Executive Director of Facility Programs

The New York City Department of Correction (DOC) is an integral part of the City’s evolving criminal justice system, participating in reform initiatives and strategies aimed to move the City towards a smaller jail system without compromising public safety. The DOC is responsible for maintaining a safe and secure environment for our employees, visitors, volunteers, and people in our custody. Safe jails enable DOC to provide people in custody with the tools and opportunities they need to successfully re-enter their communities. The DOC operates facilities and court commands across the five boroughs with more than 7,500 diverse professionals and knowledgeable experts.

About the role

DOC seeks to recruit a Facility Programs Executive Director assigned to the Division of Programs and Community Partnerships. The selected candidate will be assigned to a specific facility to lead the Division’s robust services as well as supervise and support uniformed members assigned to Programs, Learning Labs and programmatic spaces at the commands. This position may include working at a facility on Rikers Island or an off-island facility. The Executive Director should expect they may split their time between multiple sites if operationally needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction and oversight of programs and services at one or more facilities to guarantee efficient operations, collaboration, qualitative and quantitative programming, and the integrity of data.
• Supervise and mentor direct reports such as Program Coordinators, Program Assistants, Reentry Coordinators, Reentry Planners, and officers from the Division assigned to the command, including indirect supervision of Associate Correctional Counselors I and II, Fine and Performing Arts, Recreation Supervisors and Directors, Legal Coordinators, and other members from Programs assigned to the facility.
• Supervise, mentor, guide, and support uniformed staff (Captains and Officers) assigned to Programs, Learning Labs, and programming areas to ensure adherence to and operation of mandated services and programming opportunities scheduled for and afforded within the command, as well as other city agencies and service providers, to achieve programmatic goals while actively seeking input and opportunities for further development of programmatic services.
• Conduct focus groups with persons in custody and uniformed staff members within the facility to elicit their input in the design, implementation, and operation of new initiatives or activities.
• Plan and implement initiatives to improve program effectiveness with facility and the Director of Volunteer/Service Providers Unit.
• Ensure compliance with data collection and reporting mechanisms by conducting research and analysis for trends and proposing solutions.
• Develop and maintain schedules for housing areas and other locations, capturing services.
• Monitor program activities by observing services and reporting operational issues.
• Promote strong teamwork and collaboration among Programs staff by leading meetings to share, elicit, set, and assess goals.
• Attend meetings and trainings as required to enhance soft and hard skills.
• Respond to time-sensitive requests during evenings and weekends by periodically checking the DOC mobile device supplied to them.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, and four years of full-time experience in corrections, social work, psychology, law, public administration, law enforcement, or a related field providing direct services to an inmate or detention population within a correctional or related facility, at least one (1) year of which must have been in a responsible supervisory, administrative, or consultative capacity; or

A high school diploma or evidence of having passed a high school equivalency examination and six (6) years of full-time experience as described above; or

Education and/or experience equivalent to the above. Service as an inmate in a correctional or related facility may be substituted for a portion of the required experience up to a maximum of two years on a year-for-year basis.

A graduate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in social work, psychology, law, criminal justice, or public administration, which includes a field placement performing duties as described above, may be substituted for up to one year of full-time experience as described above. However, all candidates must have at least two years of full-time experience, at least one year of which must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or consultative capacity.

Preferred Skills

• Supervisory experience in a group, community, educational, or institutional setting.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and experience working with justice-involved populations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of correctional staff.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment, prepare written reports and documents.
• Knowledge of human development and behavior, counseling techniques, behavior modification, and intervention techniques.
• Ability to mentor and provide positive interaction, guidance, and leadership to people in custody.
• Excellent writing, communication, interpersonal, analytical, research, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Bilingual ability is a plus.

Pay

$110,000.00 – $120,000.00

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.