Assistant Commissioner, Bureau Of Environmental Sciences And Engineering

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

2. Address the second pandemic of mental illness including: reducing overdose deaths, strengthening our youth mental health systems, and supporting people with serious mental illness

3. Reduce black maternal mortality and make New York a model city for women's health

4. 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.

PROGRAM AND JOB DESCRIPTION

The Department's Division of Environmental Health works to prevent and control illness and injury related to environmental and occupational health through outreach and education, surveillance, and enforcement. The Division seeks an Assistant Commissioner to provide leadership, vision, and strategic planning for the Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (Bureau).

The Bureau works to minimize the risks of environmental and engineered hazards through inspection, surveillance, scientific and engineering analysis, and data collection, and has responsibility to oversee New York City's drinking water supply system, drinking water tanks, recreational water, wastewater management, sewage disposal, non-potable water reuse, groundwater, radiation producing equipment, radioactive materials, and cooling towers. The Bureau's inter-disciplinary team of 100 engineers, scientists, water ecologists, public health inspectors, radiation control scientists, medical physicists, and administrators for in works in three program areas: Building Water Systems Oversight, Public Health Engineering, and Radiological Health.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health, with wide latitude for independent judgment, initiative, problem solving and creativity, the Assistant Commissioner will:

• Provide leadership, vision, and strategic planning to the Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, including oversight of the Bureau's program areas: Building Water Systems Oversight, Public Health Engineering, and Radiological Health.

• Direct operation of Bureau's complex regulatory programs; establish policies and procedures to assure compliance with laws and regulations and promote alignment with industry standards and best practices. Set goals and objectives and oversee evaluation of programs. Oversee administrative functions, including budget, grants, contracts, procurement, and human resources; oversee information technology programs.

• Provide scientific and technical expertise for routine and emergency operations, including to prevent and address waterborne disease, radiological material and chemical exposures, recreational water hazards, and regarding citywide environmental incidents within the Bureau's scope. Maintain alignment in agency guidance and regulations with current science and best practices; make recommendations to the NYC Board of Heath regarding updates, as needed, to the NYC Health Code; review proposed legislation and regulations.

• Serve as liaison and collaborate with city, state and federal agencies; communicate with the regulated community, outside experts, stakeholders, and the public to advance the mission of the Bureau and agency. Represent the agency in meetings, conferences, before the New York City Council and Board of Health, and in media interviews, including creating opportunities to share agency and Bureau research and accomplishments.

• Support and advance Bureau and Division racial equity initiatives.

• Advise the Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health on all matters relating to the Bureau's areas of expertise; participate in the development of divisional goals.

• Participate in agency-wide emergency response and preparedness activities as a member of the Incident Command System. Advise the Deputy Commissioner during environmental emergencies, provide technical assistance, subject matter expertise, and risk assessment and communication. Support planning for environmental health emergencies.

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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

"FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL"

"This position MAY be eligible for remote work up to two days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program."

Minimum Qualifications

1.A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and five (5) years of broad, responsible executive or administrative experience involving program management or analysis and evaluation, in a government agency, business firm, civic organization or educational institution; or

2.A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience. However, all candidates must have a baccalaureate degree.

Preferred Skills

The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing complex operations, especially in a fast-paced, regulatory environment excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills and exceptional oral, written, and interpersonal skills. They will be an effective and inclusive collaborator with experience managing a large and diverse team and able to maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels.

They will have demonstrated skills in overseeing administrative functions including management of budgets and human resources. Prior experience and expertise designing, implementing, and overseeing inspectional and enforcement activities and using data to inform policies and programs is strongly preferred. We seek candidates with expertise and experience in public health engineering and sciences being a NYS licensed professional engineer is a plus.

Knowledge of New York City's administrative processes, as well as of city, state and federal public health laws and regulations is welcome. Dedication to promoting the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and a commitment to the Health Department's values of science, equity, and compassion are a must.

Public Service 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 https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is required. Except as otherwise provided herein, a person serving in a mayoral agency in any of the following civil service or office titles shall be a resident of the City on the date that he or she assumes such title or shall establish city residence within ninety days after such date and shall thereafter maintain city residency for as long as he or she serves in such title: agency heads, including but not limited to Commissioner, Director and Executive Director, First Deputy Commissioner, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, General Counsel, Borough Commissioner, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Associate Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, and other senior level staff titles, identified on a list established pursuant to section 2(b) of this Order.

Additional Information

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.