EEO Director, Office of the Deputy Commissioner

Position Overview

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) seeks an accomplished, results-oriented attorney and executive leader to serve as Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). The ideal candidate will be an experienced attorney with demonstrated expertise in employment law, discrimination investigations, regulatory compliance, and organizational risk management, combined with the leadership capabilities necessary to oversee a comprehensive EEO program within a large and complex organization. Serving as a senior advisor to agency leadership, the Director will oversee EEO investigations, policy development, regulatory compliance, employee training, and organizational risk management. The successful candidate will collaborate with executive leadership, Human Resources and Labor Relations, the Office of General Counsel, and external oversight agencies to promote accountability, equitable employment practices, and a respectful workplace. The selected candidate must maintain active membership in good standing with the New York State Bar throughout their employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Direct the Department's EEO program, establish operational priorities, and develop strategies that promote regulatory compliance, organizational accountability, and equitable employment practices.
• Legal Compliance and Risk Management: Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local EEO laws and Citywide policies. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and corrective measures to mitigate organizational risk. Maintain internal databases and keep detailed logs of all EEO investigations and reasonable accommodations requests.
• EEO Investigations: Provide oversight of internal investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and related workplace complaints. Review findings and recommend determinations to Commissioner.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Oversee the Department's reasonable accommodation process and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (e.g. ADA, City procedures).
• External Agency Coordination: Serve as the Department's principal liaison with DCAS, the NYC Equal Employment Practices Commission, and other regulatory agencies. Coordinate responses to external complaints, investigations, and litigation in collaboration with the Office of General Counsel.
• Workplace Equity and Employee Engagement: Advance initiatives that strengthen equal employment opportunity, promote equitable workforce practices, and support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
• Training and Executive Advisory Services: Direct EEO training and education initiatives for employees and management. Create strategies for implementing and monitoring compliance with EEO-related training, policies, and procedures. Provide guidance to senior leadership on complex employment matters, regulatory requirements, and workplace concerns.
• Reporting and Performance Accountability: Oversee mandated EEO reporting, regulatory audits, and compliance reviews. Keep management and staff updated of best practices for EEO issues, ensuring requests for reasonable accommodations and compliant resolutions adhere to the City's EEO Policy.
• Operational and Staff Leadership: Direct the daily operations of the EEO Office, supervise professional staff, establish performance expectations, and ensure effective resource management and continuous process improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• A minimum of ten (10) years of recent, full-time, responsible, relevant, and satisfactory legal experience following admission to any bar, of which three (3) years are in supervisory capacity.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local EEO laws, employment discrimination regulations, and workplace compliance requirements.
• Significant leadership experience overseeing EEO programs, employment law matters, investigations, or related compliance functions.
• Experience advising executive leadership on complex legal, regulatory, and organizational matters.
• Strong knowledge of discrimination and harassment investigations, reasonable accommodations, and organizational risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop policies, implement strategic initiatives, and promote equitable workplace practices.
• Exceptional communication, analytical, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Proven ability to supervise professional staff, manage competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment in sensitive matters.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with HR information systems and electronic case management platforms.
• SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work. Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Benefits

• 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, visit the U.S. Department of Education's website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/).
• Health Insurance: A premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• Additional Benefits: Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund.
• Pension: A public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• Savings Program: A tax-deferred savings program.
• Wellness: 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: More job security compared to private sector employment and the ability to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

Commitment To Equity

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. The NYC Health Department is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact June Bridgemohan, Deputy Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at jbridgemohan@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6508.

Additional Information

New York City Residency is not required for this position. As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.