Assistant Commissioner of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Equal Employment Opportunity

About the Agency:
The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) oversees housing standards across all 3.7 million homes in New York City.
As the nation’s largest municipal housing agency, HPD is responsible for building and preserving affordable housing, protecting tenants from harassment and displacement, and holding landlords accountable across the five boroughs. Under Commissioner Dina Levy and the Mamdani Administration, HPD is pursuing an ambitious housing agenda focused on the needs of New York’s tenants. With a broad set of tools including standards enforcement, tenant resources, and the creation of new affordable housing, HPD is committed to making New York City a more affordable place for renters and homeowners alike.
Your Team:
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion/Equal Employment Opportunity forwards the mission of HPD to construct and preserve affordable housing by ensuring that all internally- and externally facing policies, programs and procedures are created and executed with an intersectional equity lens that focuses on wellness both for employees and the public we serve. The Office also serves an important compliance role, ensuring that anti-discrimination laws are enforced. The Office is transitioning to focus even more on equity and inclusion, paying close attention to race, gender, and disability as intersectional lenses to help uncover barriers to accessing resources and opportunities.

The Office works both internally and externally to ensure that the agency is as responsive as possible to the diverse public we serve through building partnerships with neighborhoods, communities and organizations. The Office also acts as a one-stop resource with regard to equity and as a liaison for HPD to equity initiatives throughout the city. Finally, the Office is committed to educating HPD’s workforce about equity and inclusion strategies and equal employment opportunity policies, as well as state and local anti-discrimination laws, in order to better equip our staff to work together and with the public in an unbiased and professional manner.
Your Role:
Reporting directly to the Agency Commissioner and with the widest latitude for independent judgement and action, the Assistant Commissioner will direct, operate and oversee all aspects of HPD’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and compliance with all federal, state, and local policies, procedures and regulations around equal employment opportunity. The Assistant Commissioner of ODEI/EEO will:
- Lead investigations into allegations of discrimination and/or harassment involving any protected class as defined by the City's EEO Policy and all other regulatory bodies. Lead investigations into allegations of retaliation. Prepare memoranda, determinations and remedial recommendations for the Agency Commissioner's review and acknowledgment.
- Participate in the creation of policy pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and translate into working programs. As the Assistant Commissioner of ODEI/EEO, is responsible for reviewing all personnel policies, procedures and actions for compliance with federal, state and local laws. Prepares and revises Agency statements and postings.
- Confers with other executive officers on all issues pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion and EEO; and works with them to resolve internal conflicts in these areas. Acts as a resource and advisor to HPD senior staff and managers regarding employment-related matters and diversity, equity and inclusion issues regarding public access to HPD resources. Liaises with the Office of Legal Affairs in the defense of the Agency in external employment complaints.
- Reviews all Reasonable Accommodation request and makes appropriate recommendations. Coordinates the implementation with Agency managers and staff.
- Manages and supervises a team of four staff. Conducts Agencywide live trainings. Manages and/or prepares reports to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Represents the Agency at Citywide EEO meetings.
Required skills: The Department of Housing Preservation & Development and the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer.
This position requires demonstrable knowledge of federal, state and local employment and disability laws and an understanding of the landscape in New York City with regard to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Preferred skills:
- A passion for applying an intersectional equity lens to policies and procedures.
- An eagerness to work on a close-knit team.
- A keen sense of how to engage effectively in tough conversations.
- Great relationship-building skills and an ability to build bridges when there are silos.
- Ability to independently take on projects and join policy discussions with guidance as needed.
- Substantive knowledge of Federal, State and Local employment laws
- Working knowledge of disability rights issues
- Excellent communication skills, including proven ability to effectively analyze and interpret employment issues
- Proven ability to communicate, verbally and in writing, with all levels of a diverse workforce
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Experience working independently with minimal oversight
- Highest ability to exercise and maintain confidentiality
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (EQUAL - 95553

Minimum Qualification Requirements:
A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of full-time paid experience acquired in a position of leadership, a record success in EEO/AA and diversity areas including demonstrable familiarity with regulatory requirements, laws and guidelines; demonstrated ability to work as part of a high level team; investigatory experience; demonstrated commitment to building diversity, equity and inclusion; and an extensive experience with reasonable accommodations.
This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your cover letter or resume that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program.

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.