Executive Director - Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement

POSITION:                                                   Executive Director

DEPARTMENT/AGENCY:                          Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) 

OPEN:                                                          July 10, 2023

CLOSE:                                                       Open Until Filled

SALARY/GRADE:                                       E2  ($119,869 to $175,723)

The Safer, Stronger DC Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) was created to address violence in the District while assisting families dealing with the grief and trauma caused by these occurrences. As part of Mayor Bowser’s FY2018 Budget, and in compliance with the Neighborhood Engagement Achieves Results (NEAR) Act (PDF), ONSE created to consolidate the work being done by the Safer, Stronger DC Community Partnerships Office (SSDCCP) and the Community Stabilization Program (CSP) under one mission.  This position is located in the Executive Office of the Mayor, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and reports to the Deputy Mayor. The Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) is responsible for the coordination of violence prevention strategy and programs in the District of Columbia with a focus on utilizing public health approaches to respond to and prevent violence. The mission is to foster community-based strategies to help prevent violence and increase public safety. Our strategy is rooted in a public health approach to violence prevention, recognizing that reducing crime is not accomplished through law enforcement alone.  For more information about the ONSE office and programs, please visit here.

Executive Director

This position functions as Executive Director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, promotion, direction, and implementation of the management and administration of the Office.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer the Office’s operation, activities and projects involving the establishment of goals and objectives for the agency.  Manage interventions and mediations to disrupt cycles of violence in the District. Manage collaboration with other District agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide immediate wrap-around services to victims and families affected by homicides and violent crime.
• Identify individuals who pose a high risk of participating in, or being a victim of, violent crime. Recruit such individuals, as feasible, to participate in programs incorporating mental or behavioral health counseling and that are designed to discourage violence.
• Coordinate with District agencies to develop positive behavioral programming. Coordinate violence prevention strategy and programs in the District of Columbia with a focus on utilizing public health approaches to respond to and prevent violence.
• Responsible for identifying best practices in customer service delivery, and implementing a wide range of business process improvement, designed to elicit cost savings, productivity improvements, operational efficiencies, and improved customer service.
• Produce reports required by District of Columbia law. Develop and monitor internal reporting systems to ensure that all priorities and standards are met in a timely manner. Prepare and/or reviews policy papers for presentation to the Deputy Mayor, Mayor, and other elected officials.
• Regularly, conduct assessments and evaluations, to be performed by a qualified research entity, of outcomes for participants in Office programs.
• Develop long-range policy strategies and recommendations. Develop a vision for the institutionalizing of strategies found to be successful in combating gang/crew/crew violence and violent crime.
• Serve as a liaison to Federal, state, and local agencies, professional boards, task force groups, churches, and non-profit organizations.
• Coordinate with District agencies and community-based organizations to develop violence prevention programs for individuals residing in priority neighborhoods or who are most at risk of participating in, or being a victim of, violent crime.
• Provide leadership and direction to subordinate staff, anticipate the need for knowledge, assess the adequacy of existing programs, and identify the problems and plan accordingly. Meet, frequently, with subordinate staff to discuss progress and problems encountered in their activities.
• Coordinate the activities, operation and issues which result from the responsibilities of the Office.  Make appropriate adjustment in priorities, plans, policies, etc., as deemed necessary.  Effect internal changes in relationships, authorities and assignments to improve efficiency of operations. 
• Review recommendations from subordinate staff within the Office on policies and legislation, and make final recommendations or decisions.
• Assist community organizations and neighborhoods in planning and implementing strategies to support the prevention of gang/crew/crew violence and to provide information on gang/crew/crew recognition and intervention techniques to promote community safety.
• Responsible for managing related grant applications and awards.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Candidate must possess at least three (3) years of relevant experience in criminal justice and public health-based approaches to violence, including matters affecting the deterrence of violent criminal behavior.
• Extensive knowledge of the District of Columbia neighborhoods, demographics, and community issues that can contribute to violent crime.
• Knowledge of community issues in urban environment that can contribute to the violent crime.
• General knowledge of policing strategies and community policing, specifically related to community-based or gang/crew violence.
• Ability to develop positive business relationships, and to promote the acceptance and achievement of ONSE’s goals and objectives.
• Mastery of the principles and best practices related to effective community and youth engagement that lead to empowering neighborhoods to become partners in addressing neighborhood/community issues. Extensive knowledge of the principles, techniques and methods of community program development and administration.
• Mastery of and skill in problem-solving, negotiation strategies, and project management for decision-making and identify potential and existing problem areas. Mastery of management principles, procedures and techniques of analysis and evaluation. Superior analytical ability to assess and evaluate policies, programs and issues.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight.  Ability to manage new responsibilities given to the program by the Executive Branch or the Council of the District of Columbia.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in providing leadership in a supervisory/managerial capacity.
• Demonstrated expertise in providing leadership in a team-based environment in securing the support and cooperation of internal and external government officials, as necessary.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Ability to communicate ideas clearly and concisely, developing and sustaining positive business relationships.

DOMICILE REQUIREMENT:

District law requires that each new appointee to the Excepted and Executive Service either: (1) be domiciled in the District of Columbia at the time of appointment; or (2) establish District domicile within one hundred eighty (180) days of appointment.  The law also requires that Excepted and Executive Service employees maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment.  Failure to maintain District domicile during the period of the appointment will result in forfeiture of employment.