Data Governance & Special Projects Coordinator, Bureau of Vital Statistics

About the role

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS) within the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) aims to catalyze critical data modernization work by linking public health, healthcare, and social service data. The Center works to make these data more accessible, timely, equitable, meaningfully usable, and protected – and actively used to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers.

The Bureau of Vital Statistics (BVS) is responsible for registering and certifying al birth, deaths, and spontaneous terminations of pregnancy in NYC. The Bureau issues, analyzes, and reports on 285,000 vital events each year.

The Bureau is a very large customer service operation, providing death certification services on a 24/7 basis, issuing more than 900,000 certified copies of birth and death records, and fulfilling hundreds of data requests annually.

Duties Will Include but Not Be Limited to

Advance and Implement Data Governance

• Lead collaboration with CPHDS’ Bureau of Data Technology & Strategy and other agency units to strengthen governance processes.
• Ensure analytic needs are aligned with data governance capabilities, within and across agency units.
• Serve as a senior technical lead for data governance related to vital event data.
• Lead internal and external data sharing processes, including reviewing requests for appropriateness and feasibility, applying governance rules and disclosure protections, and documenting data use agreements and conditions.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, agency policies, and data use agreements.
• Maintain documentation of data definitions, metadata, and governance rules.

Manage Data Requests & Tracking

• Oversee the general email inbox for internal and external data requests, ensuring timely and high-quality responses.
• Track data requests and agreements, enhancing e efficiency and alignment with broader agency data systems.

Streamline Data Access & Compliance

• Manage workflows for data inquiries, reviewing requests, drafting agreements, and obtaining necessary approvals.
• Work closely with legal and policy teams to ensure adherence to privacy, confidentiality, and security standards.
• Develop, update and communicate all relevant policies and guidance for data users.

Project Management & Coordination

• Lead and manage special projects as assigned by OVS leadership.
• Attend meetings and events on behalf of OVS leadership.
• Organize meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes, assign follow-ups, and monitor action items.
• Track publication outputs, performance measures, and historical data requests for OVS, as pertains to data requests, sharing, and collaborations.
• Contribute to enhancing OVS systems for project management and tracking.

Facilitate Research & Reporting

• Conduct literature reviews, research memos, and summaries, especially supporting agency priorities related to vital events (e.g., maternal mortality, life expectancy).
• Support production of required OVS data reports.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge on public health trends, including mortality causes, birth outcomes, and policy impacts
• Offering technical assistance to the Office as needed.

Preferred Skills

• Strong experience leading and managing data governance, data sharing, and disclosure control practices
• Deep knowledge of health privacy laws, data security, and confidentiality regulations
• High attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and priorities
• Experience interpreting, managing, and reporting public health data
• Ability to communicate complex analytic findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Ability to independently problem-solve and apply project management strategies
• Experience working in government, public health agencies, or similarly regulated data environments
• Experience applying a racial equity lens in public health or data governance work

Why you should work for us

• 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
• 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

• For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) 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.

To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have

• 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.

NOTE: Probationary Period

Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.