Executive Director, Office of Suicide Prevention

City of New York • New York, NY

3d • $112,458 - $154,875 • Hybrid

About The Position

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is a world-renowned agency with a long tradition of protecting and promoting health in the nation’s most culturally and linguistically diverse city. Our 7,000-plus team members bring an extraordinary array of languages, cultures, and experiences to bear on the work of public health. Our diversity fuels creativity because al perspectives are heard and valued. DOHMH aims to improve the health outcomes of all New Yorkers by centering persistent racial inequities and promotion of social justice at the core of its work. The Division of Mental Hygiene of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is responsible for policy, programs and provide oversight related to mental health, alcohol and drug use prevention care and treatment and developmental delays and disabilities.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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
• 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
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced training or professional experience in public health, epidemiology, suicide prevention, injury prevention, behavioral health, population health, or a related field.
• Senior-level experience guiding research, surveillance, data, or evaluation functions within a public health, healthcare, academic, or government setting.
• Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary initiatives involving government, academic, healthcare, community, and other external partners.
• Experience managing organizational operations, budgets, funding, and senior staff.
• Demonstrated ability to translate scientific evidence and population health data into policy, strategy, and large-scale prevention planning.
• Experience representing an organization in executive, governmental, academic, or public-facing settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of a citywide suicide prevention strategy and establish citywide priorities for the Office.
• Direct the Office’s operations, staffing, budget, performance, and organizational development.
• Supervise senior leadership and ensure effective coordination across the Office’s strategic, research, surveillance, partnership, and prevention functions.
• Establish goals, performance measures, and accountability mechanisms to advance population-level suicide prevention.
• Ensure the Office operates in close collaboration with critical interagency partners that hold specific expertise and responsibilities related to monitoring and addressing population-level suicide and injury/violence prevention trends (e.g., Office of Vital Statistics and Division of Environmental Health).
• Provide executive oversight of the Office’s epidemiologic, surveillance, research, and evaluation functions and infrastructure.
• Set research and data priorities in alignment with Divisional goals, citywide suicide prevention planning, and emerging public health needs.
• Guide the development and use of a comprehensive suicide surveillance strategy, research initiatives, data resources, and evaluation activities.
• Ensure that emerging disparities, geographic patterns, clusters, and populations experiencing elevated suicide risk are identified and addressed.
• Lead coordination with divisional bureaus and cross-agency partners, academic institutions, healthcare systems, and other stakeholders to advance large-scale research and prevention initiatives.
• Ensure research and surveillance findings are translated into actionable recommendations for policy, programs, and systems improvement.
• Advise Divisional leadership on suicide prevention policy, legislation, regulation, and emerging issues.
• Advance policy recommendations informed by research, surveillance, and public health priorities.
• In collaboration with External Affairs, coordinate with City agencies, elected officials, and state and federal partners on shared priorities; represent the Department in governmental and interagency forums related to suicide prevention.
• Lead a coordinated, citywide approach to suicide prevention across healthcare, behavioral health, public safety, education, housing, planning, philanthropy, academia, and community sectors.
• Coordinate collaborative research initiatives addressing priority questions identified through surveillance.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships that advance coordinated suicide prevention priorities.
• Align public and private investments and facilitate shared accountability across participating sectors.
• Promote integration of suicide prevention into systems and policies beyond the traditional behavioral health sector.
• Develop strategies to sustain and expand resources supporting the Office’s priorities.
• Oversee strategic funding initiatives, grant development, and partnership agreements.
• Monitor implementation of the City’s suicide prevention strategy and report on progress, emerging trends, and strategic priorities to Department leadership.
• Promote effective and coordinated use of public and private resources.

Benefits

• 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.
• a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• a tax-deferred savings program
• a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.

What This Job Offers

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