Director of Food Safety Data Analytics, Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy

About the role

The Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy (BESP) supports the Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation (BFSCS) and other Environmental Health programs with cutting‑edge informatics, data analytics, and applied research to improve environmental health policy and programs. BFSCS oversees regulatory programs for over 40,000 food service establishments and mobile food vendors in New York City.

The Director of Food Safety Data Analytics will sit in BESP and lead a team of four analysts and one informatics product manager. Reporting to the Executive Director of Environmental Surveillance, the Director will use data and informatics tools to support food safety program efforts, collaborating with BFSCS units, the Office of Environmental Investigations, and Division of Information Technology liaisons. The role involves oversight of immediate and long‑term BFSCS program needs, developing operational tools to increase efficiency, and directing surveillance and research projects. The position operates with a high degree of independence and autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with the Assistant Commissioner and Executive Directors of BFSCS to understand operational procedures and identify opportunities for optimization or automation.
• Design, develop, and maintain automated data solutions, reporting pipelines, and data‑driven tools to improve operational efficiency and reduce manual processes.
• Collaborate with supervisors of inspectional staff to ensure user acceptance of data‑driven tools; use an iterative process to improve or enhance tools as needed.
• Manage and improve BFSCS’s key performance indicators, including regular refinement to ensure alignment with leadership goals and priorities.
• Manage a staff of up to four data analysts and an informatics product manager, providing scientific and project direction and oversight.
• Lead analysis and reporting work to answer questions related to inspection results and trends using SQL, SSRS Report Designer, Power BI, and other software.
• Serve as liaison to inspection program executive leadership to formulate creative approaches for using data to improve inspection program efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure data analytic products and reports are accurate and adhere to data documentation standards.
• Liaise directly with Division of IT developers to oversee technical design and enhancements to the food safety inspection SQL database systems, including backend data infrastructure and/or data migration pathways.
• Design, optimize, and maintain SQL Server databases, reporting tables, views, and ETL workflows to support analytics and operational reporting.
• Provide direction and support in the planning of analyses, reports, presentations, and other modes for disseminating information on mobile food vending, restaurant, and other food service establishment safety.
• Present analytic results and research findings to Agency leadership and at conferences.
• Report back on projects and progress to the Executive Director of Environmental Health Surveillance.
• Assist with emergency response and preparedness work.
• Assist and support development and implementation of a new inspection system for the bureau, in coordination with EHS, DIT, OTI, and outside consultants.

Requirements

Preferred Skills

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience leading data analytic project management through all phases of the project lifecycle: gathering requirements, design, planning, implementation, testing, and evaluation.
• Strong background in management of surveillance and informatics projects and staff.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL programming for querying, analyzing, and transforming complex datasets to answer research and operational questions.
• Advanced experience developing and delivering interactive dashboards, reports, and other data visualization products using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) Report Designer (advanced) or Power BI.
• Experience collaborating with software developers to define technical requirements, prioritize enhancements or bug fixes, and troubleshoot application issues.
• Background or interest in environmental health and/or the principles of food safety.
• Experience presenting program initiatives and related research findings to executive leaders or at conferences.
• Experience with MS Access and Excel.
• Excellent managerial, interpersonal, and communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.

Minimum Qualifications

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:

• 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
• 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
• Education and/or experience equivalent to the above. However