Policy Analyst, Fair Housing Policy & Investments

Company Description

Job Description

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 Policy and Strategy (OPS) leverage its expertise to guide and support HPD and its many Offices in their efforts to deepen their impact, optimize their efficiency, and become more data-driven, climate-adaptive, and mission-focused. OPS collaborates with staff and senior leadership from across the Agency, as well as with representatives from other Agencies. OPS carries out its work through delivery of rigorous data, policy, and financial/credit analysis; technical and statistical research; and techniques in program visioning and design. OPS is comprised of six areas: Credit & Valuation, Housing Equity, Housing Policy, Research & Evaluation, Strategic Operations and Analytics, and Sustainability.

The Division of Housing Equity (DHE) oversees the agency’s fair housing initiatives and obligations. Through its development of the City’s comprehensive five-year fair housing plan and regular related reports, the Division applies a lens of access and fairness to the City's public investments. DHE is responsible for digital equity, disability, sustainability, and fair housing policies.

The Fair Housing Policy & Investments (FHPI) team works at the forefront of some of the most challenging housing and affordable housing policy issues to face New York City. Alongside other members of the Division of Housing Equity and colleagues across the agency, the team will focus on confronting discrimination, segregation, and disparities in access to opportunity and on promoting programs and policies that affirmatively further fair housing. Recent FHPI projects include Where We Live 2025, the City’s comprehensive fair housing plan; the inaugural Fair Housing Growth Strategy; a citywide testing program to root out housing discrimination; and coordinating a response to federal changes to fair housing law.

Your Role:

Your role will be to support the FHPI team in carrying out HPD’s and the NYC’s fair housing policy obligations via administrative and research tasks under the direction of the Director of FHPI.

On a daily basis, you will serve as a central coordinator and researcher, contributing to the translation of high-level policy into municipal action. Your day-to-day will range from deep-dive policy research and data compilation to inter- and cross-agency communication and vendor management. You will manage compliance timelines, track vendor and city-wide progress for FHPI initiatives, and create and compile comprehensive reports.

You will have the opportunity to work with team members at all levels, as well as engage with the agency's senior leadership. You will work very closely with the Director of FHPI on a daily basis in a rigorous, growth-oriented, and supportive environment.

Your Responsibilities:

As the Fair Housing Policy Analyst for the Division of Housing Equity, you will:
- Work with teams across the agency and agencies across the city to implement the City’s fair housing commitments as laid out in Where We Live NYC, as well as additional initiatives and policies to affirmatively further fair housing;
- Undertake policy analysis to advance new and existing projects, using data rigorously to shape compelling narratives;
- Report on the City’s progress in implementing the Where We Live NYC commitments;
- Facilitate communication with HPD source of income (SOI) testing vendors to collect testing materials; reply to inquiries and concerns pertaining to reporting requirements and contractual obligations;
- Conduct research and provide guidance on program and policy design to ensure current and proposed policies and programs affirmatively further fair housing; and
- Collaborate closely with the other OPS and agency teams and actively support learning and development across teams.

Preferred skills

The ideal candidate will have:
- Professional writing, editing, and reporting experience (outside of school or an academic program);
- Fair housing experience (FHIP, FHAP, etc.) with a focus in enforcement, fair housing counseling (including reviewing/ assisting with complaints), and/or housing law expertise;
- Policy research and analysis: at least 2-3 years of professional experience researching, reviewing, analyzing, and citing peer-reviewed articles, government publications, and scholarly references to develop fair housing strategies and policy recommendations for HPD and NYC government agency publications;
- Understanding of and interest in housing policy and fair housing law;
- Creativity, self-awareness, emotional intelligence and grit;
- Self-starter and takes initiative with strong follow-through;
- Strong written and verbal communication skills;
- Strong attention to detail, project management and organization skills;
- Responsiveness and adaptability to meet changing or tight deadlines;
- Passion for public service;
- Familiarity with New York City housing issues and interest in learning more; and
- Commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through policy and in the office.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

Qualifications

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience 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.