Director of Health Justice Network (HJN), Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Impacted Populations

The Health Justice Network (HJN) is an equity-centered public health initiative under the Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice-Impacted Populations that aims to maximize health outcomes and support successful community reintegration. Operating as a program with two tracks, HJN pairs individuals returning home from jail or prison with trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) who share personal lived experience with the legal system. Through its community-based Reentry Track and its court-linked Court-Based Mental Health Navigators Track, the initiative delivers person-centered, trauma-and-resilience-informed care by addressing essential healthcare navigation, stabilization needs, and social support.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate the Community Service Board subcommittee, which functions as the bureau's community advisory board, ensuring community input informs the bureau's legislative agenda and communications.
• Gather and synthesize community advisory board input to inform the legislative agenda developed and owned by the policy team each legislative session.
• Lead internal communications, including the bureau intranet page, one-pagers, visuals, and support for the bureau newsletter.
• Lead external communications, including public-facing web pages, external-facing documents, presentations, and other materials.
• Develop and prepare presentations, speaking engagements materials, and remarks for the Assistant Commissioner.
• Support the development and dissemination of bureau publications, including research from the epidemiology unit.
• Coordinate all external partnerships that impact the bureau's units and programs.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the bureau and external partners, ensuring alignment and coordination across units.
• Establish and maintain consistent messaging, branding, and visual identity across all bureau communications.
• Develop quality assurance and review processes for communications and partnership deliverables.
• Monitor and report on partnership and communications outcomes, using data to inform strategy and refinement.
• Facilitate cross-unit collaboration among policy, epidemiology, and program teams to align partnerships and messaging.

Requirements

• Master’s degree; Communications/public affairs background a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in communications, external affairs, partnership development, public health, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading internal and external communications, including digital, print, and presentation materials.
• Personal lived experience that aligns with the population the bureau engages.
• Experience building and managing cross-sector partnerships with community-based, government, or institutional organizations.
• Experience facilitating advisory boards, coalitions, or community engagement processes.
• Excellent writing, editing, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Strong strategic thinking and project management skills, with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
• Experience working with diverse and underserved populations, with a commitment to health equity and social justice.
• Proficiency in communications tools, data analysis, and reporting.
• Knowledge of confidentiality, ethics, and compliance standards in public health and government settings.
• Experience leading or supervising peer specialists, community health workers, or professionals with lived legal system experience.
• Knowledge of performance evaluation techniques, key metrics, data analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to act independently, exercise good judgment, and escalate issues accordingly.
• Ability to work flexibly and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Working knowledge of MS Office and program management software.
• Familiarity with the specific health impacts of incarceration, healthcare navigation, and vital document procurement.

Benefits

• 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, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
• Premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Option to work up to two days per week from home, depending on position.
• Enhanced job security compared to private sector employment.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department), established in 1805, is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Its mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone can achieve optimal health through programs 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.