Research Scientist, Bureau of Environmental Sciences and Engineering - New York City, NY : Job Details

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the country. Our mission is to protect and improve the health of all New Yorkers, in service of a vision of a city in which all New Yorkers can realize their full health potential, regardless of who they are, how old they are, where they are from, or where they live.

As a world-renowned public health agency with a history of building transformative public health programming and infrastructure, innovating in science and scholarship to advance public health knowledge, and responding to urgent public health crises from New York City's yellow fever outbreak in 1822, to the COVID-19 pandemic we are a hub for public health innovation, expertise, and programs, and services. We serve as the population health strategist, and policy, and planning authority for the City of New York, while also having a vast impact on national and international public policy, including 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 racial and social justice work, among others.

Our Agency's five strategic priorities, building off a recently-completed strategic planning process emerging from the COVID-19 emergency, are:

1) To re-envision how the Health Department prepares for and responds to health emergencies, with a focus on building a response-ready organization, with faster decision-making, transparent public communications, and stronger surveillance and bridges to healthcare systems 2) Address and prevent chronic and diet-related disease, including addressing rising rates of childhood obesity and the impact of diabetes, and transforming our food systems to improve nutrition and enhance access to healthy foods

3) Address the second pandemic of mental illness including: reducing overdose deaths, strengthening our youth mental health systems, and supporting people with serious mental illness

4) Reduce black maternal mortality and make New York a model city for women's health

5) Mobilize against and combat the health impacts of climate change

Our 7,000-plus team members bring extraordinary diversity to the work of public health. True to our value of equity as a foundational element of all of our work, and a critical foundation to achieving population health impact in New York City, the NYC Health Department has been a leader in recognizing and dismantling racism's impacts on the health of New Yorkers and beyond. In 2021, the NYC Board of Health declared racism as a public health crisis. With commitment to advance anti-racist public health practices that dismantle systems that perpetuate inequitable power, opportunity and access, the NYC Health Department continues to work in and with communities and community organizations to increase their access to health services and decrease avoidable health outcomes.

The Office of Public Health Engineering (PHE), through research, technical support, surveillance, and enforcement ensures that the drinking water supply, recreational water facilities and sanitary sewage conditions are in full compliance with Federal, State and City Health Code requirements to protect the health and safety of all New York City residents.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Assist in providing scientific research and literature review of proposed water quality standards and regulations, emergency preparedness and disease response, new water treatment technologies, analytical methods, surveillance tools, protocols, data systems and/or processes related to PHE programs.

Assist in the regulatory water quality surveillance of the New York City drinking water supply program including collection of water quality samples and sampling and operational data analysis and compliance review.

Assist in inspection of drinking water facilities (sanitary survey) to verify source water, water treatment, storage, and distribution operations in accordance with the approved plans and for compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations and contribute to reports on inspection findings.

Review engineering plans and provide written comments for water treatment and monitoring systems and bathing establishment submissions by outside agencies and/or engineers/architects for regulatory approval and permit construction and operation oversight for compliance with applicable Federal, State and Local regulations.

Assist in testing and implementation of software-based data collection and reporting tools.

Contribute to scientific reports and research as it relates to the program's compliance and surveillance activities, study findings, and regulatory review of the City's drinking and recreational water quality programs.

Assist in development of technical guidance, informational factsheets, and recommendations, under supervision of higher level research scientists, related to drinking water treatment technologies, emerging contaminants, and recreational water safety.

IMPORTANT NOTES TO ALL CANDIDATES:

Please note: If you are called for an interview you will be required to bring to your interview copies of original documentation, such as:

* A document that establishes identity for employment eligibility, such as: A Valid U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card/Green Card, or Driver's license.

* Proof of Education according to the education requirements of the civil service title.

* Current Resume

* Proof of Address/NYC Residency dated within the last 60 days, such as: Recent Utility Bill (i.e. Telephone, Cable, Mobile Phone)

Additional documentation may be required to evaluate your qualification as outlined in this posting's Minimum Qualification Requirements section. Examples of additional documentation may be, but not limited to: college transcript, experience verification or professional trade licenses.

If after your interview you are the selected candidate you will be contacted to schedule an on-boarding appointment. By the time of this appointment you will be asked to produce the originals of the above documents along with your original Social Security card.

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 StudentAid.gov/PSLF.

FINAL APPOINTMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET APPROVAL

This position MAY be eligible for remote work up to two days per week, pursuant to the Remote Work Pilot Program.

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.

Preferred Skills

Background in environmental, civil, or chemical engineering environmental science or chemistry aquatic ecology, biology or biogeochemistry or watershed or water resources science. Experience in engineering plan and specification review, water treatment facility design, installation, operation, or inspection, water quality monitoring, and database management. Experience using Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Excel Ability to handle multiple priorities and projects simultaneously. Excellent communication skills both written and oral.

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.