Senior Advisor, Mitchell-Lama Oversight & Policy

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 Asset and Property Management (APM) leads the agency’s efforts to protect the City’s investment in affordable housing and ensure that properties remain stable, financially sound, and affordable over the long term. APM actively monitors the performance and regulatory compliance of projects sponsored, supervised, and owned by the City, while also connecting individuals and families to affordable housing opportunities. APM is composed of three divisions: Asset Management, Property Management, and Housing Supervision.

Your Impact: The Senior Advisor Mitchell-Lama will serve as a key policy and oversight resource to the APM Executive Office. The position will help ensure that executive leadership has a clear and comprehensive understanding of significant issues affecting the Mitchell-Lama portfolio, including regulatory compliance, affordability risks, governance concerns, financial and physical conditions, stakeholder matters, and emerging legislative or policy developments.

Through independent analysis and strategic guidance, the Senior Advisor will help strengthen accountability, promote consistency in decision-making, identify systemic risks, and recommend policy solutions that protect residents and preserve Mitchell-Lama housing.

Your Role: The Senior Advisor will serve as the APM Executive Office’s principal advisor on Mitchell-Lama oversight and policy matters. The position will review and assess significant issues across the Mitchell-Lama portfolio, develop policy recommendations, monitor implementation of executive priorities, and provide guidance on matters that require cross-divisional coordination or executive intervention. The Senior Advisor will also serve as a liaison among APM leadership, Housing Supervision, Legal Affairs, Government Affairs, other City and State agencies, elected officials, Boards of Directors, managing agents, resident representatives, and affordable housing stakeholders.

Your Responsibilities:

• Provide executive-level advice and policy recommendations concerning Mitchell-Lama oversight, regulation, governance, and preservation.
• Conduct independent reviews of policies, procedures, practices, and significant cases affecting the Mitchell-Lama portfolio.
• Assess whether Mitchell-Lama oversight activities are consistent, effective, transparent, and aligned with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and agency priorities.
• Identify systemic compliance, governance, financial, physical, operational, and affordability risks requiring executive attention.
• Monitor major issues, trends, and emerging risks across the Mitchell-Lama portfolio and prepare recommendations for APM leadership.
• Review complex or sensitive matters involving Mitchell-Lama developments, Boards of Directors, managing agents, residents, waiting lists, admissions, succession rights, privatization, dissolution, refinancing, or affordability restrictions.
• Evaluate existing Mitchell-Lama policies and recommend revisions, clarifications, or new policy development where gaps or inconsistencies exist.
• Research and analyze proposed legislation, regulatory amendments, court decisions, and governmental actions affecting Mitchell-Lama housing.
• Develop legislative, regulatory, and administrative recommendations that strengthen oversight, preserve affordability, improve enforcement, and support resident protections.
• Coordinate with Housing Supervision and other APM divisions to review the implementation and effectiveness of Mitchell-Lama policies and executive directives.
• Monitor corrective action plans, audit findings, compliance reviews, and other matters requiring follow-up by the APM Executive Office.
• Establish methods for tracking significant Mitchell-Lama risks, policy decisions, executive commitments, and unresolved oversight matters.
• Prepare executive briefings, policy memoranda, issue papers, presentations, talking points, and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Support the development of performance measures, reporting tools, dashboards, and other mechanisms that improve executive visibility into the Mitchell-Lama portfolio.
• Review data and program information to identify trends, disparities, recurring concerns, and opportunities for policy or regulatory intervention.
• Facilitate cross-divisional discussions concerning complex Mitchell-Lama policy and oversight matters.
• Represent the APM Executive Office at internal and external meetings concerning Mitchell-Lama policy, legislation, regulation, preservation, and oversight.
• Engage with City and State agencies, elected officials, Boards of Directors, managing agents, resident organizations, advocates, and other stakeholders on significant Mitchell-Lama matters.
• Promote policies that support fairness, transparency, accountability, long-term affordability, and improved resident outcomes.
• Perform special reviews, policy assignments, and strategic projects at the direction of APM executive leadership. Preferred Qualifications:
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• A master’s degree in public policy, public administration, urban planning, housing, law, business administration, or a related field is preferred.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in affordable housing, government oversight, regulatory compliance, public policy, housing law, program evaluation, auditing, or a related field.
• Experience involving Mitchell-Lama housing or another regulated affordable housing portfolio is strongly preferred Preferred Skills:
• Extensive knowledge of Mitchell-Lama housing, affordable housing regulation, preservation policy, or publicly assisted housing programs.
• Strong understanding of City and State housing laws, rules, regulations, and administrative processes.
• Demonstrated experience conducting policy analysis, program oversight, regulatory review, investigations, audits, or performance assessments.
• Ability to independently evaluate complex matters and develop clear, practical, and defensible recommendations.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to identify systemic issues beyond individual cases.
• Experience interpreting legislation, regulations, regulatory agreements, agency policies, and legal or administrative guidance.
• Exceptional writing skills, including experience preparing policy memoranda, executive briefings, reports, findings, and recommendations.
• Strong judgment and discretion when handling confidential, sensitive, or high-profile matters.
• Ability to work across organizational boundaries and engage effectively with executive leadership, program staff, attorneys, elected officials, residents, and external stakeholders.
• Experience using data, performance measures, audits, and trend analysis to support policy and oversight decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple complex assignments and respond effectively to changing executive priorities.
• Commitment to affordable housing preservation, public accountability, equitable policy implementation, and resident protections.

•

Minimum Qualifications

• 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
• 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
• 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.

Residency Requirement

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. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.