Strategic Operations & Public Service Intern

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. HCR is committed to developing a workforce that represents the diverse population of New York State. HCR embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

INTERNSHIP SUMMARY:
The Department of Empowerment, Compliance and Opportunity (“DECO”) promotes state contracting opportunities for Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOBs) and historically undervalued businesses in New York State. The department accomplishes this mission through regulatory compliance, contract oversight, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy.

Working directly with DECO leadership, the intern will contribute to meaningful initiatives while developing practical skills applicable to careers in government, nonprofit organizations, and organizational management.

Responsibilities may include:

• Participating in a semester-long strategic improvement project supporting DECO’s operational excellence and modernization initiatives.
• Supporting operational planning, workflow optimization, and continuous process improvement efforts.
• Assisting with implementation of DECO’s technology modernization initiatives, including exposure to the AXI compliance platform and related business process improvements.
• Conducting research on supplier diversity, public administration, and government best practices.
• Assisting with project management, tracking milestones, and coordinating cross-functional initiatives.
• Preparing executive presentations, briefing materials, reports, and communications.
• Supporting development of standard operating procedures, training materials, and operational documentation.
• Assisting with performance measurement, dashboard development, and data analysis.
• Participating in meetings with internal and external stakeholders to gain exposure to public sector operations and strategic decision-making.
• Presenting a final capstone project summarizing accomplishments, recommendations, and lessons learned to DECO leadership.

WHO YOU ARE:

• Undergraduate or graduate student pursuing Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Organizational Management, Communications, Data Analytics, Political Science, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments while maintaining attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated interest in government operations, public service, organizational improvement, or technology modernization.
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and eager to learn in a fast-paced environment.

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the intern may expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

ABOUT NEW YORK STATE HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL:

Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, HCR is a vibrant, innovative agency that integrates and leverages New York State’s housing resources. We have offices in New York City, Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse, and employ a diverse workforce of professionals who are hard-working and committed to serving low- and moderate-income families. Our mission is far reaching, encompassing single and multifamily housing finance, home improvement, rent regulation, housing subsidies, and community development. We partner regularly with a variety of public and private stakeholders.

Achieving this mission requires a wide range of skills and backgrounds in public policy, administration, real estate, construction, finance, law, and many other areas of expertise. We seek to provide a workplace environment that is productive, flexible, accountable, ethical, and caring. Our employees are empowered to make a difference where they live and work. We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, retirement, and family-friendly policies.