Senior Program Officer, Financial Counseling and Coaching Programs

Job Description **This position may be eligible for remote work for up to 2 days per week pursuant to the Flexible Work Pilot Program. * The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance.

DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Within DCWP, the Office of Financial Empowerment (OFE) focuses on initiatives that support New Yorkers and communities with low incomes in building wealth and improving their financial health. OFE is the first local government initiative in the country with the mission to educate, empower, and protect New Yorkers and neighborhoods with low incomes so they can build assets and make the most of their financial resources. OFE uses data and research, policy, partnerships, and convenings to advance its mission. Using this model, OFE is able to develop, offer, and advocate for innovative programs and products for all New Yorkers.

OFE is seeking a Senior Program Officer to join OFE’s Financial Counseling and Coaching team. The Senior Program Officer will primarily be responsible for developing, implementing, and leading programs that help New Yorkers and communities with low incomes access financial counseling and coaching to build savings, reduce debt, establish and improve credit, and access safe and affordable financial products and services to improve their financial health and economic mobility. Under general direction, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, this individual will bring a strategic, equity-minded, and collaborative approach to launch and grow initiatives that build the capacity of residents to positively influence their financial outcomes, including OFE’s flagship initiative - the Financial Empowerment Centers. The ideal candidate excels at building relationships, is deeply committed to financial inclusion, and can effectively and independently manage multiple projects and timelines.

Duties shall include, but are not limited to: Program Oversight & Performance

• Oversee day-to-day operations of OFE’s financial counseling and coaching programs as the program manager, with a focus on operational efficiency, achieving program growth, maximizing client outcomes, and reaching New Yorkers who need financial empowerment services the most;
• Monitor and evaluate provider and program performance using data and client outcomes, including contract compliance; identify and implement improvements to service quality and impact;
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for provider or client service issues, resolving them in partnership with leadership and stakeholders; Strategy & Partnerships
• Lead and develop new financial counseling and coaching initiatives from inception through launch, identifying scalable strategies that leverage technology and behavioral economics;
• Serve as OFE’s subject matter expert on financial counseling and coaching best practices, trends and financial products; lead efforts to expand access to financial products and services as tools for financial counseling, collaborate with stakeholders, and support resource development and financial inclusion initiatives;
• Build and maintain partnerships with City agencies, the nonprofits, and private industry; use partner feedback to improve programs, services, and policies to better support economic opportunity for New Yorkers;
• Work with the Assistant Director of Financial Counseling and Coaching to integrate financial empowerment services into other City agencies’ programs, in line with OFE’s strategic priorities; People & Team
• Supervise one Program Officer, providing oversight and guidance on project quality and deliverables, as well as professional development and growth opportunities;
• Foster collaboration across the OFE team and external partners to advance shared program goals; Research, Writing & Representation
• Work with OFE’s research team to track program performance and establish evaluation mechanisms;
• Stay current on relevant policy, research and changes in financial products and fintech that impact clients’ financial health; share findings and write briefs relevant to the field;
• Draft, proofread and edit a range of materials, including grant proposals, reports, policy memos, presentations, and press releases;
• Represent OFE at outreach events, as appropriate, and help to plan and execute meetings and convenings and;
• Support and contribute to broader team projects as needed.

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.

Preferred Skills

Preferred Skills

• A creative and strategic thinker, adept at program innovation, design, development, management, research, and evaluation.
• Effective project manager with a demonstrated ability to successfully guide and manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and to independently organize and drive projects to timely completion.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, with good decision-making skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication (written and oral), and presentation skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to work with a sense of urgency while still ensuring a high-quality work product.
• Excellent analytic, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills.
• Experience cultivating partnerships with local, regional, and national stakeholders, preferably in the fields of financial empowerment, financial inclusion, asset building, or community development.
• Experience in financial capability, asset building, financial services, or community development, and a passion for supporting people with low or moderate incomes to build greater self-sufficiency. Prior experience with financial counseling or coaching programs is a plus.
• Ability to use data to drive program planning and implementation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Fluency in one of the New York City’s priority languages (Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Italian, and Haitian Creole), a plus but not required.

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.