Services Sought: 

BetaNYC seeks to hire Civic Innovation Consultants to assist Community Boards as Discretionary Actions Consultants. Community Boards are neighborhood bodies of government that play an advisory role over city service of life and land use issues. Tasks include processing applications for discretionary approval from the State Liquor Authority,  Landmarks Preservation Commission, Department of Transportation, Department of Consumer Affairs, and the City Council. 

This Discretionary Actions Consultants will report directly to the District Manager or their designee, and will work up to 35 hours per week, as necessitated by projects and caseload. You will work closely with BetaNYC’s Executive Director to ensure the Community Board’s needs are met.

Your work responsibilities will include late night meetings and you are expected to work in the Community Board District office and with BetaNYC in the Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street, Manhattan.

The position is temporary with a contract duration of one year with an opportunity to renew if Community Boards choose to renew the contract.

Responsibilities and Tasks: 

1. Provide support to the Community Board staff as needed.
2. Field phone calls and emails from City agencies, elected officials’ offices, and the public.
3. Work with the office staff and board leadership to improve the system of processing requests for discretionary approval from City or State agencies by private applicants, scheduling the applications for a hearing, and office follow up after committee and full board meetings.
4. Attend evening meetings on a regular basis and taking/transcribing notes/minutes. 
5. Assist with the logistical and administrative preparation for meetings that involve  discretionary actions. 

The Civic Innovation Apprentice works closely with BetaNYC’s Executive Director and the Community Board’s District Manager and committee Chairs to support the Board’s functioning and administration with regards to discretionary actions. 

Successful Candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree or a matriculation in an undergraduate program with some government experience.

Preferred candidate will possess: 

• Excellent writing and proofreading/editing ability.
• Computer and web skills, specifically Google Sheets and Google Forms. Exposure to scraping data, databases, and airtable are preferred. 
• Ability to work independently while also remaining self-motivated, meticulous, organized, and comfortable handling multiple projects with varying deadlines.
• Excellent customer service skills via phone, email, and in person.
• An ability to think about and solve problems creatively.
• The ability to seek the answer to something you don’t know.
• Understanding of, and strong interest in city government and its functions.
• Familiarity with the issues communities face within the boundaries of Manhattan Community Board.

To express interest in this job, please write a cover letter and submit your resume or CV to our screendoor form or email your cover letter and resume to jobs@beta.nyc. 

Hourly Compensation: up to $21.50 per hour.

Employment though the Fund for the City of New York.