Chief of Staff - VID 181053

Description

Duties Description

The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is responsible for the regulation, licensure, and public health and safety of all cannabis and hemp operations in the state, as well as programmatic cannabusiness development. OCM leads the nation in its practice of centering equity, diversity, and inclusion in the opportunity of cannabusiness.

Reporting directly to the OCM Executive Director and working closely with the members of the OCM Executive Office and Leadership Team, the OCM Chief of Staff is responsible for coordinating the Executive Office’s day-to-day obligations, managing external stakeholders, and ensuring consistent communication and collaboration across various OCM teams. The Chief of Staff is the senior advisor to the OCM Executive Office (Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director) and will work closely with the Executive Office to evaluate and develop strategic processes and plans for the agency.

OCM is responsible for imbuing its practices and policies with an equity-centric philosophy that meaningfully engages OCM staff, leverages collaboration opportunities, and serves New York’s cannabis industry. The Chief of Staff is both a public facing role and one that is critical for the ordered development of a complex and fast-moving regulatory agency.

Duties Include But Are Not Limited To

• Work with the Executive Office and OCM Leadership to prepare for internal and external meetings, interviews, speaking engagements, site visits, presentations, and events.
• Liaise with local and state legislators and cannabis stakeholders. Address and follow up on legislative agendas and local issues. Ensure that OCM’s relationship with elected officials and stakeholders are well developed, communicative, and mutually productive.
• Represent OCM at meetings, engagements, and events.
• Support OCM Public Affairs in planning and executing internal and events, communications, and meetings, in coordination with other OCM teams.
• Provide logistical support to Executive Office meetings, activities and events, and ensure timely follow up on action items.
• Serve as a liaison with the Governor’s Office and national/state/local city agencies and organizations.
• Draft public remarks, memos, background documents, presentation materials, reports, and other documents that distill complex issues.
• Organize and lead special projects as assigned by the Executive Director and/or Executive Deputy Director.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and OCM senior leadership to develop and execute short- and long-term strategic plans aligned with OCM’s mission and goals.
• Monitor and report on the progress of strategic initiatives, identifying potential challenges and proposing solutions.
  
  

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and eight years of relevant experience, including two years in an administrative, managerial, supervisory, or executive capacity.

• Substitutions:
  
  

A J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of the non-supervisory specialized experience; A Ph.D. may substitute for two years of the non-supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with relationship building between elected officials and state or local agencies.
• Exceptional writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong policy analysis and implementation management skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office suites (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and other presentation/graphic design platforms.
• Ability to foster and model collegial relationships.
• Experience making equity, inclusion, and accessibility informed decisions that impact organizational practices.
• Experience working in a diverse, multigenerational, and dynamic environment
• Experience managing and directing projects, in a mission-oriented organization.
• Experience setting timelines, sticking to deadlines, and demonstrated ability to meet project milestones.
• Analytical mindset with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Ability to succinctly distill complex issues into easy-to-communicate decision points.
• Willingness to make difficult decisions and propose actionable solutions.
  
  

Note

Additional Comments

• Travel may be required (approximately 40%), including during evening and weekends, depending on mission and assignment.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid Driver’s License issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicle is required, or otherwise demonstrate the capacity to meet the transportation needs of the job.
  
  

The Office of General Services provides human resources support for the Office of Cannabis Management. To apply for this vacancy, candidates must email a detailed resume providing specific, verifiable information about their qualifying experience to HRresumes@ogs.ny.gov and they must reference the above posting number. This must be received in the OGS Division of Human Resources Management by the closing date, or your response will not be considered.

The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is an equal opportunity employer, and we recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We encourage applicants for all communities to apply. For a full version of OCM’s EEO/AA statement and benefits of joining OCM, please visit: About | Office of Cannabis Management (ny.gov).

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

Downstate: Location Pay of $3,400.