Child Care Inspector, Bureau of Childcare

About the role

The Bureau of Child Care ensures that child care services in New York City operate in compliance with the New York City Health Code and New York State Social Service regulations and are licensed or permitted as required by law.

The Bureau routinely monitors child care programs to protect the health and safety of children while in the child care environment, and actively works to improve and expand access to high quality programs which support early childhood development and learning.

The Bureau of Child Care seeks to hire a Child Care Inspector (Public Health Sanitarian) to conduct inspections of child care programs throughout New York City and to enforce pertinent laws, rules and regulations.

Duties Will Include but Not Be Limited to

• Conduct periodic inspections of childcare programs involving visual inspection of premises, review of documents and records field testing and sample collection.
• Prepare reports using a handheld tablet to document inspection findings in a complete, clear, accurate and timely fashion.
• Review findings with and instruct operators on regulatory compliance and remedial measures including but not limited to proper food handling, sanitation, vermin control and other areas of environmental health.
• Issue court summonses and hearing notices and may close establishments in cases of imminent danger.
• Determine site viability related to applications for permits to open a childcare program under the NYC Health Code and/or NYS Regulations.
• Conduct data collection and reporting activities for routine operations and for special studies and surveys.
• Attend and testify at administrative hearings as representative of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
• Travel throughout New York City using mass transit or a personal car and carry approximately 15 pounds of inspection equipment.
• Selected candidates will be expected to travel to Albany, NY for training and elsewhere throughout the State for an annual NYS Regulator's meeting. Expenses paid by the agency.

Preferred Skills

• Strong communication, analytic and observational skills;
• Ability to deduce potential impacts of conditions or assess risks;
• Writing skills including the ability to adequately describe observations in detail;
• Computer skills including the use of mobile computing devices.

Why you should work for us

• Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:

• o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund.
• o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• o a tax-deferred savings program and o 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.

Additional information

Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC.

We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives.

As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

Qualifications & Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; or
• An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 5 years of experience as a public health technician assisting sanitarians and engineers in carrying out the various elements of prevention and control programs affecting the public's health.

Medical Requirement

Medical guidelines have been established for the position of Public Health Sanitarian. Candidates will be examined to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position of Public Health Sanitarian.