Senior Policy Advisor

Summary

The Mayor’s Office of Resiliency (MOR) strives to adapt New York City to the unprecedented challenges of climate change, creating a more resilient, equitable and vibrant city for the New Yorkers of today and generations to come. Through science-based analysis, policy and program development, and capacity building, MOR leads the City’s efforts to transform the city’s communities, buildings, infrastructure, and waterfront to build resilience in the face of multiple climate threats, including sea level rise, storm surge, extreme heat, and intense precipitation, in the near- and long-term.

MOR seeks a Senior Policy Advisor to develop and manage policies and programs that increase the resilience of New York City’s existing buildings, new construction, and communities. This role is fundamental to MOR’s mission to design and implement innovative solutions that prepare the city for climate change. As such, the role requires a commitment to addressing climate threats to public and private buildings; safeguarding health and wellness of all building occupants; cultivating champions in reforming policies that regulate building construction and operations to advance a climate resilience agenda; and advancing climate-resilient building technologies, construction methods, adaptation measures, and financing strategies relevant for the New York City context.

Responsibilities

The Senior Policy Advisor, Buildings Focus reports to the Deputy Director of Land Use & Buildings. Day-to-day
responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serving as the in-house authority on all buildings-related climate resilience issues, including leading working groups and designing initiatives that illuminate and prioritize issues informed by robust analysis;
• Researching and analyzing best practices in risk assessment, resource allocation, building technologies, policy alternatives, cost implications and financing solutions to prioritize opportunities to bolster the City’s resilient buildings agenda;
• Partnering with City and State agency colleagues in policy development and implementation, including, but not limited to, the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the Department of City Planning (DCP), the Economic Development Cooperation (EDC), the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the New York State Department of State (DOS);
• Collaborating with MOR colleagues to advance New York City’s Climate Resiliency Design Guidelines, including oversight of pilot projects conducted by city agencies and supporting the development of a resiliency scoring system for city building projects;
• Coordinating with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (MOS) Buildings Team to integrate parallel greenhouse gas reduction initiatives;
• Applying or acquiring knowledge of all locally applicable codes and standards, including NYC Building Code, NYC Zoning, NYC Housing Maintenance Code and New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. Ability to apply existing knowledge or build general knowledge of real estate finance structures for both public and private buildings;
• Building and managing relationships with external partners spanning private and non-profit sectors in service to the City’s climate resilience agenda for buildings, including industry leaders in design, real estate, finance, insurance, construction and trades;
• Originating and reviewing proposed local, State, and Federal legislation and policies;
• Participating in and leading interagency committees to update building and zoning codes and standards in service of climate adaptation targets, including analysis of effectiveness, impacts and costs; and
• Owning and managing project-related schedules, plans, presentations, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and status reports.

TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter, resume, and three (3) references to:

https://a002-oom03.nyc.gov/IRM/EventRegistration/RegForm.aspx?eventGuid=4645fdd8-310d-4db6-884b-e64d4d17fefd&jobid=32198&pos=Senior%20Policy%20Advisor,%20Buildings%20Focus