Director of Operations, Bureau of the Public Health Laboratory

The Division of Disease Control’s mission is to safeguard the health of New Yorkers through identification, surveillance, treatment, control, and prevention of infectious diseases, which is achieved through varied and interrelated endeavors of its seven Bureaus. The NYC Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is one of the largest local public health laboratories in the United States where employees contribute to the health and safety of NYC residents by providing clinical and environmental laboratory testing services. PHL is committed to its mission to safeguard the health of all NYC residents by providing quality laboratory testing services that support the priorities of DOHMH and its community partners to prevent and respond to clinical and environmental public health concerns.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH,) Public Health Laboratory is seeking to hire a Director of Operations. The Director of Operations for the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is a vital leadership position that is essential for the continued success of PHL. This position will direct long- and short-term program planning activities, and research efforts related to emergency preparedness and laboratory operations. They will direct PHL's Health and Safety Unit, which follows OSHA and other applicable guidelines to ensure a safe testing environment. They will direct laboratory operations, including financial forecasting, budgeting, personnel, and oversee the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant for PHL. They will oversee PHL’s workforce development efforts, which includes ensuring appropriate cross-training and development of laboratory staff. They will be a liaison between PHL and internal agency leadership, and external City and State agencies such as NYPD, FDNY, OEM and NYS DOH and Federal Agencies such as CDC, FBI, and DHS to ensure that PHL is prepared to meet public health emergencies. Finally, they will serve as Incident Command System PHL Branch Director/ Leader during times of emergency activation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

- Conduct and assist with laboratory research projects and run queries, generate reports and analyze data.
- Oversee research studies and supervise staff in conducting research projects
- Perform complex laboratory data analysis used to inform laboratory preparedness and response planning and other public health emergencies
- Write, review, edit and update testing protocols and procedures.
- Direct long- and short-term program planning activities, and research efforts especially related to emergency preparedness and COOP.
- Monitor operational matters necessary for program success.
- Direct PHL's workforce, and skill development efforts to support preparedness for surge events, intra-bureau collaborations, and cross-training initiatives across PHL sections during emergency responses.
- Serve as the principal PHL liaison to agency’s Facilities Planning and Administrative Services Bureau to ensure uninterrupted routine testing services.
- Direct laboratory operations including biosafety, financial forecasting, budgeting, and personnel; and oversees the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant for PHL, and deliverables for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) grant.
- Direct the renovation of the existing PHL facility and works to ensure the new PHL facility has appropriate laboratory space and equipment.
- Work with PHL and external agencies to ensure that the PHL is prepared to meet public health emergencies and serves as Incident Command System PHL Branch Director/ leader during times of emergency activation.
- Work with DOHMH leadership, and external City and State agencies such as NYPD, FDNY, OEM and NYS DOH and Federal Agencies such as CDC, FBI, and DHS to ensure that PHL is prepared to meet public health emergencies.

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!

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 [email protected] or 347-396-6549.

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.