BUREAU 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.

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.

What you should know:
- 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 sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

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.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.

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Climate Health Program Director, Bureau of Health Equity Capacity Building