Civil Service Modernization Advisory Committee will identify in-house solutions and legislative fixes to City’s outdated, cumbersome hiring system
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Yume Kitasei today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with organized labor unions to revitalize the civil service system and speed up hiring for jobs in City government.
The Civil Service Modernization Advisory Committee is comprised of government and labor partners and will prioritize both in-house solutions and legislative recommendations to improve the civil service system.
DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei will chair the committee, with DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido serving as vice-chair. Committee members include:
- Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson
- Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Sherif Soliman
- Law Department Corporation Counsel Steve Banks
- Chief Counsel Ramzi Kassem
- Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Erin Dalton
- CWA Local 1180 President Gloria Middleton
- SEIU Local 246 President Joseph A. Colangelo
- SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells
- COBA President Benny Boscio Jr.
“It should be easy, fast and fair to find a good-paying job serving the city we call home,” said Mayor Mamdani. “In this historic partnership with labor leaders, our administration is prioritizing the quick fixes and long-term solutions that speed up hiring in City government. From addressing the current time to hire to advancing new and innovative testing strategies, this committee is already at work coming up with ideas to build a civil service system truly worthy of our city.”
“The civil service system is a foundational component of municipal work, and after over a hundred years, it is time to update,” said DCAS Commissioner Kitasei. “Through our first-ever modernization committee, we’ll be working with partners from across the city to make the civil service system faster, more transparent, easier for workers to navigate and aligned with the 21st-century workforce and operational needs.”
“A strong, efficient civil service system is vital to both our municipal workforce and the New York City residents who rely on city services every day,” said OLR Commissioner Renee Campion. “By partnering closely with our labor leaders, we can cut through administrative hurdles and build a faster, more modern hiring framework. This committee is a crucial step forward in ensuring we continue to attract and retain the dedicated talent our city deserves.”
The New York City civil service system, administered by DCAS, promotes fair, merit-based hiring and promotion, creates career pathways for job seekers and employees and provides important legal protections for the workforce.
Though New York was the first state to adopt a civil service system in 1883, the system suffers from outdated technology, burdensome administrative processes, lengthy timelines and fragmented responsibility across agencies — limiting its ability to meet today’s needs.
The Civil Service Modernization Committee will put forth recommendations for in-house solutions and legislative actions to create a hiring system that is fast, transparent and modern. Key priorities include:
- Fast and high-quality process: Faster ways to hire qualified talent while still ensuring a system of integrity.
- Transparent and trustworthy: A fair, merit-based, easy-to-navigate system that attracts top talent.
- Clear pathways: Easy access to City service opportunities and career advancement.
- Modern tech systems: A digital interface that meets the demands of the 21st-century and allows for seamless navigation for City workers and agencies alike.
Since taking office, the Mamdani administration has prioritized connecting New Yorkers with job opportunities in City government. In July, Mayor Mamdani announced free civil service exams for New York City high school students and first-time test takers. In August, DCAS doubled the Civil Service Pathways Fellowship, creating a direct pathway from college to City government careers for 400 New Yorkers. And just last month, the Mayor opened the Jobs NYC Center, a walk-in hub connecting New Yorkers to good-paying jobs in public service.
The administration has also advanced new and expanded programs to increase opportunities and improve daily life for current City workers. Mayor Mamdani opened The Little Apple, the City’s first free child care center for municipal employees and their families and launched the City’s first undergraduate scholarship program for City workers.
The City of New York employs one of the largest workforces in the nation, with more than 300,000 employees; approximately 80% of positions are typically filled through the civil service system via an exam. This includes positions like sanitation worker, electrician, caseworker and staff analyst. DCAS administers about 175 exams per year.
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