Assistant Commissioner of Accessibility & Equity

Job Description

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Agency Mission: The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) mission is to provide for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and to maintain and enhance the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of our primary customers, City residents. DOT is an equal opportunity employer, committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce in an open and inclusive environment.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Assistant Commissioner for Accessibility & Equity will serve as DOT’s lead in promoting accessibility and equity as core priorities of the agency’s work throughout New York City. This role will coordinate and collaborate across all of DOT’s divisions to ensure inclusive and equitable practices are embedded within the agency’s policy, planning, design, operations, maintenance, and public engagement activities. The candidate will also advise the Chief Strategy Officer on any relevant intergovernmental, community, and legislative initiatives related to accessibility and equity, and collaborate with Borough Commissioners and other Senior Executive Staff regarding community outreach, interagency coordination, and political strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities: The candidate will be responsible for leading policy, program, or organizational initiatives, with an understanding of accessibility principles, ADA requirements, and inclusive practices. In this role, the candidate must demonstrate their ability to develop strategic plans, implementation roadmaps, KPIs, dashboards, annual reports, and performance management systems to ensure a legacy of success. They must have the ability to translate broad goals into measurable outcomes and advance organizational priorities. Extensive experience designing and leading meaningful public engagement efforts, particularly with historically underserved communities, people with disabilities, older adults, LEP communities, advocacy organizations, and community-based organizations is essential, as is experience facilitating difficult conversations and building consensus.

Leadership Qualities: Strong communication skills with experience engaging the public. The candidate must be comfortable handling media interviews, public meetings, presentations, testimony, and crisis communications. The candidate must be collaborative and politically astute, solution-oriented, and able to navigate competing priorities. The candidate must be an exceptional builder with credibility among a diverse set of community stakeholders and an inclusive leader who empowers staff and fosters innovation.

ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITY RELAT - 10022

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, accredited by regional, national, professional or specialized agencies recognized as accrediting bodies by the U. S. Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and four years of satisfactory, full-time community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, developing, evaluating and/or administering a large community service program or activity; or
2. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and eight years of satisfactory, full-time experience as described in "1" above, at least two years of which must have been in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above; or
3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education beyond the baccalaureate degree may be substituted for the community liaison, community organization or community relations experience, but not for the two years of broad administrative or policy-making experience described in "1" above, on the basis of 30 graduate credits from an accredited college or university (as described above) for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 2 years. However, all candidates must possess a four-year high school diploma or its educational
equivalent approved by a State’s Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization and two years of full-time experience in a broad administrative or policy-making capacity with responsibilities as described in "1" above.

Additional Information

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.