Capital Projects Property Liaison

Organization 

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) mission is to provide quality housing for New Yorkers that is sustainable, inclusive, and safe, while fostering opportunities for economic mobility.  NYCHA is the nation’s largest public housing authority, with an operating budget of $3.3 billion and approximately 10,600 employees who manage and maintain 326 developments that house over 400,000 residents. NYCHA also operates the country’s largest Section 8 program, which provides rental assistance to over 200,000 additional families.

NYCHA’s Asset & Capital Management (A&CM) Division integrates and aligns the Authority’s existing development, modernization, and asset management work being carried out by the Capital Programs, Recovery & Resilience and Comprehensive Modernization departments. This includes a $4.5 billion capital program, one of the largest in NY State. The A&CM Division delivers comprehensive repairs to NYCHA buildings and apartments through innovative financing models, strong partnership with residents and other stakeholders, strategic, data-driven portfolio planning, and cost-effective project delivery and management. The Division also positions NYCHA’s housing portfolio for the future by incorporating innovative building materials, construction methods, and technology, improving residents’ quality of life while enhancing building performance and management systems.  

Position Description 

Core Capital Projects Property Liaison responsibilities will include the following:

• Establish and enhance a working relationship as the primary point of contact for NYCHA resident leaderships on capital projects at assigned developments.
• Hold regular check-ins with Resident Leaders and other key tenant representatives to survey capital priorities, and inform them of planned and ongoing construction projects, and receive resident feedback.
• Require regular visits to construction sites and developments across multiple boroughs.
• Facilitate public meetings between NYCHA residents and relevant NYCHA staff (e.g., project managers, designers) at key project milestones to inform on planned work and allow for resident feedback.
• Stay abreast of ongoing work within their portfolio of properties, allowing for the Capital Projects Property Liaison to provide residents with a holistic view of projects within their development. Ensure timely follow-up to residents.
• Communicate critical project information (e.g., change in scope, change in timelines) to residents, facilitating through available communications channels (e.g., leading meetings, Resident Leader, Tenant Association, email distribution lists, public postings).
• Work with graphic design staff to develop visual resources detailing project plans and ongoing project work.
• Coordinate with NYCHA Resident Engagement department and/or Property Management staff to support distribution of flyers, robo-calls, phone banking, tabling, and other engagement activities on construction-related field activities and events (e.g., critical lifts, utility service interruptions, apartment surveys, etc.)
• Maintain accurate records of stakeholder touchpoints and signoffs per department policies (e.g., in e- Builder, and/or SharePoint).

Key Competencies 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Expertise and experience in community engagement, with a proven history of managing at times challenging relationships with key stakeholders. History of building community buy-in is highly desirable.
• Technical Translator: Ability to grasp technical concepts (e.g., construction, engineering, building science) and communicate them (verbally and written) to non-technical audiences.
• Skilled Communicator: Expert in both oral and written communication, with an ability to facilitate group discussion, guide development of print resources, and lead digital (e.g., email) communications. 

Preferred Skills & Experience 

1. Experience working with diverse communities, especially in public housing.
2. Ability to maintain composure under pressure.
3. Proficiency in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin or Cantonese Chinese.
4. Background and/or familiarity with NYC construction is preferred.
5. Ability to distill significant amounts of information and identify most important points.
6. Ability to prioritize and successfully carry out multiple assignments, meeting critical deadlines and timeframes and must be well-organized.
7. Ability to work independently to successfully handle new or difficult situations and environments.
8. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including public speaking.