Substance Use Epidemiologist, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Loan forgiveness

Health insurance

Public pension

Tax-deferred savings

Worksite wellness

Job summary

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is seeking a City Research Scientist to lead analytic projects using surveillance data to inform public health interventions for alcohol and drug use in New York City. The role emphasizes data quality, IRB coordination, and collaboration across interdisciplinary teams.

The position requires advanced degrees and substantial experience in public health research, with responsibilities spanning manuscript development, policy guidance, and equity-focused

Qualifications

• Master's degree in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or public health.
• Doctorate degree in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science with supervisory/administrative/research experience; or
• Master's degree with three years of responsible full-time research experience; or equivalent combination with at least two years of such experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct analyses of EMS, syndromic, mortality and other surveillance datasets to understand trends in NYC.
• Synthesize findings across multiple surveillance data sources.
• Assist with development of analytic plans, protocols, and workflows.
• Stay up-to-date on relevant drug and alcohol-related research, policy and news; conduct literature reviews.

Education

Master's degree in physical, biological, environmental science or public health

Doctorate degree in physical, biological, environmental or social science

Job description

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use(BADU) works to close gaps and reduce overall morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and substance use among New Yorkers. BADU 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 BADU 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.

Duties Will Include But Not Be Limited To

• Conduct analyses of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), syndromic, mortality, and other surveillance datasets to understand trends and descriptions of drug-related issues in NYC
• Synthesize findings across multiple surveillance data sources
• Assist with development of analytic plans, protocols, and workflows
• Stay up-to-date on relevant drug and alcohol-related research, policy, and news; conduct literature reviews; alert team to noteworthy updates
• Present data in written and oral form, to internally and external audiences
• Prepare IRB applications for surveillance and research studies
• Create reports and dashboards specifically for substance use surveillance data sources
• Collaborate with Bureau colleagues to use surveillance data for planning and implementing tailored community-facing activities
• Conduct and support outbreak investigations related to drugs and/or alcohol
• Create, revise, and version study and data management documentation (e.g., data dictionaries, codebooks)
• Contribute to the development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
• Contribute to the Bureau’s racial justice and health equity activities
• Perform all other responsibilities and projects as assigned by supervisors.

Preferred Skills

• A Master’s degree, PhD, or DrPH with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
• Experience(at least 3 years)analyzing public health data in an applied setting using R, SAS, or similar statistical software
• Experience with data visualization and dashboards (e.g., Tableau)and reporting of results for various audiences
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent computer skills, including MS Office
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to multitask in a fast faced, high-volume environment
• 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:
• 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

• 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:

• 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 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.