Director of Strategic Operations

Position Summary

The Director of Strategic Operations will serve as a partner to CPHDS leadership, helping to define and advance the Center’s priorities and long-term vision for data modernization across the NYC Health Department. This role requires comfort with shaping emerging initiatives and turning early ideas into actionable plans. You will lead and incubate high priority efforts such as multi-year planning, inter- and intra-agency collaborations, advancing sustainable funding strategies, and scaling AI readiness.

Duties Include

• Strategic Initiatives & Execution
• Lead and execute high-priority strategic initiatives in partnership with CPHDS leadership, and often shaping direction as work evolves
• Support AI and data modernization efforts, including identifying opportunities to use AI to improve our work and increasing AI literacy throughout the Agency
• Develop and implement funding and revenue strategies in collaboration with administrative, finance, and legal teams
• Build strong working relationships across teams to support coordination and execution
• Translate broad priorities into clear plans, timelines, and deliverables, adjusting as needed to maintain momentum
• Identify risks and challenges early and proactively implement practical solutions
• Develop scopes of work and oversee consultants and project-based resources
• Organizational Transformation & Change Management
• Lead and support change efforts that help embed new ways of working into day-to-day practice
• Identify opportunities to improve how work gets done and introduce practical, right-sized solutions
• Help the organization move from planning to sustained execution, making change part of routine operations
• Strategic Planning & Operations
• Develop and refine a multi-year strategic roadmap aligned with CPHDS and agency priorities
• Translate leadership priorities into actionable plans with clear milestones and outcomes
• Manage the development of bureau and Center goals and coordinate regular reporting
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress
• Align strategic priorities with available funding sources, including grants and other opportunities
• Develop and implement long-term funding and revenue approaches, working with subject matter experts
• Lead planning efforts such as retreats, workshops, and strategy sessions that drive clarity, alignment, and action
• Direct change management efforts to create a positive and collaborative culture and align work with the strategic plan, working with CPHDS leadership and Administration
• Coordination of Stakeholder Relationships
• Build and maintain effective working relationships across CPHDS, DOHMH bureaus, and external partners
• Ensure teams are aligned on priorities, timelines, ownership, next steps, and expected outcomes
• Cook up efforts across multiple groups to keep work progressing efficiently
• Serve as a central point of coordination for initiatives involving multiple stakeholders
• Support external partnerships and collaborations, ensuring they align with program goals
• Provide clear, actionable updates to leadership to support decision-making
• Project Management
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and deliverables
• Track progress across initiatives and ensure work stays on schedule
• Identify and address risks, delays, and dependencies
• Ensure clear ownership of tasks and follow-through on deliverables
• Organize meetings, agendas, and documentation to support progress
• Provide regular updates to leadership on status and outcomes
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and team effectiveness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of eight years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified above
• Familiarity with public health and/or data modernization, or strong interest in learning more about public health and data modernization
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, managing complex projects, coordinating across diverse teams, and delivering results on time

Additional Desired Skills

• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with minimal direction
• Attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with change management is a plus
• Project management experience
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships with individuals at all levels
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• High degree of self-awareness, humility, and diplomacy