Senior Policy Advisor (Program Manager) - VID 218926

Under the direction of the Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, the Senior Policy Advisor is a strategic thinker and trusted, collaborative team member who advances the agency’s highest-priority initiatives and long-term objectives. Working across divisions and functional areas, they will conduct policy analysis and assessments of OGS operations and develop proposals, decision documents, and briefs to support executive-level decision-making on some of the State’s most complex policy and operations problems. The Senior Policy Advisor will also facilitate, lead, and monitor progress on cross-divisional initiatives and assist in the implementation of the agency’s strategic plan.

The role is well-suited for someone who loves tackling complex, ambiguous problems; developing evidence-based options for action; rapid iteration on rigorous analytical products; and facilitating informed decision-making in a fast-moving environment. The ideal candidate is forward-leaning, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.

The Senior Policy Advisor must be able to quickly synthesize complex information, assess operational and policy challenges, and develop clear, actionable recommendations for executive leadership. They will serve as a bridge across teams, fostering collaboration among internal stakeholders and external partners while ensuring alignment with agency priorities and strategic goals. The role requires strong judgment, intellectual curiosity, exceptional writing skills, and the ability to work independently while effectively coordinating people, resources, timelines, and deliverables across a broad portfolio of initiatives. Most importantly, the Senior Policy Advisor must be an effective communicator and relationship-builder who can translate strategic vision into measurable action and support informed decision-making at the executive level. Duties include, but are not limited to:

Policy and Operations Analysis

• Perform in-depth, self-directed research and analysis on a range of complex issues including State agency business processes, and best practices and operating models related to OGS’s major workstreams.
• Develop State of the State proposals, working in conjunction with operational units.
• Conduct assessments of existing and proposed initiatives including review of key dependencies, stakeholder analysis, impacts, resource requirements, success measures, and constraints.
• Assist agency leaders in developing business cases and policy proposals related to cross-functional strategic initiatives.
• Develop briefs and presentations concisely summarizing key findings, options, and points of decision; present findings and make recommendations to agency executives.
• Lead and facilitate enterprise-wide initiatives and special projects.

Initiative Implementation and Tracking

• Lead meetings and discussions with agency leaders and other internal stakeholders on implementation of the agency’s strategic initiatives and high-priority special projects.
• Proactively coordinate with agency leaders and personnel to assess strategic initiative status and verify progress on deliverables and deadlines.
• Closely track the details and status of ongoing strategic initiatives agency-wide using standard project management tools and methods.
• Gather, interpret, and present performance data from disparate sources to measure initiative progress and highlight successes and challenges of implementation.
• Oversee consultant resources as necessary including managing consultant adherence to agreed upon timelines and conducting quality control checks of work product.
• Performing other duties as assigned

Operational Needs:

• Travel may be required (approximately 20%).
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver’s License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is preferred.

Note:

About the Office of Strategic Planning:

The Office of Strategic Planning with the Division of Strategic Planning develops and refines the Office of General Services’ strategic direction, manages the development and implementation of the agency’s strategic plan, and facilitates major initiatives across divisions to advance strategic priorities. The Office also assesses initiatives and operations to ensure that actions and decision-making are focused, aligned, and coordinated across the organization in support of OGS’s strategic goals

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree AND 5 years of relevant full-time work experience in public policy, project management, policy analysis, public sector management, research, data analysis, strategic planning, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree in public administration, public policy, management, political science, government, law, or a closely related field and:

• Strong research skills and ability to proactively gather and analyze information from disparate sources.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Exceptional writing skills and ability to summarize complex concepts quickly, clearly, and concisely for audiences at all levels.
• Strong presentation skills and experience producing professional-grade presentation materials using MS PowerPoint.
• Flexibility and comfort adapting to changing requirements and circumstances.
• Ability to work with substantial independence, take ownership of projects, and successfully manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Solution-oriented thinking, intellectual curiosity, and ability to seek out innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Eagerness to learn and understand new processes across a variety of different disciplines and sectors.
• Ability to work collaboratively and with professionalism with colleagues at all levels and with external stakeholders.
• Expertise in Microsoft Suite, including advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills, and use of remote presentation tools.
• Familiarity with State government operations or working in a state or local government environment a plus.