Policy Writer

Job DescriptionTHE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $60,889 - $70,022.The Administration for Childrens Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services and provides subsidized childcare vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement, and programs for youth in the community.The Division of Policy, Planning and Measurement (PPM) collaborates with every ACS division to guide systems analysis and strategic systems improvement; assure quality of practice at ACS and its provider agencies; professionalize the frontline workforce; bring knowledge into practice; provide research and analytic support; and plan and develop new programs and policies.The Policy Unit is responsible for drafting and revising all 500 of the agency's policies and operations orders that guide the safe and secure operations, and the unit collaborates with DYFJ to ensure a streamlined process. The Policy unit is also responsible for agency memos, medical consents, tool kits, manuals, documents, and desk guides along with agency policies mentioned above. The policies and operations orders are required by the Division's state, federal and city oversight authorities including but not limited to the federal PREAAct, NYS OCFS, and NYC DOI. The Policy Unit disseminates all state directives to the responsible divisions of ACS. The Policy Unit works with every Division leadership to set priorities and establishes workgroups of content-area experts to draft and/or revise policies and ops orders. The Policy Unit reviews all applicable legislation, best practices, etc. The Unit collaborates with the Office of General Counsel, responsible for reviewing all 500 agency policies and operations orders, as well as the DYFJ and Commissioner's office to ensure that policies and ops orders reflect the Agency's mission and are put into effect in a timely manner.The Policy Writer is responsible for the development of and operations orders of 13 out of 14 ACS divisions including but not limited to the following: reviewing applicable legislation, identifying best practices, drafting initial policy for review, identifying content area experts and creating workgroup, completing draft with workgroup, submitting to OGC & other divisions as needed (i.e. ELU, OEEO, OLR) resolving all comments, submitting to Associate Commissioners and Deputy Commissioner, assigning policy/ops order numbers, submitting to OCFS, public comment and CIR office for final approval process.Some of the administrative work will include maintaining the tracking spreadsheets and archives for both the detention and close to home policies, ensuring that the development of policies and op orders follow the identified process, responding to internal and external inquiries and requests for policies. Provide updates to the Executive Director and Assistant Commissioner as needed.The Policy Writer's additional duties and responsibilities will include the following:- Develop policies and procedures that are necessary to implement critical initiatives, such as various agency reform initiatives within the Division of Child Protection.- Respond to new regulations, State-issued directives, and other external mandates that require ACS to establish or modify its policies and procedures.- Respond to requests from ACS Divisions and Offices to draft new policies and procedures or to revise existing policies and procedures.- Draft and edit policies, procedures, memoranda, and other written materials related to child welfare and juvenile justice, including but not limited to Quality Assurance Standards and Casework Practice Field Guides.- Schedule individual meetings, as well as policy workgroup meetings, with the relevant ACS Divisions and Offices to discuss policies and procedures that need to be created or revised.- Conduct follow-up, via telephone, email and/or additional meetings to assist in moving policies and procedures forward through the development process.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONSection 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.TO APPLY Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID # 657398.No phone calls, faxes or personal inquiries permitted.Note: Only candidates under consideration will be contacted.Qualifications1. 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; or2. 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; or3. 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 InformationThe 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.