City of New York

Job Description

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment (BADUPCT) works to close gaps and reduce overall morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and substance use among New Yorkers. BADUPCT develops, implements, and evaluates interventions and prevention strategies through contracting of treatment, recovery and support services; policy analysis and development; epidemiology and surveillance; dissemination of treatment and management guidelines; harm reduction initiatives; public and provider outreach and education; and community involvement and interagency collaboration. The Bureau amplifies the voices of those most impacted and focuses on inequitable structural, social, service, and communication factors that drive disparities.

The Office of Research, Surveillance, Policy, and Communications within BADUPCT conducts alcohol- and drug-related surveillance, program evaluation and research, maintains databases, designs research protocols, produces reports, writes scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals, facilitates program and policy development, and develops messaging and other communication materials for provider and public audiences.

The Drug-Checking Program Manager will manage a multi-site drug-checking initiative, provide drug-checking services in community settings, and interpret program findings to inform the development of public health responses to the overdose crisis.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The Drug-Checking Program Manager will manage the bureau’s Drug-Checking Program. In this capacity, they will be responsible for the development and delivery of drug-checking technician training and ongoing continuing education; provision of drug-checking services, including tailored harm reduction education, in community-based settings; and development of community responses and messaging based on program findings.

Reporting to the Director of Research Initiatives & Special Projects, the Drug Checking Program Manager will be responsible for the following:

• Manage day-to-day activities of the bureau’s drug-checking initiative in community-based settings
• Conduct drug-checking as the initiative’s lead technician in community-based settings using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and immunoassay test strips
• Oversee the training and ongoing continuing education of drug-checking technicians via didactic presentations, observation, and data review
• Supervise and mentor drug-checking initiative staff (City Research Scientists) who are engaged in substance use interventions, research, and data analysis
• Develop and refine operational policies and procedures for the drug-checking initiative pertaining to survey administration, results interpretation, and risk reduction education
• Analyze and synthesize drug-checking data into concise reports and recommend appropriate public health intervention responses as needed
• Manage reporting of drug-checking data to bureau and agency leadership, community partners, and grant funders
• Lead concordance analysis of drug-checking results for all drug-checking technicians
• Design, conduct, and develop new methods of analyses for the bureau’s drug-checking initiative
• Collaborate with external laboratory partners that provide secondary testing to ensure data quality
• Strategize and manage community responses to drug-checking data, including the development of materials, presentations, and alerts
• Oversee community engagement activities with partnering drug-checking sites to ensure sustainability of the drug-checking initiative
• Manage the planning, design, execution, and coordination of drug-checking research activities within BADUPCT in order to gather, examine, and present evidence on emerging drug issues and the unregulated drug supply in New York City
• Evaluate recent literature relating to drug-checking and assist in coordinating the research efforts to initiate new research projects
• Prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals and present findings at internal and external meetings including at relevant research conferences
• Participate in multi-agency strategic initiatives aimed at reducing health consequences related to drug use
• Contribute to the bureau’s racial justice and health equity activities

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree, PhD, or DrPH with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience conducting drug-checking using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry in community settings
• Proven ability to engage people who use drugs in public health research and interventions
• Experience interpreting drug-related data, such as drug-checking results, and communicating those results from a harm reduction lens
• Experience with project management
• Prior experience supervising and mentoring staff
• Prior experience delivering trainings and continuing education
• Understanding of surveillance and quantitative data analysis
• Knowledge of behavioral research relating to substance use
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and think creatively
• Ability to work on multiple projects effectively and efficiently
• Desire to grow professionally, develop new skills and willingness to work outside of comfort zone
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Passionate about implementing interventions and conducting analyses with the end goal of reducing drug-related morbidity and mortality in New York City

Why you should work for us:

• 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, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.

o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.

o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.

o a tax-deferred savings program and

o 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 - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.

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, with 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.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

Qualifications

1. 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:

1. 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

2. 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

3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" 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 described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:

Probationary Period

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

Additional Information

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.