Special Projects Manager, Bureau of Data Technology & Strategy

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS), launched in October 2023, aims to catalyze critical data modernization work and enable the agency to make progress toward linking public health, healthcare, and social services for timely and effective publication. We are working to make these data more accessible, timely, equitable, meaningfully usable, and protected—and actively used to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers. Our goal is to strengthen agency-wide data capabilities by empowering our workforce, enhancing intra- and inter-agency data sharing, and using modern technology to yield trusted and integrated data and insights. A comprehensive view of city needs is essential to enhance public health action and improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. CPHDS is working to strengthen citywide population health surveillance by better linking public health, healthcare, and social service data to fully characterize and improve the health of New Yorkers.

The Bureau of Data Technology and Strategy (DTS) is dedicated to the development of the Enterprise Data Platform (EDP) and is home to data strategy, data governance, data product management, data engineering, and data science capabilities. The EDP is a cloud-based data repository, data catalog, and analytics environment that supports public health analysis, program delivery, and decision-making at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of electronic case reporting, health information exchange, and laboratory data for chronic conditions.
• Write and present proposals to pursue resources and opportunities to support agency work.
• Manage junior data analysts and quality assurance staff.
• Manage technology project plans, timelines, tasks, and budgets.
• Collaborate with agency staff on innovative data technology projects.
• Prepare meeting agendas, presentations, diagrams, and lead meetings with internal agency teams.
• Implement and test novel data processing and analysis pipelines using agency-approved software.
• Implement innovative data technology projects.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications for Assignment Level I (physical, biological, 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 one of the following:

• 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, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience as described in the second bullet above.

Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required above.

Skills

• Experience managing staff.
• Experience in a public health environment.
• Experience managing complex relationships in a highly diverse and decentralized environment.
• Ability to propose new work streams that support and improve public health practice.
• Ability to adapt and work through uncertainty to achieve a goal.
• Hands-on experience with modern programming languages used for data, such as SQL, R, and Python.

The ideal candidate would constantly learn, grow, and help champion new data technologies to create and improve agency processes that enhance the health of the NYC population.

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. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
• Health Insurance: Premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually (per a 2024 assessment).
• Additional Benefits: Health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• Pension Plan: Public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• Retirement Savings: Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program: Offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
• Work From Home Policy: Depending on the position, you may be able to work up to two days per week from home.
• Job Security: Enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment while contributing to making NYC a healthier place to live and work.

About the Organization

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, we have 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.

Residency Requirement: 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.