Special Assistant

Description Duties Description The Special Assistant serves as the primary assistant and advisor to the Executive Deputy Commissioner. They oversee day-to-day operations, drive policy implementation, and manage budget allocations, human resources, and operational divisions across the agency.

Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Assist the Executive Deputy Commissioner (EDC) with day-to-day oversight of the agency.
• Liaison with entities such as the Executive Chamber and other State agencies to help advance the mission of OASAS.
• Work closely with the Director of Operations develop and implement an effective and efficient program to onboard staff as relates to space and equipment, including identifying and implementing improvement opportunities and addressing issues.
• Collaborate with the EDC on management of senior staff scheduling, staffing, and programmatic concerns.
• Coordinate information flow between Executive Team members and the EDC, including drafting briefings as appropriate.
• Coordinate between the EDC and Executive Team on strategic planning activities, including monitoring progress, identifying challenges and proposing solutions.
• Help to prepare the EDC for meetings, forums, site visits and other events, and attend as needed.
• Develop an annual strategic travel plan for the EDC.
• Collaborate with the operational divisions of the agency including Human Resources, Fiscal Administration, Strategic Information Management, Office Services and Emergency Management, and Communications.
• Assist EDC in management of emergencies and crisis situations.
• Work with the Communications Office to help prepare the EDC for events, meetings, and forums.
• Represent the EDC at meetings, conferences and other events.
• Oversee other special projects as needed.

Routine travel including some overnights is required (approximately 25%), occasionally to areas not served by public transportation.

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Twelve years of experience in government or health or human services administration. An associate’s degree may substitute for two years of experience; a bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience; a master’s degree may substitute for five years of experience; a J.D. may substitute for six years of experience; and a Ph.D. may substitute for seven years of experience. Three years of experience must have been at a managerial level.

Additional Comments Routine travel including some overnights is required (approximately 25%), occasionally to areas not served by public transportation.

Generous benefits package, which may include: medical, dental and vision coverage; NYS Employees Retirement System (pension); optional Deferred Compensation Program; tuition assistance; generous paid leave benefits; compensation for 13 State holidays per year; access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs; and Flex Spending Accounts.

Telecommuting may be discussed as part of the interview process.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program allows public service employees to have the remaining balance on direct loans forgiven after 120 qualifying payments are made under an accepted repayment plan while working full-time for an eligible employer. New York State is an eligible employer. More information is available at https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-loan-forgiveness.