Careers

Description:

The Division of Center for Health Equity & Community Wellness (CHECW) uses a racial and social justice approach to eliminate health inequities for those who are most marginalized in New York City and to reduce overall premature mortality from the leading causes of preventable death with the vision that every New Yorker will live in a thriving neighborhood with equitable access to resources that help support healthy individuals and communities. This division unifies and strengthens the Department’s line of work directed at eliminating racial inequities for preventable health conditions, which are rooted in historical and contemporary injustices and discrimination, including racism. CHECW’s aim is to eliminate racial inequities resulting in premature mortality, with a focus on chronic disease, by addressing the social and environmental factors that impact health. The goal of this renewed approach is to increase placed-based investment in priority neighborhoods with community programming and services based on epidemiology, influence and leverage the health system to promote whole person care; and intensify the agency’s approach to tackle big salt and sugar, big tobacco, the built environment and other determinants of health.

The Bureau of Health Equity Capacity Building (BHECB) seeks to implement collective action strategies to build community power and capacity to address health inequities and the social determinants of health. The bureau is comprised of the Policy and Partnerships Unit, to align the agency’s programming to address the social determinants of health and root causes of health inequities including structural racism; they Health Equity Capacity Unit, to increase placed-based investments to priority neighborhoods and work with communities and neighborhood to build capacity to confront health inequities; the Neighborhood Behavioral Health and Resiliency Unit, will implement trauma informed community methods to prepare, prevent and respond to neighborhood crisis, and close the gap in community-based behavioral health services, increase access to early intervention and address the stigma of treatment. The Bureau of Health Equity Capacity Building seeks to hire a Climate Health Program Director.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
Manage the Climate Health Program, including fostering external collaboration and information sharing, under the leadership of the BHECB Assistant Commissioner and collaboration with the Executive Director of Environmental Health Policy.
Conduct extensive research related to agency and divisional climate health policy agenda.
Research and assess scientific and grey literature to identify evidence-based strategies for promoting climate resiliency both on the physical and social infrastructures.
Evaluate existing programs to identify inequitable practices, service gaps, and opportunities to amplify climate justice strategies.
Coordinate with Executive Director of the Community Resilience and Response Unit.
Translate and apply data and research findings in climate health and other environmental outcomes to programmatic design, monitoring, and communication.
In coordination with Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy (BESP) create and manage the Climate Health Program Agenda, including program evaluation and tracking accomplishments and coordinating with the ED for Environmental Health Policy on budgetary, program, and policy agendas.
Supervise 2 staff with expertise in community engagement, social resiliency, and climate health program management.
Oversee workstreams on health equity in climate health and community resiliency programming, providing leadership-level expertise, as needed, for contracts, program development and partner relationships.
Assist with environmental health emergency preparedness and response work, including provide guidance and expertise to various agency-wide Emergency Response Groups.

Skills/Eligibility:

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.

Preferred Skills:
Demonstrated experience working in high-need communities with skills in creating linkages, building coalitions, and developing strategic partnerships and programmatic deliverables.
Experience or training in scientific communication, user-centered design, climate communication/marketing.
Experience and/or a strong interest in the public health impacts of air pollution, extreme heat, and other public health educational touch points.
Strong background working in environmental health, public health, or sustainability policy.
Ability to be responsive to multiple stakeholders from governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations.
Strong organizational, written and oral communication skills.