Senior Policy Advisor

The Office of Food Policy is a Mayoral office that works to advance the City’s efforts to increase food security, promote access to and consumption of healthy foods, and support economic opportunity and environmental sustainability in the food system. The Office has a critical role to play integrating an equity frame into food policy priorities and solutions and ensuring an equitable and sustainable economic recovery in the food sector. To accomplish this mission, the Office acts as a thought leader, facilitator, and convener, playing a lead role in:

• Providing guidance to the Mayor, Deputy Mayors, and agencies within and beyond the Strategic

Initiatives portfolio regarding food policy positions and legislation

• Leading the incubation, development and driving successful delivery of cross-agency initiatives

that continue to place New York City on the cutting edge of food policy

• Advising and coordinating City agencies and Mayoral offices, across all portfolio areas, to ensure

a systems approach to food policy initiatives

• Ensuring the implementation of NYC’s 10 Year Food Policy Plan, Food Forward NYC

• Creating partnerships with advocates, nonprofit and community organizations, academic

institutions, and private industry to further carry out its mission.

The Mayor's Office of Food Policy is recruiting for one (1) City Research Scientist III, to function as Senior Policy Advisor.

The Senior Policy Advisor will work closely with senior leadership in the Office Food Policy to manage a portfolio of projects, initiatives, and/or policy proposals related to the Office’s strategic priorities, including but not limited to nutrition, food access, economic development, sustainability, and procurement. Though key projects may evolve, the Senior Policy Advisor will contribute to the implementation of the City’s commitment to Good Food Purchasing and improving the City’s food system, with an eye towards improving City food procurement and the availability of healthy food access across New York City.

The Senior Policy Advisor will work with the Office’s policy team to identify and manage relevant opportunities across City agencies including but not limited to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYC Health + Hospitals, Human Resources Administration, the Department of Education, NYC Economic Development Corporation, the Department of City Planning, the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE), and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Additionally, Senior Policy Advisor will keep abreast of city, state, and national food policy and market trends to determine their impact the various aspects of the City’s food system.

The Senior Policy Advisor will:

• Provide strong project management and interagency coordination with multiple City agencies and

external stakeholders (including non-profit organizations, community organizations, foundations,

advocacy organizations) to pursue initiatives, manage goals and timelines, review interagency work

products, and coordinate communications and engagement strategies, ensure the execution of key

initiatives and maintain positive and efficient relationships in team projects.

• Work with the MOFP leader to manage the development and implementation of innovative food,

nutrition, and business development policy initiatives across a broad range of areas, including helping

originate and define new city-wide policies.

• Ensure robust reporting, tracking, risk identification and management, and appropriate synthesis of

issues for the Office staff, City Hall and other key staff as required.

• Conduct research and data analysis as needed to inform policy briefs and recommendations.

• Generate policy briefings and project-related documents including, project work plans, meeting

agendas, minutes, governance charts, and roles and responsibilities documents.

• Develop briefing papers, presentations, reports, and similar materials that highlight findings from

food policy research projects as well as other aspects of MOFP’s work.

• Serve as a liaison between City agencies and the Office of Food Policy, to monitor projects goals and

timelines, review agency and interagency work product, and assist in handling day-to- day needs.

• Track legislative affairs relating to urban food policy including health and nutrition, food businesses

including urban agriculture businesses and workforce development, including working with multiple

agencies’ intergovernmental affairs staff to track city, state, and federal legislation affecting New York

City food policy; preparing testimony for City council hearings; prepare public statements and

coordinate with coalitions.

• Pro-actively anticipate and resolve roadblocks and challenges as appropriate and escalate issues

as needed.

• Oversee the work of Policy Advisor/Analyst(s) and intern(s) within the Food Policy office.

Minimum Qual Requirements

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.

To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:

1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or

2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or

3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:

Probationary Period

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of policies/strategies to strengthen urban food systems, address food insecurity, support

economic development, and/or improve public health.

• Proven record of initiating and managing complex, interdisciplinary projects involving multiple

constituencies.

• Experience mediating among groups with competing perspectives.

• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to rapidly problem solve and pay close

attention to detail.

Ability to work independently and within a fast-paced small team environment, as well as thrive in a

collaborative and supportive team environment.

• Strong interpersonal skills; effective and creative leadership ability with the capacity to work both

independently and cooperatively to effect key strategies.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

• Experience in city government and an understanding of New York City agencies a plus.

Additional Information

**LOAN FORGIVENESS

The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) to all qualifying public service employees. Working with the DSS/HRA/DHS qualifies you as a public service employee and you may be able to take advantage of this program while working full-time and meeting the program’s other requirements.

Please visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program site to view the eligibility requirements:

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

In addition, the Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services offers competitive salaries and the following benefits:

Generous Pension Plans (The New York Employees' Retirement System);

401(k) and 457 Roth's Retirement Savings Programs;

U.S. Savings Bonds Flexible Spending Program;

Health Benefits, Dental, Vision Coverage, Prescription Drug Program;

Training and Professional Development;

Opportunity for Scholarship; College Savings Program;

Paid Holidays and Generous Annual Leave;

To Apply

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Hours/Shift

Monday - Friday, 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.