Director, Community Engagement and Capacity Building, Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health

Division/Program Summary Description:

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 Equitable Health Systems and the Bureau of Finance and Administrative 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.

CHECW will launch a new Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health in 2026 following initial funding for work in Queens.

JOB SUMMARY:
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Community Engagement and Capacity Building in the newly- established Bureau of Queens Neighborhood Health. This Bureau will contribute to the larger Neighborhood Health Strategy and complement the work of the other Bureaus of Neighborhood Health in Brooklyn, Harlem, and the Bronx. This role will focus on Queens, specifically work led out of a new Jamaica Neighborhood Health Action Center, and will lead efforts to strengthen relationships with community partners, build organizational and community capacity, and ensure that the bureau’s programs and initiatives are informed by and responsive to the needs of the communities served. This role will focus on fostering trust, collaboration, and equity in all engagement efforts, while supporting the bureau’s mission to address chronic disease prevention and management. The Director will also oversee the development of training, technical assistance, and capacity-building initiatives to empower community organizations and stakeholders and ensure that engagement efforts are inclusive, equitable, and culturally responsive, addressing the unique needs of diverse communities. This role will primarily work in Jamaica, Queens; however, the position will be initially assigned to Long Island City, Queens at least one day per week while renovations are underway at the Jamaica location.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

- Support coordination of internal and external initiatives in Queens, with a focus on Jamaica, including coordination among community partners
- Attend community meetings, e.g. Community Board, neighborhood coalition and other groups to support health initiatives and collaborate on community activities and events. Provide yearly presentation of health status in community districts and train Community Engagement team to conduct similar tailored presentations.
- Develop budgets for CTL and grant funded initiatives, conduct grants management and performance monitoring of vendors and reporting to funders. Lead or participate in grant writing teams, budget proposals and assess human resource needs.
- Implement collaborative community engagement initiative to educate community stakeholders on available resources and activities to decrease chronic diseases
- Work in close collaboration with the Assistant Commissioner, Action Center Manager, and the Program Director (focused on chronic disease) to plan, track, and monitor one time and ongoing Bureau efforts.
- Initiate and spearhead grant applications to secure funding for future Bureau work
- Support internal capacity-building efforts related to monitoring and data management
- Present and report public health data and research findings to community leaders and residents to inform policy initiatives aimed at maintaining and improving the health and safety of New Yorkers across our Action Center neighborhoods
- Assist in development of community-based policy initiatives related to food access, chronic diseases, and other health concerns
- Develop and/or strengthen collaboration among agency and external partners of the health department to improve coordinated service provision and information sharing.
- Develop and improve engagement strategies that reduce access barriers for community residents.
- Supervise and mentor a team of four staff with outreach-oriented roles
- Serve as point person for speaking and presentation opportunities with community partners and media.
- Plan and execute community activities, conferences, and other health related events (some evenings and weekends work required).
- Develop metrics to measure community engagement efforts in collaboration with Research and Evaluation team Coordinate and manage evaluation of coalitions and partnerships across Bureau units.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

- Strong background in applied public health, statistics, social justice or social sciences
- Experience in data management and data analysis
- Experience in community engagement and outreach
- Experience providing technical assistance and training to community-based partners
- Knowledge of anti-oppression, racial justice, structural violence efforts including addressing root causes of violence in communities
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including writing and editing of reports
- Experience using Excel and PowerPoint
- Experience using Salesforce
- Knowledge of excluded communities, including people who are Black, Latino, LGBTQI, have a history of substance misuse, Medicaid recipients, new English learners, people living with HIV (PLWH), undocumented immigrants, transgender and gender non-confirming people, youth, currently/formerly incarcerated
- Comfort in working in non-hierarchal leadership structures that promote new leadership from marginalized communities
- Experience and comfort applying a racial equity lens
- Proficiency in language other than English (Spanish, Mandarin, Bengali, etc.) is welcome

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!

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 [email protected] or 347-396-6549.

HEALTH SERVICES MANAGER NON MA - 1006C