Data Governance & Special Projects Coordinator, Bureau of Vital Statistics

City of New York; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Loan forgiveness

Health benefits

Public sector pension

Work from home policy

Job security

Job summary

NYC Health Department seeks a senior data governance lead to advance governance, oversee data requests, and ensure privacy in vital statistics data. You will work with legal and policy teams, coordinate projects, and support public health reporting.

The role emphasizes collaboration across agency units, strong communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a regulated data environment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental science or public health.
• Experience leading data governance, data sharing, and disclosure control practices.
• Knowledge of health privacy laws and data security requirements.

Responsibilities

• Advance and implement data governance across agency units.
• Manage data requests and tracking, ensuring timely responses.
• Oversee data access workflows and ensure privacy and security compliance.
• Lead projects for OVS leadership and coordinate meetings and outcomes.
• Support literature reviews, reporting, and knowledge of public health trends.

Skills

Data governance

Data sharing

Public health data

Policy & privacy

Project management

Communication

Government experience

Equity lens

Education

Master's degree in public health or related field

Job description

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS) within the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) aims to catalyze critical data modernization work by linking public health, healthcare, and social service data. The Center works 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. The Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) is responsible for registering and certifying birth, deaths, and spontaneous terminations of pregnancy in NYC. The Bureau issues, analyzes, and reports on 285,000 vital events each year. The Bureau is a very large customer service operation, providing death certification services on a 24/7 basis, issuing more than 900,000 certified copies of birth and death records, and fulfilling hundreds of data requests annually.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Advance and Implement Data Governance

• Lead collaboration with CPHDS’ Bureau of Data Technology & Strategy and other agency units to strengthen governance processes.
• Ensure analytic needs are aligned with data governance capabilities, within and across agency units.
• Serve as a senior technical lead for data governance related to vital event data.
• Lead internal and external data sharing processes, including reviewing requests for appropriateness and feasibility, applying governance rules and disclosure protections, and documenting data use agreements and conditions.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, agency policies, and data use agreements.
• Maintain documentation of data definitions, metadata, and governance rules.

Manage Data Requests & Tracking

• Oversee the general email inbox for internal and external data requests, ensuring timely and high-quality responses.
• Track data requests and agreements, enhancing e‑efficiency and alignment with broader agency data systems.

Streamline Data Access & Compliance

• Manage workflows for data inquiries, reviewing requests, drafting agreements, and obtaining necessary approvals.
• Work closely with legal and policy teams to ensure adherence to privacy, confidentiality, and security standards.
• Develop, update and communicate all relevant policies and guidance for data users.

Project Management & Coordination

• Lead and manage special projects as assigned by OVS leadership.
• Attend meetings and events on behalf of OVS leadership.
• Organize meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes, assign follow‑ups, and monitor action items.
• Track publication outputs, performance measures, and historical data requests for OVS, as pertains to data requests, sharing, and collaborations.
• Contribute to enhancing OVS systems for project management and tracking.

Facilitate Research & Reporting

• Conduct literature reviews, research memos, and summaries, especially supporting agency priorities related to vital events (e.g., maternal mortality, life expectancy).
• Support production of required OVS data reports.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge on public health trends, including mortality causes, birth outcomes, and policy impacts.
• Offering technical assistance to the Office as needed.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Strong experience leading and managing data governance, data sharing, and disclosure control practices.
• Deep knowledge of health privacy laws, data security, and confidentiality regulations.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and priorities.
• Experience interpreting, managing, and reporting public health data.
• Ability to communicate complex analytic findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and communication skills (both written and verbal).
• Ability to independently problem‑solve and apply project management strategies.
• Experience working in government, public health agencies, or similarly regulated data environments.
• Experience applying a racial equity lens in public health or data governance work.

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:
  • 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 and
  • 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!

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 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.

Minimum 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.

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. 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. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.