Assistant Commissioner, Data Technology & Strategy

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking public health agency as the Assistant Commissioner, leading the charge in data modernization and health equity. This pivotal role involves shaping innovative data strategies, managing a talented team, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders to enhance public health outcomes for New Yorkers. You'll have the opportunity to drive transformative initiatives that leverage data for impactful decision-making, ensuring that the agency's technology and data systems are cutting-edge and effective. If you are passionate about health informatics and making a difference in the community, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Loan Forgiveness Programs

Premium-Free Health Insurance

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Work From Home Policy

Robust Worksite Wellness Program

Qualifications

• Strong background in health informatics and data systems.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary teams and projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of data modernization strategies for public health.
• Oversee integration of health data systems with external partners.
• Manage a multidisciplinary team and advocate for funding.

Skills

Health Informatics

Data Modernization

Data Governance

Public Health Strategies

Team Leadership

Grant Writing

Education

Doctor of Medicine or equivalent

Master’s Degree in Public Health or related field

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Azure

Job description

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS) - launched in October of 2023 - aims to catalyze critical data modernization work and enable the agency to make progress toward linking public health, healthcare, and social service for timely and effective public action. We are working towards making these data more accessible, timely, equitable, meaningfully usable, and protected and actively used to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers. We aim 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 real-time and comprehensive view of city needs is needed to enhance public health actions and improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable New Yorkers. The Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Data Technology and Strategy is a cornerstone role within the Center for Population Health Data Science. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of data modernization and innovation in one of the nation's largest public health agencies. As the leader of a newly established bureau, the Assistant Commissioner will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic vision that seamlessly integrates advanced technologies, robust data systems, and innovative methodologies to address complex public health challenges. This role is critical in ensuring that the Department's data infrastructure and technology strategies are not only cutting-edge but also scalable, secure, impactful, and successfully adopted by internal teams and external stakeholders.

The position demands a forward-thinking leader who can navigate the complexities of managing a multidisciplinary team while fostering collaboration in the team, and across diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations. With a focus on developing the future public health data workforce, a federated data and analytics model, and a data-as-a-product culture, the Assistant Commissioner will drive and supervise the development of an interoperable front door, central data platform, centralized data governance, advanced analytics, and unified data communications solutions that empower data-driven decision-making in public health planning, implementation, and policy. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of technical acumen, strategic foresight, and a passion for leveraging data to improve health outcomes for all populations as well as a track record of successful management of people, process, and technology in complex organizational environments. Experience/expertise in health informatics and interoperability in a government organization, understanding of the national data modernization initiative and health equity, and a record of securing funding for innovative initiatives are highly desirable.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

1. Spearhead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for data modernization and data systems transformation to support public health priorities, such as disease prevention and monitoring, health equity, and emergency preparedness.
2. Oversee the integration of health data systems across the Agency and with external partners, including hospitals, other government organizations, and community organizations.
3. Interest in and ability to secure grants and to advocate for funding to support data and informatics work.
4. Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of about 45 data technologists, scientists, data governance and product management teams.
5. Help identify and secure grants, oversee the bureau's budget and allocate resources in alignment with Center and Bureau priorities.
6. Build organizational capacity in data engineering and technology, and advanced analytic methods in a public health and health equity framework.
7. Establish a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the bureau.
8. Manage the bureau's budget, resources, and workforce development programs.
9. Further the adoption of cutting-edge technologies for data exchange, management and analytics as part of our cloud transformation to Microsoft Azure.
10. Ensure the security, accuracy, and accessibility of public health data.
11. Plan and drive the modernization and unification of legacy data systems to improve scalability and efficiency.
12. Oversee data governance to facilitate data exchange and use, while protecting privacy, and ensuring data quality, accuracy, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
13. Reduce data silos, focusing on smoother data exchange and data cleaning and processing to allow agency-wide analytic teams to spend more time doing analyses to drive policy, programming, advocacy and decision-making.
14. Collaborate with IT teams to ensure the resilience, scalability, and security of technological infrastructure.
15. Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations. Partner with state and federal organizations, and regional health information organizations (RHIOs) to improve data exchange and coordination.
16. Work with government organizations, academic institutions, community organizations and private-sector partners for mutually beneficial data exchange, learning and sharing best practices, and forming partnership and initiatives to advance the health of New Yorkers and promote health equity.
17. Represent the bureau in public forums, technical meetings, and policy discussions.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

1. Experience working in public health or governmental organizations.
2. Commitment to advancing health equity and reducing disparities through data-driven approaches.
3. High degree of self-awareness, humility, and diplomacy.
4. Strong professional networks and contributions within the field of public health informatics.

Why you should work for us:

1. 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/).
2. Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

• a 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.
• a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• a tax-deferred savings program.
• 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 [e-mail] or 347-396-6549.

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (DOHMH) - 06943

Minimum Qualifications

1. Graduation from an approved school of medicine and have received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or comparable equivalent and a master's degree in Public Administration, Personnel Administration, Business Administration, Human Services, Social Work, Public Health, Health Administration, Health Policy, Health Science, Community Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Psychiatric Health, Nursing, Infectious/Communicable Diseases, Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Pathology, Immunology, Biostatistics, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Political Science, Psychology from an accredited college or university and two years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position; or

2. A Master’s Degree from an accredited college in Public Administration, Personnel Administration, Business Administration, Human Services, Social Work, Public Health, Health Administration, Health Policy, Health Science, Community Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Psychiatric Health, Nursing, Infectious/Communicable Diseases, Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences, Biology, Pathology, Immunology, Biostatistics, Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Political Science, Psychology or a related field, plus three years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position; or

3. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and five years of satisfactory experience of a nature to qualify for the duties and responsibilities of the position, at least 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity or supervising personnel performing activities related to the duties of the position; or

4. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and nine years of satisfactory, full-time progressively responsible experience as described in "1" above, 18 months of which must have been in an administrative, managerial, executive or supervisory capacity.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

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/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. Except as otherwise provided herein, a person serving in a mayoral agency in any of the following civil service or office titles shall be a resident of the City on the date that he or she assumes such title or shall establish city residence within ninety days after such date and shall thereafter maintain city residency for as long as he or she serves in such title: agency heads, including but not limited to Commissioner, Director and Executive Director, First Deputy Commissioner, Executive Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, General Counsel, Borough Commissioner, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Associate Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, and other senior level staff titles, identified on a list established pursuant to section 2(b) of this Order.

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.