New York City / Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services / Strategic Initiative Specialist

Job-title file

Strategic Initiative Specialist

Coordinate and deliver a specific program area, supporting planning, outreach, and daily operations.

11 employees hold this title in Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services. Median total compensation for the role is $114,672, above the department median of $68,341.

Employees: 11
Total payroll: $1.3M
Role median: $114,672
Agency median: $68,341
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$51,510$188,092+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 11 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compare departments

This role across New York City

Strategic Initiative Specialist is held in 20 New York City departments. In Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, the median of $114,672 ranks #12 of 20.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Department of Citywide Administrative Services

$183,643 · 3

Department of Health/Mental Hygiene

$159,951 · 7

Department of Education Administrative

$148,026 · 5

Department of Buildings

$145,248 · 6

Fire Department

$144,419 · 4

Taxi & Limousine Commission

$144,316 · 1

Administrative for Children's Services

$141,691 · 7

Office of the Comptroller

$134,906 · 3

Technology & Innovation

$133,143 · 3

District Attorney Kings County

$129,072 · 3

Department of Transportation

$122,465 · 10

Housing Preservation & Development

$112,617 · 7

Median total compensation for the Strategic Initiative Specialist role in other New York Citydepartments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Same department

Other job titles in Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

Administrative Accountant 15
Administrative Community Relations Specialist 34
Administrative Contract Specialist 11
Administrative Director of Social Services 149
Administrative Investigator 37
Administrative Job Opor Spec-Managerial 26
Administrative Job Opportunity Specialist NM 95
Administrative Management Auditor 15
Administrative Manager-Non-Mgrl 106
Administrative Procurement Analyst-Non-Mgrl 32
Administrative Staff Analyst 301
Agency Attorney 92
Agency Attorney Interne 19
Associate Benefits Opportunity Specialist 707
Associate Fraud Investigator 151
Associate Staff Analyst 227
Benefits Opportunity Specialist 1,668
Bookkeeper 66
Caseworker 1,208
Certified IT Administrator 32
City Laborer 16
City Research Scientist 81
Clerical Associate Most Mayoral Ag 533
Community Assistant 26
Community Associate 262
Community Coordinator 320
Computer Associate 110
Computer Operations Manager 10
Computer Service Technician 11
Computer Specialist 269
Computer Systems Manager 89
Contract Specialist 13
Custodian 68
Deputy Director of Administration 12
Eligibility Specialist 2,272
Executive Agency Counsel 46
Fraud Investigator 338
Graphic Artist 12
Head Nurse 11
IT Project Specialist 126
Management Auditor 36
New York City Public Service Fellow 14
Paralegal Aide 15
Principal Administrative Associate - Non Supervisor 1,161
Procurement Analyst 21
Public Health Educator 26
Secretary 14
Senior Consultant 21
Social Worker 47
Space Analyst 20
Special Officer 64
Staff Analyst 159
Staff Nurse 33
Supervising Special Officer 34
Supervisor I 324
Supervisor I Social Work 17
Supervisor II 120
Supervisor III 47
Supervisor of Office Machine Operations 15

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Grace Riddick

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$190,004

Base pay: $189,564
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $440
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $190,004
Hire date: 2024-04-15
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: Z

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $196,743
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Grace Riddick is a Strategic Initiative Specialist at Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year. 2025 total compensation came to $190,004.

Kristina Arakelyan

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$180,443

Base pay: $178,720
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,723
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,443
Hire date: 2020-02-18
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $185,056
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Kristina Arakelyan works as a Strategic Initiative Specialist for Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Hired in 2020, they have about 5 years of service. Kristina earned $180,443 in 2025.

Kelly Yzique Zea

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$143,834

Base pay: $143,834
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $143,834
Hire date: 2024-07-01
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: V

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $154,875
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,750

At Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, Kelly Yzique Zea serves as a Strategic Initiative Specialist based in Manhattan. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service. Their 2025 pay totaled $143,834.

Christopher Polack

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$139,653

Base pay: $138,653
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $139,653
Hire date: 2024-02-26
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $143,569
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Christopher Polack works as a Strategic Initiative Specialist for Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year. Christopher earned $139,653 in 2025.

Sharon Smith

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$117,686

Base pay: $117,520
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $166
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $117,686
Hire date: 1988-08-01
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $121,686
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Sharon Smith is a Strategic Initiative Specialist at Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 1988, about 37 years. 2025 total compensation came to $117,686.

Susana Liu-Hedberg

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$114,672

Base pay: $114,672
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,672
Hire date: 2024-06-10
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $118,738
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

At Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, Susana Liu-Hedberg serves as a Strategic Initiative Specialist based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year. Their 2025 pay totaled $114,672.

Marlowe Paraiso

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$112,483

Base pay: $112,473
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $11
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,483
Hire date: 2024-06-24
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $118,738
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,785

Marlowe Paraiso is a Strategic Initiative Specialist at Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year. 2025 total compensation came to $112,483.

Mainul Islam

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$112,399

Base pay: $112,399
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,399
Hire date: 2024-03-11
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,465
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Mainul Islam is a Strategic Initiative Specialist at Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year. 2025 total compensation came to $112,399.

Sydney Kornegay

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$88,226

Base pay: $88,226
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,226
Hire date: 2024-08-19
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $113,575
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,470

Sydney Kornegay works as a Strategic Initiative Specialist for Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. They have served since 2024 (about a year). Sydney earned $88,226 in 2025.

Julian Ross

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$84,183

Base pay: $84,183
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,183
Hire date: 2023-07-17
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $84,981
Leave Status as of June 30: Active
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 1,820

Julian Ross works as a Strategic Initiative Specialist for Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services based in Manhattan. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years). Julian earned $84,183 in 2025.

Martin Fatooh

Strategic Initiative Specialist/Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services

2025 total comp

$51,510

Base pay: $55,729
Overtime: $0
Other pay: -$4,219
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $51,510
Hire date: 2024-06-16
Pay basis: Annual
Work city: Manhattan
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Base Salary: $110,000
Leave Status as of June 30: Ceased
Overtime Hours: 0
Payroll Number: 69
Regular Hours: 857

At Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services, Martin Fatooh serves as a Strategic Initiative Specialist based in Manhattan. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service. Their 2025 pay totaled $51,510.