Executive Director, Office of Suicide Prevention

DEPT OF HEALTH/MENTAL HYGIENE; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Loan forgiveness programs

Health insurance benefits

Work From Home Policy

Job security and pension

Job summary

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene seeks a City Research Scientist to lead strategic, cross‑agency suicide prevention and research initiatives. You will oversee epidemiology, surveillance, and evaluation, directing budgets, staffing, and performance.

The role partners with academic institutions, healthcare systems, and government agencies to translate data into policy, guide citywide prevention priorities, and strengthen programs across public health.

Qualifications

• Advanced training in public health, epidemiology, or population health.
• Senior-level experience guiding research, surveillance, data, or evaluation in public health/government.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary initiatives with government, academia, healthcare and communities.
• Experience managing organizational operations, budgets, funding and senior staff.
• Ability to translate scientific evidence and population health data into policy and prevention planning.
• Experience representing an organization in executive or public-facing settings.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of epidemiologic, surveillance, research and evaluation infrastructure.
• Set data priorities aligned with citywide suicide prevention goals.
• Lead cross-agency coordination to advance large-scale research and prevention initiatives.
• Translate findings into actionable policy, programs and systems improvements.
• Advise on suicide prevention policy and coordinate with external partners.
• Lead citywide partnerships across sectors to advance prevention priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Research leadership

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Budget & operations

Translating evidence to policy

Executive representation

Education

Doctorate in public health

Master's in public health

Job description

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a world-renowned agency with a long tradition of protecting and promoting health in the nation’s most culturally and linguistically diverse city. Our 7,000-plus team members bring an extraordinary array of languages, cultures, and experiences to bear on the work of public health. Our diversity fuels creativity because al perspectives are heard and valued. DOHMH aims to improve the health outcomes of all New Yorkers by centering persistent racial inequities and promotion of social justice at the core of its work. The Division of Mental Hygiene of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is responsible for policy, programs and provide oversight related to mental health, alcohol and drug use prevention care and treatment and developmental delays and disabilities.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Strategic and Executive Leadership

• Lead development and implementation of a citywide suicide prevention strategy and establish citywide priorities for the Office.
• Direct the Office’s operations, staffing, budget, performance, and organizational development.
• Supervise senior leadership and ensure effective coordination across the Office’s strategic, research, surveillance, partnership, and prevention functions.
• Establish goals, performance measures, and accountability mechanisms to advance population-level suicide prevention.
• Ensure the Office operates in close collaboration with critical interagency partners that hold specific expertise and responsibilities related to monitoring and addressing population-level suicide and injury/violence prevention trends (e.g., Office of Vital Statistics and Division of Environmental Health).

Research, Surveillance, and Scientific Strategy

• Provide executive oversight of the Office’s epidemiologic, surveillance, research, and evaluation functions and infrastructure.
• Set research and data priorities in alignment with Divisional goals, citywide suicide prevention planning, and emerging public health needs.
• Guide the development and use of a comprehensive suicide surveillance strategy, research initiatives, data resources, and evaluation activities.
• Ensure that emerging disparities, geographic patterns, clusters, and populations experiencing elevated suicide risk are identified and addressed.
• Lead coordination with divisional bureaus and cross-agency partners, academic institutions, healthcare systems, and other stakeholders to advance large-scale research and prevention initiatives.
• Ensure research and surveillance findings are translated into actionable recommendations for policy, programs, and systems improvement.

Policy and Government Relations

• Advise Divisional leadership on suicide prevention policy, legislation, regulation, and emerging issues.
• Advance policy recommendations informed by research, surveillance, and public health priorities.
• In collaboration with External Affairs, coordinate with City agencies, elected officials, and state and federal partners on shared priorities; represent the Department in governmental and interagency forums related to suicide prevention.

Cross-Sector Leadership and Partnerships

• Lead a coordinated, citywide approach to suicide prevention across healthcare, behavioral health, public safety, education, housing, planning, philanthropy, academia, and community sectors.
• Coordinate collaborative research initiatives addressing priority questions identified through surveillance.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships that advance coordinated suicide prevention priorities.
• Align public and private investments and facilitate shared accountability across participating sectors.
• Promote integration of suicide prevention into systems and policies beyond the traditional behavioral health sector.

Resource Development and Accountability

• Develop strategies to sustain and expand resources supporting the Office’s priorities.
• Oversee strategic funding initiatives, grant development, and partnership agreements.
• Monitor implementation of the City’s suicide prevention strategy and report on progress, emerging trends, and strategic priorities to Department leadership.
• Promote effective and coordinated use of public and private resources.

PREFERRED SKILLS:

• Advanced training or professional experience in public health, epidemiology, suicide prevention, injury prevention, behavioral health, population health, or a related field.
• Senior-level experience guiding research, surveillance, data, or evaluation functions within a public health, healthcare, academic, or government setting.
• Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary initiatives involving government, academic, healthcare, community, and other external partners.
• Experience managing organizational operations, budgets, funding, and senior staff.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific evidence and population health data into policy, strategy, and large-scale prevention planning.
• Experience representing an organization in executive, governmental, academic, or public-facing settings.

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.

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

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.