APPLICANTS MUST BE PERMANENT IN THE ADMINISTATIVE STAFF ANALYST CIVIL SERVICE TITLE, BE PERMANENT IN A COMPARABLE TITLE ELIGIBLE FOR 6.1.9 TITLE CHANGE
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) primary goal is to ensure that children are financially supported by both parents. OCSS accomplishes this by locating non-custodial parent (NCP), establishing paternity and child support orders, and collecting and disbursing child support funds to those children. OCSS also services NCPs who are unable to provide financial support due to unemployment and/or being underemployed, by partnering with community-based organizations which offer educational, training, and job placement services for eligible parents. Enforcing and establishing child support orders, combined with employment and other support, assists impoverished families gain financial independence and become self-sufficient.
The Management Analysis, Quality & Data (MAQD) Division ensures compliance with agency policies and program mandates through data and statistical analysis, quality review and automation. MAQD monitors the performance and effectiveness of the NYC child support program and oversees major improvement initiatives. Program performance is closely monitored using federal performance indicators and standards. By maximizing program performance, the State and City can realize more federal incentive monies.
There are three (3) major areas within Management Analysis, Quality & Data: (1) Program Analysis & Quality Control, (2) Strategic Case Review, and (3) Systems Administration.
The size of the OCSS caseload and the effectiveness of its collections program are not merely reflections of the size of the city. Los Angeles County, California, has 20% more people than New York City and a similar overall demographic makeup but has three-quarters as many child support cases as OCSS and collects less per case. We firmly believe that the gap in performance is in part
1. Program Analysis & Quality Control is responsible for monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the New York City Child Support Program by generating operational statistics, conducting samples, data clean-up, case review, data analysis, and coordinating and overseeing major improvement initiatives to ensure compliance with agency policy and state and federal mandates. This Division is comprised of the following sub-divisions: Computer Match, Centralized Locate, and Data Analysis & Reporting.
2. Strategic Case Review analyzes and identifies critical cases and account inaccuracies and inconsistencies to determine their effect on program performance, Customer services and adherence to Child Support mandates and policies. For example, finding cases without employer records when employment information exists in other sources like the Federal Parent Locator System (FPLS), highlights a flaw with the state-wide system (ASSETS). Without employer records, clients receive less child support. Identifying anomalies such as this and reporting them to the State has led to system fixes and increased collections. Another example is finding cases where our outreach to employers has not been successful. The unit identifies, reports and follow-ups on the issue until the desired outcome is realized (e.g. payments from the employer are received). This type of intervention improves customer services and increases collections and performance. All issues are critically examined to better understand the root cause and identify preventive measures. The unit uses standardized methods for implementing cleanup projects and tracking and monitoring outcomes.
3.Systems Administration provides technical support to all OCSS staff and continues to enhance the technology infrastructure and computer applications that are in place to support the present and future IT requirements of all the units within NYC child support. This area is comprised of Systems Development & IT Support, Systems Operations & Support, and Systems Analysis & Design. The Systems Development & IT Support unit is responsible for designing, developing, configuring, testing, troubleshooting, maintaining, and enhancing 33 in-house child support applications, and over 240 production reports. The Systems Operations & Support unit provides internet access, installation, operation and maintenance of hardware and software on New York State and DSS infrastructure; performs all data security requirements and resolves all software and hardware problems. This unit maintains an inventory of approximately 800 computers, personal office devices and network devices all of which support OCSS's collection of child support, totaling more than $773 million in CY 2017. The Systems Analysis & Design unit conducts a series of business requirements sessions with end-users f r gathering, designing and documenting the requirements for software applications. This unit also supports management-reporting needs.
Under administrative direction of the OCSS Deputy Commissioner, with wide latitude for independent initiative, judgement and decision-making, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner is responsible for the overall administration and management of all areas within Management Analysis, Quality & Data (MAQD) and ensuring, through control measures and frequent status meetings, that each area follows policies and procedures set forth by the program. His/her administrative responsibilities include directing the activities of approximately 65 staff engaged in maintaining the integrity of the data in the child support management system, locating noncustodial parents, data reporting and analysis, and systems administration, including the design and development of computer applications as well as network infrastructure and hardware. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner is responsible for setting the program and management goals and monitoring on-going operations to ensure the goals are met. S/he acts as a senior leadership agent for effectuating the development and amendment of policies, multi-year plans and improvement strategies to ensure that the Division's goals are aligned with OCSS goals and the overall goals of the Agency. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner interprets agency and governmental policy and regulations, identifies training needs, and analyzes statistical data and work products to ensure quality control and compliance with current policies and procedures.
The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Management Analysis, Quality & Data (MAQD) Division is recruiting for one (1) ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST M-IV to function as an ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS, QUALITY & DATA, who will:
- Set the program and management goals and objectives of the Management, Analysis, Quality and Data (MAQD) Division. Directs the activities of approximately 65 staff engaged in maintaining the integrity of the data in the child support management system, locating noncustodial parents, data reporting and analysis, and systems administration. Ensure agency and division goals and objectives are communicated to staff.
- Act as a senior leadership agent for effectuating the development and amendment of policies, multi-year plans and improvement strategies to ensure that the Division's goals are aligned with OCSS goals and the overall goals of the Agency.
