Senior Policy Analyst, Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention

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 Chronic Disease Prevention, the Bureau of Equity Capacity Building, 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. The division's Deputy Commissioner also serves as the Agency's Chief Medical Officer. The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention (BCDP) strives to reduce the burden of chronic disease, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer, among New Yorkers. BCDP focuses on nutrition, tobacco use, the built environment, and reducing the impact of cancer and hypertension. BCDP partners with the government, healthcare system and community to employee evidence-based policies, programs, communications and research aimed at shifting environments, changing systems and promoting health equity.

The Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention seeks to hire a Senior Policy Analyst who will provide critical support and guidance for chronic disease policy efforts that address nutrition, hunger and food insecurity, social determinants of health and commercial determinants of health.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Develops and executes strategy to engage national stakeholders in sodium and sugar reduction efforts and other efforts to improve the food supply and address chronic disease prevention.
- Contributes to surveillance and research efforts related to monitoring the food supply.
- Identify, investigate, track and evaluate chronic disease prevention and equity-focused content areas, and other topics related to the Healthy Eating Unit portfolio, to inform new initiatives and policy proposals at the local, state and federal level.
- Write and prepare materials as needed, including literature reviews, presentations, issue briefs, talking points, scientific papers for publication and other documents for internal and external stakeholders
- Conduct scientific, legal, and regulatory research and analysis to inform equitable and anti-racist nutrition and chronic disease policy approaches, development, and recommendations. Represent the Healthy Eating Unit at external engagements, including local and national conferences and convenings.
- Design and execute research in collaboration with research and evaluation team and performs other research duties as needed in support of the chronic disease prevention agenda.
- Collaborate with and provide assistance to the other units in bureau, division, and Department on various projects related to nutrition, as needed. - Assist the Director of Strategic Nutrition Initiatives, Executive Director of Nutrition Policies and Programs, and Assistant Commissioner of Bureau on projects, as needed.

PREFERRED SKILLS:
- At least 3 years of experience in nutrition policy experience, with knowledge of local, state, and federal nutrition policies.
- Excellent analytical and reasoning skills; strong written and oral communication skills; superior interpersonal skills; ability to communicate scientific information to a general audience.
- Familiarity with peer-reviewed literature on nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and strategies to close racial disparities in health is a plus.
- Understanding of social and commercial determinants of health and the underlying causes of health inequities, including systemic racism and other forms of social injustice.
- Lived experience or experience working with marginalized communities in NYC that historically have had high rates of poverty and limited access to resources.
- Ability to handle multiple high-priority projects and assignments simultaneously, to shift fluidly among them, and to work independently, when necessary, towards creative problem solving.
- Expertise with the Microsoft Suite, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Why you should work for us:

- 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!

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