City Announces Industry Leaders Will Launch New Hiring Models to Expand Tech Jobs for New Yorkers

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 29, 2018

CITY ANNOUNCES INDUSTRY LEADERS WILL LAUNCH NEW HIRING MODELS TO EXPAND TECH JOBS FOR NEW YORKERS

New Guide and Services Designed by the Tech Industry Will Help More Companies across the City Create Programs to Recruit and Develop a Diversity of Qualified Candidates

New York – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Gregg Bishop today announced new commitments from industry leaders to launch models for recruiting, hiring, and onboarding qualified local tech talent. Associate Engineer programs, created by industry partners with support from the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline (TTP), provide a pathway for companies to fill the demand for entry-level talent from nontraditional sources. Through tools and resources supported by TTP, companies can more easily build out tailored programs, including fellowships and apprenticeships, which offer opportunities for employment for New Yorkers who are qualified but may lack professional experience. With the launch of the Associate Engineer Playbook – a new guide authored by the tech industry, along with a peer-network, and new free recruitment services, companies across the city can jumpstart their own programs that develop local tech talent.

Foursquare, MediaMath, StackOverflow, Spotify and Betterment are also committing to launching or expanding Associate Engineer Programs. Existing programs have already connected New Yorkers to these positions with an average annual salary of $70,000.

Associate Engineer Programs are supported by ApprenticeNYC, a central part of Mayor de Blasio's goal of creating 100,000 good-paying jobs.

"The City is committed to ensuring that New Yorkers can access over 320,000 jobs our local tech ecosystem has to offer," said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. "Together with companies who are already harnessing high-potential local talent, we're empowering more NYC businesses to create opportunities for New Yorkers to enter a growing industry."

"Our fellowship members are a valuable part of our team, bringing diverse perspectives that support our business," said Chris Angove, Chapter Lead, Spotify. "This is exactly what the NYC Technology Fellowship was designed to do - bring on qualified, local tech talent from all backgrounds."

"The Apprenticeship program allows us to ensure our staff reflects the diversity of experiences and background of the community of developers we support," said Jon Chan, Engineer, Stack Overflow. "We're excited to provide this opportunity to emerging talent and pioneer efforts to support a more diverse tech ecosystem here in NYC."

The Associate Engineer Playbook was developed by members of the TTP Peer Network, an employer community dedicated to developing creative solutions to fill the demand for qualified Associate Engineers. The network, including engineering and hiring managers from LinkedIn, Spotify, MediaMath, Betterment, and StackOverflow, offers resources and supports to help companies implement similar models.

With the assistance of a new SBS team composed of industry professionals, TTP is also helping companies to fill their open positions with diverse, qualified local talent.

To view the Associate Engineer Playbook, learn more about the TTP Peer Network, or connect with the Talent Team, interested companies should visit techtalentpipeline.nyc/apprenticeships-fellowships.

Associate Engineer Program Talent
Queens native Susan Lovaglio spent over 10 years in the U.S. Navy as a jet engine mechanic and served in the Middle East. After the military, she pursued a career in accounting. Due to the struggling economy, Susan lost a succession of jobs to downsizing. Following these experiences, Susan set out to pursue her passion for building. She enrolled in TTP's Mobile Dev Corps training program and, upon completion of the program, was connected to the Spotify New York City Technology Fellowship, Spotify's Associate Engineer program. Participants in the fellowship program operate as a team within Spotify for 16 weeks while receiving mentorship and personal and professional development from a broad set of employees to help them reach their full potential and learn what it's like to work at Spotify. Today, she is a full-time iOS engineer at Spotify's growing New York City office.

About the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline
Launched by Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2014, the NYC Tech Talent Pipeline is the City's tech Industry Partnership, designed to support the inclusive growth of the NYC tech sector by delivering quality jobs for New Yorkers and qualified talent for the City's businesses. The Tech Talent Pipeline works with 225 companies, 17 local colleges, and additional public and private partners to define employer needs, develop training and education models to meet these needs, and scale solutions throughout the City, delivering quality talent for the City's businesses and quality jobs for New Yorkers.

About NYC Department of Small Business Services Industry Partnerships
The NYC Tech Talent Pipeline is one of SBS's five industry partnerships that work with employers, industry and trade organizations, organized labor, non-profits, training providers and educational institutions, private philanthropy, and workforce organizations to build a sustainable and robust pipeline of local talent to fill New York City's jobs, create formal career paths to good jobs, reduce barriers to employment and sustain or increase middle-class jobs. Other industry partnerships include the construction, healthcare, hospitality, and industrial fields.

About the Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building a fairer economy in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.