Senior Director, Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation

City of New York • New York City, NY

5d

About The Position

The Senior Director leads the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Bureau of Food Safety within the Division of Environmental Health. The role reports directly to the Executive Director of Field Operations and manages the Bureau’s enforcement and preventive programs under the New York City Health and Administrative Codes, the New York State Sanitary Code, and applicable City laws. The Bureau conducts more than 50,000 food safety inspections each year.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 30 credits in biological and/or physical sciences, and four years of satisfactory full-time experience conducting inspections to assure compliance with laws, rules, and regulations governing food, drugs, and general environmental sanitation; at least 18 months must be in an administrative, managerial, or executive capacity, or supervising relevant inspectors or related staff.
• Alternatively, an associate degree from an accredited college or university, including or supplemented by 12 credits in biological and/or physical sciences, and six years of the specified full-time inspection experience.
• Alternatively, equivalent education and/or experience, subject to the stated minimum qualifications: at least 60 college credits, including 12 credits in biological and/or physical sciences; at least two years of experience as a public health sanitarian; and at least 18 months in an administrative, managerial, executive, or supervisory capacity as described in the qualifications.
• Excellent leadership skills and the ability to implement strategies and protocols and identify procedures needing improvement in a large field-staff operation.
• Knowledge of how field and office staff should perform and the ability to take appropriate disciplinary action when necessary.
• Ability to interpret and enforce rules and regulations.
• Ability to conduct statistical analysis and use data to drive decisions.
• Ability to write and communicate effectively with staff and the public.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including conflict resolution.
• Motivational skills, including coaching and performance management.

Responsibilities

• Oversee inspections of food service establishments, including restaurants, mobile food vendors, schools, senior centers, shelters, and food commissaries; manage pre-permit, routine, letter-grade, and complaint inspections.
• Determine appropriate enforcement actions for establishments that fail to meet legal requirements, including notices of violation, closures or embargoes, and referrals for hearings.
• Evaluate enforcement and preventive programs using statistical analysis; set priorities, oversee scheduling, track targets, and adjust targets as needed.
• Oversee timely and policy-compliant responses to complaints submitted through 311 and the Correspondence Tracking System.
• Coordinate Bureau emergency response capabilities for environmental emergencies such as power outages and water main breaks, working with senior management on field operations and staff deployment.
• Use data and data infrastructure to measure performance, improve outputs, identify training needs, and address performance gaps.
• Develop written protocols and procedures for implementing policies and enforcing regulations; create compliance guidelines for regulated industries and ensure staff are appropriately trained.
• Arrange inspections, sweeps, and complaint-generated inspections related to the Smoke-Free Air Act, and ensure violations of applicable New York State and City indoor-air laws are addressed.
• Manage Bureau staff development and training to meet New York State Department of Health requirements and Bureau objectives.
• Manage supervisory and office staff, and ensure Bureau programs, procedures, processes, publications, and training materials remain accurate, relevant, current, and properly resourced.
• Represent the Department and Bureau at departmental, inter-agency, and external meetings; respond to elected officials and stakeholders; and provide training and workshops for the regulated community.
• Manage preparedness and response for food-related emergencies, including outbreaks or other food hazards, in coordination with senior management.
• Participate in periodic revisions of the New York City Health Code to align it with current food safety science, best practices, and applicable laws, regulations, and guidance.

Benefits

• Premium-free health insurance plan; the posting states this saves employees over $10,000 annually based on a 2024 assessment.
• Additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available depending on the position’s associated union or benefit fund.
• Public-sector defined-benefit pension plan.
• Tax-deferred savings program.
• Worksite Wellness Program.
• Depending on the position, the ability to work from home up to two days during the week.
• Job security compared with private-sector employment.

What This Job Offers

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