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

City of New York • Long Island City, NY

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use (BADU) is dedicated to reducing alcohol and substance use-related harm in New York. Within BADU, the Office of Research, Surveillance, Policy, and Communications conducts vital research and surveillance. A key initiative is the drug-checking pilot, established in 2021, which uses FTIR and immunoassay test strips to provide insights into the unregulated drug supply and fact-based information to users at syringe service program locations. The Drug-Checking Data Analyst will be instrumental in supporting the data infrastructure for this initiative, focusing on data collection, analysis, and reporting systems. This role involves close collaboration with the Drug Checking Team to manage data, ensure its quality, fulfill data requests, and prepare data products for various stakeholders.

Requirements

• Experience analyzing public health data in an applied setting using R (at least 1 year).
• 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.
• 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-paced, high-volume environment.
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental science or in public health.
• At least two years of experience in research in an appropriate field of specialization.

Nice To Haves

• 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 with or willingness to learn data visualization and dashboarding tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Passionate about implementing interventions and conducting analyses with the end goal of reducing drug-related morbidity and mortality in New York City.

Responsibilities

• Extract, clean, manipulate, organize, and analyze drug-checking data primarily using R, REDCap, Excel, SQL, and other platforms.
• Perform quality assurance data checks and implement quality improvement processes in collaboration with drug-checking technicians to ensure data quality.
• Support the Senior Drug Checking Epidemiologist in designing and developing new methods of analyses for the drug-checking initiative, integrating with the Bureau’s drug-related syndromic surveillance data to inform future program direction.
• Contribute to the design and maintenance of the drug-checking database, including queries, data entry procedures, and documentation preparation.
• Support the creation and revision of study and data management documentation related to the drug-checking program, such as data dictionaries and codebooks.
• Assist with the reporting of programmatic data, including internal reports (e.g., weekly reports, dashboards), external reports, PowerPoint presentations, and ad-hoc data requests.
• Support the maintenance of a drug-checking dashboard and other data visualization activities.
• Assist with the development of protocols, workflows, questionnaires, and surveys.
• Support the preparation of IRB applications for research study protocols.
• Contribute to the development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to the Bureau’s racial justice and health equity activities.

Benefits

• Loan Forgiveness: Potential eligibility for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs.
• Premium-free health insurance plan.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• Public sector defined benefit pension plan.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Robust Worksite Wellness Program.
• Job Security.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level