Director of External Affairs Position Available In Bronx, New York

Director of External Affairs Housing Solutions of New York – 3.0 Bronx, NY Job Details Full-time From $150,000 a year 16 hours ago Benefits Health insurance Dental insurance Flexible spending account Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Employee assistance program Vision insurance Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Spanish 5 years Humanities Research Microsoft Office Master’s degree Public Administration Analysis skills Bachelor’s degree Organizational skills IT Senior level Business Full Job Description

PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE

The Director of External Affairs assists the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in managing HSNY’s day-to-day affairs and coordinating across departments and serves as a key partner in managing the agency’s, creation and implementation of strategy, and engagement with strategic partners in the government, corporate, foundation, and community. As a member of HSNY’s leadership team, the role helps guide the organization’s strategy planning and policy deliberations. The role also directs corporate governance-related matters and improvements and works across departments to ensure HSNY timely addresses and fully responds to any corrective action plans from a funder and any internal or external investigation. The Director of External Affairs is a senior leader responsible for advancing Housing Solutions of New York’s strategic visibility, public policy agenda, and community presence. This role bridges government affairs, communications, and stakeholder engagement—ensuring that HSNY’s voice is heard at every table where housing, homelessness, and equity are being discussed. The ideal candidate brings policy fluency, sharp communication instincts, and political savvy, with a proven ability to craft narratives, shape public dialogue, and build power through partnerships.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

o Develop a thorough understanding of HSNY and its mission, operations, structure, and culture to ensure the highest level of support and counsel to the CEO, the Board, and the leadership team. o Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, helping to prioritize and drive forward key initiatives o Coordinate cross-departmental efforts aligned with organizational goals and deadlines o Develop and manage relationships with external stakeholders, including elected officials, city agencies, coalitions, and partner organizations o Represent the organization at public meetings, forums, and events o Collaborate with the Development and Communications teams to craft strategic messaging and ensure alignment across external platforms o Draft external communications such as press statements, op-eds, speeches, and policy briefs Serve as a liaison among HSNY, funders, and any other or internal or external parties. o Serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Executive Team on political, public, and reputational strategy o Build and steward relationships with elected officials, government agencies, and public-sector stakeholders at the city, state, and federal level o Track and analyze relevant legislation, policy trends, and budget proposals affecting housing, homelessness, and social services o Draft and prepare testimony, white papers, advocacy one-pagers, and letters of support o Coordinate HSNY’s response to key legislation or agency regulations, ensuring alignment with mission and services o Organize town halls, policy briefings, and government site visits to raise awareness of program impact o Lead the creation and execution of an external affairs plan aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities o Represent HSNY at leadership-level roundtables, funder briefings, and cross-sector coalitions o Monitor and assess political risk and public sentiment to inform strategic decision-making o Serve as a brand steward and public-facing representative of the organization in media, speaking engagements, and press events o Collaborate with the team on development of press releases, newsletters, digital campaigns, and social media content o Build relationships with journalists and news outlets to shape public narratives on housing and homelessness o Manage external messaging during high-risk or crisis moments with accuracy, transparency, and discretion o Track communications KPIs such as media hits, engagement metrics, and message reach o Cultivate strong relationships with peer organizations, coalitions, community leaders, and advocacy partners o Represent HSNY in external working groups and task forces o Foster collaborative opportunities with mission-aligned partners to expand impact and visibility o Ensure community voice and lived experience are reflected in policy recommendations and public messaging o Support event planning for annual galas, advocacy days, and campaign launches in coordination with Development o Review and appraise corporate sponsorship opportunities that serve the needs and interests of HSNY’s clients. o Lead, drive, foster, and maintain communications with local, regional, statewide, national, government officials, corporations, foundations, and various other organizations, and work with the Marketing and Communications internal and/or external teams to drive communications with media and related stakeholders. o Provide oversight of media relations, advertising, branding, and internal agency-wide communications. o Support the Development team with strategic messaging for fundraising campaigns, donor materials, and annual reports o Participate in meetings and events with institutional funders, public partners, and major donors as a representative of HSNY’s external vision o Identify funding opportunities related to advocacy, policy initiatives, or communications infrastructure. o Help ensure that external affairs data and success stories are integrated into grant reports and stewardship efforts

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

o Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred in Public Administration, Communications Public Policy, Urban Planning, or related field o Five or more years of relevant work experience, such as effectiveness in building and maintaining complex relationships, working with a diverse group of senior management professionals, and relationship cultivation among government officials, community leaders, and other constituencies. o Demonstrated experience engaging with public officials, coalitions, and media outlets o Strong analytical and organizational skills and the ability to anticipate, strategize, plan, and problem solve. o Self-directed with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. Ability to work under pressure with proficiency, diplomacy, and professionalism. o Strong interpersonal skills, exceptional written and oral communications skills, and the ability to respond sensitively and patiently to staff and community inquiries and concerns. o A high level of cross-cultural competency, including a thorough understanding of multicultural audiences and how to operate effectively amid a broad array of funders, community representatives, business leaders, etc. o Ability to work in a complex, fast-moving environment requiring significant collaboration and a willingness to take a proactive role in team efforts, and encouraging open communication across internal and external partnerships. o Ability to exercise sound judgment and complete discretion when working with confidential and sensitive information. o Exceptional IT skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, e-collaboration tools, internet research skills, etc. o Strong commitment to professional development as demonstrated through involvement in professional associations, training programs, and workshops. o An advanced degree in business or nonprofit administration, humanities, law, political science, or related field of study is desirable. o Ability to speak and write fluently in Spanish or other foreign language is desirable.

AGENCY EXPECTATIONS OF ALL EMPLOYEES

Adheres to HSNY’s Policies and Procedures. Acts as a role model within and outside the agency. Performs duties as workload necessitates.

Attendance and Dependability:

the employee can be depended on to report to work at the scheduled time and is seldom absent from work. Employee can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.

Communication and Contact:

the employee communicates both verbally and in writing with superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside HSNY.

Relationships with others:

the employee works and communicates effectively and relates well with others including superiors, colleagues, and individuals inside and outside HSNY. The employee exhibits a professional manner in dealing with others and works to maintain constructive working relationships. Employee adheres to mission statement and guiding principles.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Tuition reimbursement Vision insurance

Schedule:

Monday to

Friday Work Location:

In person