Data and Surveillance Supervisor

City of New York•New York, NY

9d•$87,743 - $110,120

About The Position

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner investigates deaths in New York City that result from criminal violence, accidents, suicide, sudden or unattended circumstances, correctional facility settings, suspicious or unusual circumstances, and cases where a permit to cremate is requested under law. Its work is guided by the CARES values: Commitment, Accountability, Resilience, Excellence, and Service. The Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group (DIIG) tracks suspected and confirmed overdose deaths, provides public-sector leaders with timely information about fatal overdose, and supports family and friends of overdose victims in New York City. DIIG conducts public health surveillance before and after OCME determines cause and manner of death, identifies suspected overdose cases, monitors and reports trends, and coordinates the citywide RxStat initiative, including monthly interdisciplinary meetings and quarterly Overdose Fatality Review meetings attended by representatives from more than 30 local, state, and federal agencies. The Data and Surveillance Supervisor oversees long-term planning and management of large-scale data systems improvement projects for DIIG. The role works with OCME colleagues, research partners, other city agencies, and OCME IT to improve the efficiency, timeliness, and accuracy of data sharing, analysis, and reporting related to overdose and DIIG’s engagement with overdose-bereaved individuals. The position reports to the DIIG Deputy Director and ensures DIIG’s data capture and analysis processes are appropriately integrated into agency operations with sustainability in mind. The position leads epidemiologists, data analysts, and support staff; oversees overdose surveillance data systems; strengthens data infrastructure and quality; manages external partnerships; and develops dashboards and visualization tools. It also ensures compliance with applicable legal, ethical, and regulatory standards, identifies emerging overdose trends, translates epidemiological findings into recommendations for prevention and policy, and advises research partners on study design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.

Requirements

For Assignment Level I, a master's degree from an accredited college or university specializing in an appropriate field of physical, biological, or environmental science, or public health.
For Assignment Level II and above, one of the following: a relevant doctorate and one year of full-time responsible supervisory, administrative, or research experience; a relevant master's degree and three years of responsible full-time research experience; or equivalent education and experience. Candidates qualifying through equivalency must have at least a relevant master's degree and at least two years of the specified experience.
At least four years of full-time experience in public health research, applied epidemiology, and/or biostatistics is listed as a preferred skill.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead a diverse team and build relationships with colleagues and partners.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and comfort with public speaking.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience using SAS, Dedoose, Microsoft Excel, and/or PowerBI for data analysis.
Knowledge of vital statistics, mortality, or other public-sector health data sources.
Knowledge of overdose prevention and harm reduction best practices.
Experience working with large, complex datasets and data systems.
At least four years of full-time experience in public health research, applied epidemiology, and/or biostatistics.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise a team of epidemiologists, data analysts, and support staff in collecting, managing, and analyzing overdose-related data.
Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of data systems for overdose mortality surveillance and reporting.
Develop a strategic vision for improving data infrastructure, including new technologies and methodologies for efficient data capture and analysis.
Lead data quality improvement initiatives, including standard protocols, validation procedures, and quality control systems.
Manage relationships with external partners, including law enforcement agencies, public health agencies, and academic institutions.
Lead development of dashboards and visualization tools to communicate mortality data to stakeholders and the public.
Ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and regulatory standards for death investigation data and protected health information.
Identify emerging overdose trends using mortality data analytics.
Translate epidemiological findings into actionable recommendations for overdose prevention interventions and public policy.
Provide expert consultation to research partnerships on study design, statistical analysis, and data interpretation.