMPETITIVE ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES EXAM (# 1121)

The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the largest organization in the United States dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness. In partnership with other City agencies and nonprofit organizations, DHS works to prevent homelessness before it begins, reduce street homelessness, provide temporary shelter, and connect individuals and families to stable housing all with a focus on accountability, empathy, and equity.

DHS is committed to continuous improvement and employs innovative strategies to deliver high-quality services that support a swift transition from shelter to self-sufficiency. The agency manages hundreds of facilities and operates with a large team as well as a several billion-dollar budget to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

The Division of Shelter Operations oversees the day-to-day operations of the agency’s Single Adult, Adulty Families and Families with Children shelter systems, both directly run and contracted providers. The work done in this Division centers on the re-housing of all shelter populations and the implementation of programming/shelter initiatives. This Division is responsible for making sure that services to the City’s most vulnerable population are delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and throughout the five boroughs.

Under the executive direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Adult Services with extensive latitude for the exercise of independent action and decision making, administer and direct the operations of five (5) directly operated single adult shelters and the work of 40 social service agencies to provide daily shelter to approximately 15,000 single adults in 126 single adult facilities with an annual budget of $550 million; and approximately 2,500 adult families in 24 Adult Family facilities with an annual budget of $79 million.


The Department of Homeless Services is recruiting for an Administrative Director of Social Services M-V (M5) to function as an Associate Commissioner for Shelter Operations Division who will:

- Ensure that all homeless facilities are in compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the NYS Office of Temporary Disability and Assistance (OTDA), NYS Department of Health, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, NYC Fire Department, NYC Building Department, Client Responsibility procedures and agency rules and regulations.

- Govern all program and staff efforts to comply with the Callahan Consent decree; with court orders and regulations governing the right to shelter and shelter conditions; with NY City and State rules and regulations, such as those promulgated by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), NYS Office -of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services OASAS), NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Buildings Department, FDNY Fire Safety Codes.

- Execute policies and procedures to ensure that each homeless facility has comprehensive social service programs in place, including effective specialized case management initiatives with aggressive and creative strategies to assist all homeless single and adult families to move into permanent housing.

- Is accountable for effective utilization of system capacity, and the provision of client services therein, including delivery of social services and programs for clients who need to address the causes or contributing factors of their homelessness which may include mental illness, mental illness compounded by chemical abuse (MICA), substance abuse, criminal justice history, lack of employment and/or socialization skills.

-Ensure the efficacy of the shelter contracting process, including the budgeting, financial and legal aspects; coordinate with the Agency Chief Contracting Officer (ACCO), Legal, Budget/Finance, Internal Audit and Shelter Operations contract management staff.

- Lead, motivate and provide leadership and direction pertaining to recruitment and personnel allocation, staff development and training, disciplinary processes and Labor Relations issues, OSHA and PESH issues.

- Provides executive leadership to assigned management staff in an effort to improve the quality of life in the city for this vulnerable population and effectuate a program that will strive to meet their housing and other basic social needs.

- Represent the program and Agency with external governmental agencies, contracted service providers, oversight entities, and community and business leaders.


8am – 4pm Mon-Fri (24/7coverage)

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR OF SOC - 10056