Naloxone Informatics Specialist, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use

City of New York • New York, NY

10d • $74,536 - $74,536 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment (BADUPCT) works to close gaps and reduce overall morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and substance use among New Yorkers. BADUPCT 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 Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Unit (OENDU) develops, implements, and evaluates initiatives to reduce and prevent opioid overdose deaths in New York City. The Unit provides naloxone, training, and technical assistance to over 350 Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs (OOPPs) across New York City. OOPPs provide community-based overdose prevention, recognition, and response education and distribute naloxone directly to community members. OENDU solicits data from these OOPPs to evaluate their naloxone dispensing. DOHMH has its own OOPP and provides in-person and virtual overdose prevention training and naloxone via mail-based distribution. In addition, OENDU provides contract management, fiscal, technical, and programmatic support to at least 27 contracted OOPPs for strategic naloxone distribution and 4 contracted OOPPs for the implementation and management of 8 Public Health Vending Machines.

Position Summary:

The Naloxone Informatics Specialist will support the Overdose Prevention Unit by supporting the submission of accurate and timely naloxone distribution data, with the goal of preventing overdose deaths in New York City.

Under general direction from the Naloxone Data Coordinator, with wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative, the Naloxone Informatics Specialist will:

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

• Knowledge of substance use issues and harm reduction practice and theory, including syringe exchange, overdose prevention and education for HIV and Hepatitis C prevention.
• Experience with quantitative data, including the ability to read, interpret and synthesize epidemiologic and other scientific literature.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Possess exceptional interpersonal, research, written and verbal communication skills.
• The candidate will also be detail-oriented with outstanding organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, high volume environment.
• Proficiency in Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience querying or managing data using code, such as SQL, SAS, or R.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with colleagues in OENDU and the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use (BADU) to gather and analyze data related to naloxone dispensing and distribution in NYC
• Use Microsoft Access and/or R studio to clean and maintain data related to naloxone dispensing and distribution initiatives in NYC
• Generate PowerBI dashboards and data tables to support the ongoing evaluation of naloxone dispensing and distribution initiatives in NYC.
• Solicit monthly naloxone distribution reports from over 190 Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs (OOPPs); follow up with OOPPs who do not submit timely reports and provide technical assistance as needed
• Train newly registered OOPPs to submit individual-level dispensing data through the Naloxone Dispensing Form (NDF); support OOPPs as they integrate form submission into their workflows; monitor form submission and provide support to OOPPs to increase their response rate.
• Manage timely entry of monthly distribution reports into database; reconcile naloxone fulfillment with monthly data; manage timely preparation of report materials for data processing
• Develop and refine surveys, RedCap forms, and other dispensing data collection forms as needed.
• Collaborate with NYS Department of Health AIDS Institute, the Overdose Prevention Coordinator, the Naloxone Inventory Coordinator, and other BADUPCT staff to maintain registration and contact information for all OOPPs
• Provide timely response to requests for naloxone fulfillment and dispensing data, naloxone reversals and other relevant information
• Refine systems, as needed, for tracking naloxone dispensing data
• Support Naloxone Inventory Coordinator in the packaging of naloxone kits
• Participate in Overdose Prevention Unit meetings, including facilitation on a rotating basis; provide administrative support to the Overdose Prevention Unit including scheduling meetings, developing agendas, and other tasks as needed.
• Participate in agency-wide activities for advancing racial, gender, and social equity.
• Other duties or tasks may be assigned on an as-needed basis

Benefits

• 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: 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 and
• 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: Entry Level