Executive Program Specialist

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) invests in a network of community-based organizations and programs to alleviate the effects of poverty and to provide opportunities for New Yorkers and communities to flourish. The Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF), established by Mayor Eric Adams in June 2022, seeks to stop the rise in violence by using a community development and public health approach to address upstream causes of gun violence by addressing long-term disinvestment in the programs and services are needed to keep our neighborhoods safe. From housing to jobs, mental health, policing, vibrant public spaces and opportunities for the youngest New Yorkers to thrive, our goal is to prevent gun violence now, and into the future.

The Task Force is a cross-sector multi-agency effort dedicated to reducing gun violence through an all-hands-on-deck effort focused on the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence across NYC. The GVPTF is seeking an Executive Program Specialist who, under supervision, with the latitude for the exercise of independent action and decision making to support advancing GVPTF priorities that impact public safety. The Executive Program Specialist will support internal and external stakeholder engagement directly related to the implementation of campaigns and initiatives aligned to the Blueprint for Community Safety across NYC.

The Executive Program Specialist will play a key role in facilitating, leading special projects and monitoring the progress of special initiatives. This role requires collaboration with program staff and external stakeholders to ensure effective initiative management, communication, and resource allocation. The Executive Program Specialist will report to the Senior Advisor and lead facilitator of the GVPTF. The Executive Program Specialist will independently support project planning implementation, collaboration and coordination around special initiatives and projects. He/she will also support community engagement activations across NYC and communicate with GVPTF internal and external stakeholders as needed in support of project goals. Duties include, but are not limited to:

- Program Planning and Analysis: – Support planning and implementation of special projects and
initiatives align with the GVPTF Priorities. Serve as a liaison and project support among DYCD
units, community partners and the GVPTF team. Collaborate with the Data Policy Advisor to
develop and manage analysis processes to track and evaluate results.

- Community Engagement: Collaborate internally and externally to conduct outreach to build a
awareness; cultivate the growth of community members into community leaders who will engage
constructively with DYCD related to local neighborhood initiatives. The Executive Program
Specialist will also assist in unit-wide, Division-wide, and Agencywide initiatives such as public
events like focus groups, community convenings, street fairs, community forums, “meet and greet”
events with CBOs, National Night Out Against Crime, etc. (this includes weekends and evenings).

- Program Monitoring – Plan and participate in site visits to inform program planning and monitor
program progress. The Executive Program Specialist will advise on best practices, support
problem solving with providers and highlight challenges to agency leadership when needed.

- Operational Support: Coordinate meetings as needed, support reporting, tracking, monitoring
and overall operations of the GVPTF.

- Analysis and Advice Conduct quantitative and qualitative data analysis, identifying trends and
producing research questions and analysis in support of project goals.

- Project Management Manage project responsibilities, review work products, report progress
and ensure efficient implementation of GVPTF priorities.

- Team Collaboration: Work directly with project team members to develop project engagement
agreements, governance structures, project plans, status reports and project close-out
documentation. Plan, oversee and carry out activities, track progress and achieve deliverables.

- Project Oversight: Manage the day-to-day operational aspects of a project, identify resources
needed and assign individual responsibilities, revise project documents as appropriate to meet
changing needs and requirements, create structures for project documentation and remain
conscientious in using it and ensuring that the project team understands and uses it.

- Communication: Generate various project-related documents including status reports,
presentations, meeting agendas and summary notes, facilitate regular team and stakeholder
meetings effectively, communicate relevant project information to stakeholders, prepare and
deliver informative, well-organized presentations tailored to various audiences (executive,
community, internal, etc.), resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely fashion, understand how
and when to communicate difficult/sensitive information appropriately.

EXECUTIVE PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 06854

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.