- Responsible for the execution of the primary functions of MAQD, including monitoring the performance and effectiveness of the NYC child support program and overseeing major improvement initiatives. Program performance is closely monitored using federal performance indicators and standards. By maximizing program performance, the State and City can realize more federal incentive monies. These specific functions include data collection and analysis for the NYC Child Support Program, the development of statistical reports, trend analysis, strategic planning, program management, planning and implementation support, and systems administration.
- Responsible for the ongoing strategic planning and support of projects that relate to changes in policy for the child support program. S/he regularly participates in policy discussions with OCSS senior leadership to identify predictive algorithms and outcomes that will drive decisions to change policy and procedures regarding priorities for intake operations, engagement, collection efforts and special projects. Responsible for identifying best practices for locating noncustodial parents. This is an ongoing challenge as many of them are transient and change address often or are unknown to the custodial parent and the likelihood of finding them is slim. Creates policy around criteria for address verification, including access to search tools and databases and procedures for proper validation. Without this critical function, paternity and child support orders cannot be established.
- Manage the execution of MAQD functions, including data collection and analysis for the NYC Child Support Program, the development of statistical reports, trend analysis, strategic planning, program management, planning and implementation support, and systems administration. Identifies best practices for locating noncustodial parents. Creates policy around criteria for address verification, including access to search tools and databases and procedures for proper validation. overseeing the maintenance of more than 33 OCSS applications and the development of more than 100 ad-hoc reports annually. Responsible for overseeing Systems Administration, including the design and development of computer applications as well as network infrastructure and hardware. Responsible for the maintenance of more than 33 OCSS applications and the development of more than 100 ad-hoc reports annually.
- Based on analysis of program data and existing procedures, identifies new data matches, partnerships and changes in policies and procedures to assist the program in (I) identifying anomalies in the system that could indicate systemic or operational problems requiring a change in policy and procedures and (2) prioritizing resources for vulnerable populations, including parents residing in homeless shelters and in zip codes with high risk of eviction, noncustodial parents whose child support orders are not aligned with their income, noncustodial parents receiving cash assistance who owe large amounts of child support debt, military personnel and parents with young children on HRA]OCSS caseload. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner makes recommendations to OCSS leadership for changes in policy around these issues based on the data and has a prominent decision-making role in ensuring that dedicated critical services, specialized initiatives and outreach efforts to encourage program engagement and compliance are focused in these areas.
- Use knowledge about new software releases for the Statewide Child Support System (ASSETS) to guarantee that changes are not adversely impacting or affecting agency operations. Responsible for overseeing the maintenance of more than 33 OCSS applications and the development of more than 100 ad-hoc reports annually. The child support rules, regulations and processes are more complex than most social service programs which make developing applications and reports that much more challenging. For example, there are over 16 ledgers to track financial obligations, thousands of data elements to record demographics and case actions and more than a dozen enforcement mechanisms with different criteria for each. This role requires that s/he exercise independent judgment and decision making.
- Interpret agency and governmental policy and regulations, identifies training needs, and analyzes statistical data and work products to ensure quality control and compliance with current policies and procedures. Make recommendations to OCSS leadership for changes in policy around critical issues based on data analysis and has a prominent decision-making role in ensuring that dedicated critical services, specialized initiatives and outreach efforts to encourage program engagement and compliance are focused in these areas. Participate in policy discussions with OCSS senior leadership to identify predictive algorithms and outcomes that will drive decisions to change policy and procedures regarding priorities for intake operations, engagement, collection efforts and special projects.
- Act as a liaison with other units, divisions and the State by obtaining or sharing information to facilitate cooperation, coordinate activities, and implement system changes. Serve as quality control lead for data integrity, data analysis and strategic case review initiatives and represents OCSS at federal, state and local policy conferences, workshops and meetings.
Hour/Shift: M-F, 9:00AM - 5:00PM
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ANALYST - 10026
1. A master's degree from an accredited college in economics, finance, accounting, business or public administration, public health, human resources management, management science, operations research, organizational behavior, industrial psychology, statistics, personnel administration, labor relations, psychology, sociology, human resources development, political science, urban studies or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: working with the budget of a large public or private concern in budget administration, accounting, economic or financial administration, or fiscal or economic research; or in management or methods analysis, operations research, organizational research or program evaluation; or in personnel or public administration, recruitment, position classification, personnel relations, labor relations, employee benefits, staff development, employment program planning/administration, labor market research, economic planning, social services program planning/evaluation, or fiscal management. Eighteen (18) months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory capacity. Supervision must have included supervising staff performing professional work in the areas described above.
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and four years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.
3. An associate degree or completion of 60 semester credits from an accredited college and six years of satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.
4. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and eight years of satisfactory full-time professional experience as described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.
5. A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, “3”, or “4” above. College education may be substituted for professional experience at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college for one year of experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma and at least two years of experience as described in “1” above, including the 18 months of executive, managerial, administrative, or supervisory experience, as described in “1” above.
- Knowledge of human services programs, and child support in particular - Strong analytical skills - Strong verbal and written communication skills - Ability to lead teams and accomplish goals - Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, demanding and complex work environment - Ability to carry out complex assignments and adapt to changing situations and priorities. - Ability to create and promote a cooperative work environment - Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of individuals in a diverse work environment - Proficiency in Microsoft Office products
This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
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.
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
