Deputy Commissioner, Division of Family and Child Health/Office of the Deputy Commissioner

City of New York • Long Island City, NY

4d

About The Position

About Us: The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of all New Yorkers. With a commitment to public health excellence, we strive to create a healthier and more equitable city. Our team is composed of passionate professionals who work collaboratively to address the diverse health needs of all New Yorkers. Job Summary: Reporting to the Commissioner of Health, the Deputy Commissioner is responsible for directing and managing the Division of Family and Child Health (DFCH) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. DFCH is charged with the creation and oversight of programs, policies, services, and environments that support physical and socio-emotional health, and promote primary and reproductive health services, health equity, social and racial justice, safety and well-being for New York City families and children. The vision of the DFCH is that every child, woman, and family recognize their power and is given the opportunity to reach their full health and development potential. The Deputy Commissioner will provide leadership and direction for a division that includes more than 2,000 employees and an operating budget of over $600M annually. The Deputy Commissioner directs a robust portfolio of family and child health related issues and programs within the Office of School Health, the Bureau of Early Intervention, the Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health, and the Bureau of Administration. The Deputy Commissioner partners with outside entities such as other government offices at the community, city, state, and federal level as well as elected officials. The Deputy Commissioner further collaborates with colleagues internally on cross-cutting issues and collaboratively develop and implement policy and program initiatives with family and child health components. The Deputy Commissioner is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive strategy for the division and its staff in alignment with Agency and Commissioner priorities; City, State, and Federal mandates; and community priorities. The Deputy Commissioner is responsible for working closely with the Commissioner and routinely updating and engaging with them on emergent and ongoing issues. The Deputy Commissioner is also responsible for fostering application of an equity lens across the division.

Requirements

• Masters’ Degree and a minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible executive leadership and administrative management experience in a governmental, private, or not-for-profit program with operational policies, procedures and practices that address the needs of children and families, their experiences with reproductive health, mental health, substance use or other public health concerns; or children experiencing intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Strong ability to lead, support and collaborate with teams internally and externally
• Exceptional skills in developing and communicating vision and mission; demonstrated track record of lead and inspire a large and diverse workforce; and to develop and implement an anti-racism and equity-driven approach to population health
• Possession of broad knowledge of public health generally and specific knowledge of children and family health
• Proven leadership and management experience, including ability to manage a large team and evaluate multiple programmatic areas
• Experience navigating challenging political dynamics, including those with elected officials at the local, state, and/or federal levels
• Demonstrated record of outstanding judgement, sensitivity, and discretion
• Demonstrated ability to assess public health problems, formulate and interpret policies, manage, and implement programs and evaluate program effectiveness
• Excellent program development skills, with proven success in developing, implementing, and evaluating public health initiatives
• Extraordinary communications skills (written, verbal, interpersonal) including public speaking, presentation, and community engagement
• Established team player, with experience working collaboratively, building relationships at all levels of an organization to achieve goals
• Strong focus on strategic thinking, problem-solving and being solution and outcomes focused
• A track record of managing complex, highly regulated organizational operations including multimillion dollar budgets, contracts, and human resources
• Experience with programmatic and fiscal oversight of direct service providers and contracted providers
• Proven multi-tasker with ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and projects at once
• Able to work in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment effectively
• Experience developing and measuring health outcomes, including reducing inequities; an informed perspective on applying a racial equity lens in decision making and planning

Responsibilities

• Provide overall direction for all DFCH activities including executive decision making, problem-solving, and strategy
• Advise Commissioner, colleagues and others on issues relating to family and child health, including connections and collaboration with subject matter experts
• Manage development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies for public health services that help improve health outcomes for all New York families
• Direct and supervise the Division's four Assistant Commissioners and immediate executive office staff
• Practice and support visionary leadership inclusive of staff development and growth strategies
• Navigate complex administrative and programmatic structures and needs in partnership with staff and collaborators
• Work efficiently and collaboratively to solve problems and respond to timely inquiries at the request of the Commissioner and others
• Ensure the division is in compliance with essential Agency functions, including public health emergency preparedness, Agencywide reporting, and other mandated activities
• Liaise closely with colleagues across the agency to ensure aligned and coordinated programs and policies
• Represent the agency for external meetings with City Hall, elected officials, community-based organizations and others
• Foster external relationships with community partners, in collaboration with colleagues, to ensure bidirectional communication between the Department and partners
• Direct the division’s research and evaluation activities for internal and external audiences
• Foster development of policy and communications strategies in alignment with Commissioner priorities and in partnership with Agency leaders
• Support teams in pursuit of internal and external funding, including philanthropic dollars, with an eye to strategically bolstering existing programs and launching new programming
• Center equity in all program and policy plans and decision making.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees