Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the country. Our mission is to protect and improve the health of all New Yorkers, in service of a vision of a city in which all New Yorkers can realize their full health potential, regardless of who they are, how old they are, where they are from, or where they live.

As a world-renowned public health agency with a history of building transformative public health programming and infrastructure, innovating in science and scholarship to advance public health knowledge, and responding to urgent public health crises from New York City’s yellow fever outbreak in 1822, to the COVID-19 pandemic we are a hub for public health innovation, expertise, and programs, and services. We serve as the population health strategist, and policy, and planning authority for the City of New York, while also having a vast impact on national and international public policy, including 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 racial and social justice work, among others.

Our Agency’s five strategic priorities, building off a recently-completed strategic planning process emerging from the COVID-19 emergency, are:
1) To re-envision how the Health Department prepares for and responds to health emergencies, with a focus on building a “response-ready” organization, with faster decision-making, transparent public communications, and stronger surveillance and bridges to healthcare systems 2) Address and prevent chronic and diet-related disease, including addressing rising rates of childhood obesity and the impact of diabetes, and transforming our food systems to improve nutrition and enhance access to healthy foods
3) Address the second pandemic of mental illness including: reducing overdose deaths, strengthening our youth mental health systems, and supporting people with serious mental illness
4) Reduce black maternal mortality and make New York a model city for women’s health
5) Mobilize against and combat the health impacts of climate change

Our 7,000-plus team members bring extraordinary diversity to the work of public health. True to our value of equity as a foundational element of all of our work, and a critical foundation to achieving population health impact in New York City, the NYC Health Department has been a leader in recognizing and dismantling racism’s impacts on the health of New Yorkers and beyond. In 2021, the NYC Board of Health declared racism as a public health crisis. With commitment to advance anti-racist public health practices that dismantle systems that perpetuate inequitable power, opportunity and access, the NYC Health Department continues to work in and with communities and community organizations to increase their access to health services and decrease avoidable health outcomes.
The mission of the Bureau of Immunization (BOI) at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is to prevent the occurrence and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization. BOI promotes the immunization of children and adults against vaccine preventable diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, and is currently composed of nine units/programs, which include: (1) Office of the Executive Director, (2) Epidemiology & Surveillance, (3) School Immunization Compliance, (4) Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention, (5) Citywide Immunization Registry, (6) Electronic Health Record Interoperability, (7) Provider Quality Assurance, (8) Immunization Infrastructure and Clinical Support, and (9) Administration.

BOI is seeking a highly motivated public health professional to serve as a City Research Scientist II, Special Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner. Reporting directly to the BOI Assistant Commissioner, the Special Assistant will coordinate with the Bureau’s senior staff to develop and monitor progress toward achieving BOI programmatic goals and objectives. The incumbent will be called upon to assist, coordinate and lead special projects, including data-driven projects, set forth by the Assistant Commissioner and Executive Director to inform Bureau programs. The Special Assistant will also coordinate, manage, and respond to requests from Division of Disease Control and DOHMH leadership as well as from external partners by gathering information, conducting data analyses and preparing a wide range of documents, such as presentations, immunization coverage maps, media talking points and legislative impact statements.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Support the Assistant Commissioner by coordinating with senior staff to develop, monitor, and complete reports on BOI's programmatic goals and objectives. Coordinate, assist and/or lead special projects in BOI, including data-driven projects to identify geographic areas and populations with low vaccination coverage, set forth by the Assistant Commissioner and Executive Director.

Work with BOI senior staff, unit chiefs and other staff to prepare data, progress reports and updates for Agency and citywide partners.

Review requests and inquiries from Division and Agency leadership, present requests to the Assistant Commissioner, and draft and coordinate responses ensuring response deadlines are met.

Respond to time-sensitive immunization inquiries from the public, citywide partners, City Council and elected officials under the guidance of the Assistant Commissioner.

Support the Assistant Commissioner in completing grant applications and progress reports.

Prepare documents such as presentations, immunization coverage maps, media talking points and legislative impact statements on behalf of the Assistant Commissioner and Executive Director.

Participate in emergency preparedness and response activities conducted by the Bureau, Division and Agency.

Participate in Bureau, Division and Agency trainings and activities conducted to advance racial, gender and social equity.

1. 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:
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.

Excellent interpersonal, writing and communication skills. Excellent computer skills including with Microsoft programs, including Word, Excel and Power Point SAS and/or R SQL and ArcGIS. Excellent research and analytical skills. Proficient in data analysis with experience in synthesizing quantitative and qualitative data into cohesive reports and presentations. Knowledge of immunization information systems and their utility in monitoring and evaluating immunization programs. Experience in implementing immunization programs. Committed to the prevention of disease through immunization. **IMPORTANT NOTES TO ALL CANDIDATES: Please note: If you are called for an interview you will be required to bring to your interview copies of original documentation, such as: - A document that establishes identity for employment eligibility, such as: A Valid U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card/Green Card, or Driver’s license. - Proof of Education according to the education requirements of the civil service title. - Current Resume - Proof of Address/NYC Residency dated within the last 60 days, such as: Recent Utility Bill (i.e. Telephone, Cable, Mobile Phone) Additional documentation may be required to evaluate your qualification as outlined in this posting’s “Minimum Qualification Requirements” section. Examples of additional documentation may be, but not limited to: college transcript, experience verification or professional trade licenses. If after your interview you are the selected candidate you will be contacted to schedule an on-boarding appointment. By the time of this appointment you will be asked to produce the originals of the above documents along with your original Social Security card. **LOAN FORGIVENESS As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at StudentAid.gov/PSLF. "FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL” NOTE: This position may be eligible for remote work up to two days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program agreed to between the City and DC37.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.