Director, Research and Evaluation, Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health

The Center for Health Equity & Community Wellness (CHECW) seeks to eliminate racial and other inequities resulting in premature mortality. With an unwavering grounding in history and structural analysis, CHECW works to increase visibility of the harm perpetuated by centuries of racist, socially unjust policy while pushing towards redress for the most impacted NYC communities. CHECW addresses inequity across community and healthcare systems in partnership with community, faith-based, and health care organizations. CHECW's work focuses on social determinants of health, including environmental and commercial determinants, and addresses both upstream and downstream factors to improve health and well-being of New Yorkers. CHECW is comprised of the Bureau of Bronx Neighborhood Health, the Bureau of Brooklyn Neighborhood Health, the Bureau of Harlem Neighborhood Health, the Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health, the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention, the Bureau of Equitable Health Systems and the Bureau of Finance, Administration and Services. The division's Deputy Commissioner also serves as the Agency's Chief Equity Officer and oversees Race to Justice, the Agency's internal reform effort to help our staff learn what they can do to better address racial health gaps and improve health outcomes for all New Yorkers. NYC Health Department seeks to a Director of Research and Evaluation to join the newly-established Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health. This Bureau will contribute to the larger Neighborhood Health Strategy and complement the work of the other Bureaus of Neighborhood Health in Brooklyn, Harlem and the Bronx.

Reporting into the Assistant Commissioner, the Director of Research and Evaluation will lead the bureau's research and evaluation strategy and portfolio for the bureau. This role will primarily work in Jamaica Queens; however, the position will be initially assigned to Long Island City, Queens at least one day per week while renovations are underway at the Jamaica location.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

• Oversee Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health research and evaluation agenda and strategy
• Contribute to the development of goals, strategic planning, and implementation of strategies to ensure the Bureau is aligned with Division and Agency priorities.
• Spearhead all bureau research and evaluation activities, including serving as the Bureau’s data lead in emergency responses.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual progress and outcomes reports as requested.
• Ensure that all research and evaluation projects and products have a health equity focus.
• Design and implement neighborhood-level research projects, including preliminary needs assessments; planning for program evaluation of new and existing programming; and writing for grants and other funding requests.
• Provide oversight and assistance in the design and conduct of research and evaluation projects including the development of research instruments, materials and protocols and the conduct of assessments and program evaluation to guide Bureau activities for improved effectiveness.
• Utilize research and evaluation findings to inform program development and prepare policy and programmatic recommendations informed by research findings; produce analytic reports on findings including Neighborhood Health Reports and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Provide technical assistance to community partners on research, data and epidemiologic information, and program evaluation to assist in the development of initiatives in Queens.
• Provide epidemiologic situational guidance and understanding related to the Queens catchment area to the Assistant Commissioner and bureau staff.
• Represent the Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health at internal and external data meetings, including as part of data-focused workshops.
• Prepare IRB applications and other internal/external reports of findings.
• Serve as the bureau’s designated confidentiality coordinator in collaboration with agency colleagues.
• Collect, clean, store, and manage data to ensure the accessibility, reliability, and validity of the data.
• Respond to internal and external data requests.
• Directly supervise at least 1 full-time research and evaluation staff; identify needs and provide opportunities for research staff’s professional development.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Access, Tableau, Salesforce, SPSS/SAS, nViVo
• Experience in researching and evaluating health inequities
• Experience working in disinvested neighborhoods
• Experience in community planning and community engagement
• Demonstrated ability to apply data and research to actionable response including policy and program e forts
• Ability to work independently, prioritize and handle multiple assignments
• Interest in or experience in using different data visualization techniques to communicate effectively with multiple types of audiences.

Why you should work for us:

• Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

• Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
• Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Commitment to Equity:

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

• For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.

To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:

• A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.