Director, Community Engagement and Capacity-Building, Office of the Executive Deputy Commissioner

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 all 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: Community Research, Needs Assessment, and Surveillance - Lead efforts to systematically gather and assess information from communities, organizations, and other stakeholders to identify suicide prevention needs, gaps, assets, and emerging concerns. - Coordinate community needs assessments, listening activities, surveys, focus groups, and other information-gathering approaches to strengthen understanding of populations and settings disproportionately affected by suicide. - Work with Office research, surveillance, and subject matter experts to integrate community-generated information with epidemiologic data, surveillance findings, and available research evidence. - Identify trends, disparities, service gaps, and opportunities for intervention and translate findings into recommendations for prevention planning and practice. - Ensure data and information-gathering approaches appropriately reflect community context, health equity considerations, and populations that may be underrepresented in traditional data sources. Evidence-Informed Community Capacity-Building - Lead development and coordination of strategies to strengthen community capacity based on identified needs, surveillance findings, research evidence, and community priorities. - Coordinate access to evidence-informed training, technical assistance, tools, and other resources responsive to identified capacity gaps. - Work with subject matter experts and community partners to support implementation and adaptation of evidence-informed suicide prevention practices across diverse settings. - Monitor implementation and emerging evidence to identify opportunities to strengthen or modify community-based approaches. - Promote culturally responsive and equitable approaches to prevention that account for differences in risk, protective factors, access to resources, and community context. Lived Expertise and Community Knowledge - Lead the Office’s Lived Expertise Advisory Board and related engagement activities to systematically incorporate lived experience and community knowledge into suicide prevention planning. - Develop processes for gathering, synthesizing, and applying lived expertise to inform research priorities, program design, policy recommendations, and prevention strategies. - Ensure individuals with lived expertise and communities disproportionately affected by suicide have meaningful opportunities to shape Office priorities and initiatives. - Promote trauma-informed, equitable, and culturally responsive approaches to engaging and interpreting community knowledge. Policy, Planning, and Practice Translation - Translate findings from community assessments, surveillance, research, and stakeholder engagement into recommendations for policy, programs, services, and prevention planning. - Work with Office leadership, Department bureaus, City agencies, and external partners to apply evidence and community-informed findings to citywide suicide prevention initiatives. - Identify opportunities to adapt or scale prevention strategies based on available evidence, population needs, and implementation experience. - Prepare analyses, recommendations, and briefings for Office leadership that synthesize research evidence, surveillance data, community perspectives, and health equity considerations. Cross-Sector Research and Partnership Coordination - Develop and maintain partnerships with community organizations, healthcare systems, academic institutions, schools, advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to advance research-informed prevention. - Coordinate multidisciplinary initiatives that bring together community knowledge, public health surveillance, research, and implementation expertise. - Facilitate information-sharing and collaboration across partners to identify emerging issues, research needs, and opportunities for coordinated prevention action. - Represent the Office in community, professional, academic, and public forums and communicate evidence and findings in ways accessible to diverse audiences. Initiative Management and Evaluation - Develop work plans, implementation strategies, and performance measures for community engagement and capacity-building initiatives. - Establish processes for monitoring activities, assessing implementation, and identifying opportunities for improvement. - Coordinate collection and review of qualitative and quantitative information to assess reach, effectiveness, equity, and community responsiveness. - Use findings from monitoring and evaluation activities to recommend adjustments to programs, partnerships, and resource allocation. - Supervise assigned staff and provide direction and oversight for community research, engagement, and capacity-building activities. PREFERRED SKILLS: - Experience implementing suicide prevention programming, training, and capacity-building efforts. - Experience leading community engagement, coalition-building, capacity-building, or public health initiatives. - Experience working with communities and populations disproportionately affected by suicide or other adverse health outcomes. - Experience engaging individuals with lived expertise in program or policy development. - Experience supervising staff and managing complex, cross-sector initiatives. - Experience developing or coordinating training, technical assistance, or community capacity-building initiatives. - Knowledge of behavioral health, trauma-informed practice, and health equity 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! 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 sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549. CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744 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. 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.