Drug-Checking Data Analyst, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use

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. In 2021, BADU established a drug-checking pilot to gain more insight into the unregulated drug supply and provide fact based information to people using the service. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and immunoassay test strips, trained drug checking technicians currently offer point-of-care drug-checking services at syringe service program locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, including two sites that offer overdose prevention services.

The Drug-Checking Data Analyst will support the development and implementation of data collection, analysis, and reporting systems for the drug-checking initiative. The Drug-Checking Data Analyst work collaboratively with the Drug Checking Team to coordinate and support data management activities, including monitoring and analyzing program data, ensuring data quality, supporting data requests, and preparing data products for internal and external stakeholders.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
1. Extract, clean, manipulate, organize, and analyze drug-checking data primarily using R, REDCap, Excel, SQL, and other platforms
2. Work collaboratively with drug-checking technicians to perform quality assurance data checks and implement quality improvement processes to ensure data quality
3. Support the Senior Drug Checking Epidemiologist in designing and developing new methods of analyses for the drug-checking initiative in conjunction with the Bureau’s drug-related syndromic surveillance data to inform future program direction
4. Contribute to the design and maintenance of the drug-checking database, including queries and data entry procedures and preparing documentation
5. Support the creation and revision of study and data management documentation related to the drug-checking program, including data dictionaries and codebooks
6. Assist with the reporting of programmatic data, including, but not limited to, internal reporting (e.g., weekly reports, dashboards), external reporting, Power Point presentations, and ad-hoc data requests
7. Support the maintenance of a drug-checking dashboard and other data visualization activities
8. Assist with development of protocols, workflows, questionnaires, and surveys
9. Support the preparation of IRB applications for research study protocols
10. Contribute to the development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
11. Contribute to the Bureau’s racial justice and health equity activities

PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience practicing public health and working across systems to further a public health approach to substance use
- Experience with program monitoring, evaluation, and/or quality improvement
- Knowledge of and experience within the fields of substance use/harm reduction
- Experience (at least 1 year) analyzing public health data in an applied setting using R
- Experience with quantitative data, including the ability to read, interpret and synthesize epidemiologic and other scientific literature
- Experience with survey data collection and database management using REDCap, SQL, Microsoft Access or similar platforms
- Experience with or willingness to learn data visualization and dashboarding tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Exceptional interpersonal, research, written, and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Proficiency in Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint
- 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:
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.