Division Chief of Neighborhood Safety

Job description

The Agency You’ll Join: The NYC Mayor's Office of Community Safety (OCS) was established by Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani through Executive Order No. 15 in March 2026. Under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Community Safety, OCS develops citywide community safety strategies and is comprised of the Office of Neighborhood Safety (ONS), Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV), Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC), and the Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH). OCS focuses on strengthening the social fabric that keeps communities safe, streamlining and expanding evidence-based and common-sense safety interventions, and strengthening wraparound services so no New Yorker is left behind. The creation of this office is the first step toward fulfilling Mayor Mamdani’s pledge to create a Department of Community Safety, a city agency that advances a whole-of-government approach to building safer communities for all New Yorkers. The Team You’ll Work With: The Office of Community Safety works with communities across New York City to build safer neighborhoods and expand opportunities for New Yorkers. The Office helps prevent violence before it happens, respond when people are harmed, and provide the care and support individuals, families, and communities need to heal and move forward. By focusing resources on the places and people most affected by violence, we strengthen the community supports that make long-term safety possible. This includes violence prevention and intervention, outreach, youth services, mental health care, services for victims and survivors, and other community-based efforts that promote safety, stability, and well-being. The Problems You’ll Solve: The Division Chief of Neighborhood Safety serves as a member of the Office of Community Safety's Senior Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership for the City's neighborhood safety and community violence prevention portfolio. Reporting directly to the Commissioner, the Division Chief leads the City's efforts to reduce community violence while strengthening neighborhood safety, resident engagement, and well-being in communities disproportionately impacted by violence and longstanding inequities. This Division Chief will oversee the Office of Neighborhood Safety and its programs and initiatives including the Crisis Management System (CMS), Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety (MAP), ATLAS, hospital-based violence intervention, and other community-based violence prevention efforts. The Division Chief works closely with community organizations, City agencies, elected officials, and local stakeholders to advance evidence-informed, community-centered approaches to safety, strengthen program effectiveness, and improve outcomes for New Yorkers. Community Violence Prevention Strategy - Set the strategic direction for the Office's neighborhood safety and violence prevention portfolio. - Advance a community violence prevention strategy grounded in best and promising practices across CVI, hospital-based violence intervention, youth development, and other evidence-informed approaches. - Develop and implement citywide strategies to reduce community violence while strengthening neighborhood safety and community well-being. - Advise the Commissioner and Deputy Mayor on violence prevention policy, strategy, and emerging issues. - Promote equitable investment in communities disproportionately impacted by violence through data-informed and community-informed approaches. - Identify opportunities to strengthen and expand violence prevention initiatives based on emerging needs, data, and evidence. Program Oversight, Fiscal Management, and Implementation - Oversee the strategic direction, implementation, and performance of the Office's neighborhood safety and violence prevention portfolio, including CMS, MAP, ATLAS, hospital-based violence intervention, and related initiatives. - Manage the division's budget, staffing, contracts, and other resources to ensure effective implementation and responsible stewardship of public funds. - Partner with the Division Chief of Operations, OMB, City Hall, and other agency partners on budget, procurement, contracting, and operational matters affecting the division. - Oversee contracted providers and funded partners, ensuring accountability, program quality, and alignment with Office priorities. - Monitor program performance and outcomes and drive continuous improvement through data, research, and evidence-informed practices. Community Partnerships and Interagency Coordination - Build and maintain strong relationships with community-based organizations, residents, violence prevention practitioners, elected officials, and other stakeholders. - Coordinate with City agencies, health systems, schools, housing partners, and other organizations to strengthen comprehensive violence prevention and neighborhood safety strategies. - Represent the Office in interagency initiatives, public forums, and community meetings. - Advance collaboration across government and community partners to strengthen violence prevention, resident engagement, and neighborhood safety. Team Leadership and Management - Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team responsible for community violence prevention programs, partnerships, and strategic initiatives. - Establish goals, priorities, and performance expectations and ensure accountability for results. - Foster a collaborative and mission-driven team culture while supporting staff development and leadership growth. - Build and sustain a high-performing team by supporting effective recruitment, retention, and professional development. Additional Responsibilities - Work closely with other members of the Senior Leadership Team to advance agency priorities and strategic initiatives. - Perform other duties as assigned. About You: - You have demonstrated experience leading community violence prevention initiatives. - You have a strong understanding of community violence intervention strategies, public health approaches to violence prevention, neighborhood safety, and place-based community development. - You have experience managing complex programs, partnerships, and initiatives involving multiple stakeholders. - You have proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams. - You have strong relationship-building skills and experience working with community-based organizations, residents, and local stakeholders. - You have excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. - You have strong written and verbal communication skills. - You have a commitment to advancing equitable, community-centered approaches to safety and violence prevention. Minimum Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. - A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in community violence prevention, victim services, public health, public safety, social services, or a related field, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or management experience. Additional Information - In addition to the resume, a cover letter is required to apply. RESEARCH PROJECTS COOR(MA)-MGR - 0527A 1. Do you have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university? 2. Do you have an associate degree from an accredited college or university along with two (2) years of experience with administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities? 3. Do you have a four-year high school diploma, or its educational equivalent approved by a state's Department of Education or a recognized accrediting organization along with four (4) years of experience as described in question "2" above? 4. Do you have a satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to that described in questions "1," "2," and/or "3" above? 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.