Senior Epidemiologist, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use (BADU) works to close gaps and reduce overall morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and substance use among New Yorkers. BADU develops, implements, and evaluates interventions and prevention strategies through contracting of treatment, recovery and support services; policy analysis and development; epidemiology and surveillance; dissemination of treatment and management guidelines; harm reduction initiatives; public and provider outreach and education; and community involvement and interagency collaboration. The Bureau amplifies the voices of those most impacted and focuses on inequitable structural, social, service, and communication factors that drive disparities.

Duties will include but not be limited to:
1. Serve as data steward for real-time substance use morbidity and mortality surveillance
2. Oversee real-time surveillance work products from various data sources including, but not limited to, syndromic surveillance, emergency medical services, and mortality
3 Manage large datasets involving multiple years of data, including the creation of protocols, thorough documentation of methods, standardization of variables and preparation of datasets for analysis.
4. Enhance and update surveillance data systems and lead analysis of complex datasets, including emergency medical service encounters
5. Supervise and mentor the work of other analysts working on real-time alcohol and drug-related data sources, including syndromic surveillance and overdose mortality data.
6. Summarize and synthesize analytic findings with clear direction and application to public health and health of people who use drugs in NYC.
7. Lead preparation and dissemination of data reports, briefs, presentations, and scientific manuscripts to clearly communicate findings and recommendations to a variety of audiences including the public, agency and bureau leadership, other government agencies, and health care providers
8. Represent bureau in collaborations with internal and external partners, and collaborate to align data collection and reporting with bureau monitoring and policy needs
9. Perform all other responsibilities and projects as assigned by supervisors

PREFERRED SKILLS:
Demonstrated experience in applying complex research methods to public health data
Experience in applying epidemiology methods to real-time health data sources to identify emerging issues and inform public health responses
Strong understanding of alcohol and substance use epidemiology and demonstrated ability to describe population-level trends in health outcomes
Excellent written, oral, and verbal communication skills, demonstrated by the ability to describe complex data to lay audiences and create a range of written products to convey key findings
Experience cleaning and analyzing large health-related datasets using R or SAS
Commitment to advancing racial and social equity through public health.

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