Lead Investigator

Company Overview

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DOHMH is undertaking a new initiative that will meet critical infrastructure needs and make possible strategic investments that will have lasting effects on public health. Investments and improvements through this initiative will help modernize DOHMH’s foundational capabilities and data infrastructure, enabling it to partner in complex health and health care environments and, in turn, support better public health outcomes, including COVID-19. This initiative supports larger efforts to rebalance investments in public health and more equitably serve communities and populations.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will work be supervised by DOHMH. This is a grant-funded position ending in November 2027.

Program Overview And Job Description

The New York City (NYC) Bureau of Tuberculosis Control (BTBC) is committed to preventing the spread of tuberculosis (TB) and eliminating it as a public health problem in NYC. The core goals of the bureau are to identify all individuals with suspected or confirmed TB disease and ensure their appropriate treatment, ideally on directly observed therapy (DOT), and to ensure that individuals at high risk for progression from latent TB infection to TB disease complete treatment and do not develop disease. To fulfill its mission and goals, BTBC performs a number of integrated activities and provides patient-centered services in collaboration with local health care providers, laboratories, community partners and others. With a focus on public health and the needs of individuals with TB and their families, these activities support effective TB prevention and control.

Staff in the BTBC Office of Epidemiology review all suspected and confirmed cases of TB in NYC to determine if an investigation is warranted around potential TB exposures in any residential or non-residential congregate setting and coordinate contact identification, notification, and evaluation as indicated. Staff conduct systematic transmission assessment; detect, investigate and respond to TB outbreaks; and conduct data analysis and research to describe the epidemiology of TB in NYC and to inform TB policy.

Job Description

DOHMH is seeking a Lead Investigator to join the Expanded Contact Investigations Unit (ECI) in the BTBC Office of Epidemiology. As an integral part of the unit, this person will lead a team of epidemiologists and investigators in identifying and assessing potential TB exposure sites; conducting notification and education among contacts and the public; working closely with site staff/administrators, social service providers, city agencies, healthcare providers and other entities to coordinate and conduct onsite TB testing and follow-up care coordination; and conducting transmission assessment and ongoing response activities. The ideal candidate will be organized, have strong attention to detail, have experience with data management and coordination with external entities, understand core epidemiologic principles, enjoy working with and serving the public, and thrive in a team environment.

Duties

Duties Will Include But Not Be Limited To

• Critically review clinical, social, and epidemiologic information surrounding patients and exposures to determine if public health intervention is warranted.
• Plan and conduct TB contact investigations in non-household and congregate settings, such as worksites, schools, and shelters.
• Conduct TB education sessions at sites where exposures have occurred.
• Communicate and coordinate with leadership and management of non-household and congregate settings to arrange notification and on-site testing as indicated.
• Coordinate and conduct onsite TB testing and related follow-up, including care coordination and follow-up with DOHMH and community healthcare providers.
• Assess results of investigations to determine if further expansion of the investigation is warranted.
• Develop and support additional public health interventions as indicated to prevent and respond to ongoing transmission.
• Supervise a team of investigators who will be responsible for contact notification, testing and coordination of care.
• Conduct data management and analysis.
• Maintain relationships and coordinate with City agency partners.
• Other duties as required.
  
  

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree or master’s degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental, or social science. All candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience.
• 1 years of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization or 3 years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization.
• Capacity and willingness to use and learn web-based databases, Microsoft platforms, and statistical software (e.g., SAS, SQL) as needed.
• The ideal candidate for this position must be a pro-active and self-motivated individual with the ability to work in teams and in a highly dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Salary: $86,830 - $86,830
  
  

Additional Desired Qualities

• Experience with stakeholder engagement and project management.
• Excellent communication (verbal & written) and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to manage and report complex information.
• Experience with data collection, analysis and interpretation.
• Desire to grow professionally, develop new skills and willingness to work outside of comfort zone.
• Experience working with the public health sector and coordinating projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and work in fast-paced environment with hard deadlines.
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
  
  

Benefit

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development
  
  

Additional Information

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending in November 2027.
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date.
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties.
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies.
  
  

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities. We look forward to learning more about you.

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA individuals, and veterans.

Monday-Friday

Hybrid

35 hours per week