Director of Community Affairs, Office of External Affairs​/Bureau of Government Affairs

Director of Community Affairs, Office of External Affairs/Bureau of Government Affairs

NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

The Office of External Affairs manages the department’s interactions with the public, promoting healthy behaviors, advancing policies, responding to health emergencies, and serving as the internal publisher, advertiser, and marketer of culturally responsive campaigns. The Bureau of Government Affairs coordinates all interactions between the Department, other government entities, and legislative bodies at the city, state, and federal level, while Intergovernmental Affairs develops policies that improve the regulatory, administrative, and funding environments for health and mental hygiene.

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for engaging elected officials, community boards, community-based organizations, and partners, and serve as liaison to program staff.
• Represent the Department and speak publicly about policies and programs, disseminating information vital to effective functioning of agency programs.
• Respond promptly and accurately to inquiries from local elected officials and community organizations.
• Manage a staff of community liaisons (5) to ensure proper follow‑up to inquiries, attendance at community meetings, and linkage of staff to internal resources to maximize outreach and engagement.
• Advise senior staff—including the Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs, and the Commissioner of Health—on political and community concerns.
• Work closely with Inter‑Governmental Affairs, Press, Communications, and Marketing.
• Engage in readiness and preparedness for public health emergency response.
• Advance the Department’s work on health equity and narrowing gaps in health disparities.

• Excellent writing, editing, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound judgment and equanimity in high‑pressure situations.
• Ability to handle multiple deadline assignments in a rapidly changing environment.
• Understanding of public health issues and the ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies at all levels.
• Proficiency in other languages is strongly considered.

• Premium‑free health insurance plans that save employees over $10,000 annually.
• Access to additional health, fitness, and financial benefits through union/benefit funds.
• A public‑sector defined‑benefit pension plan with steady monthly retirement payments.
• Tax‑deferred savings programs and a robust Worksite Wellness Program.
• Work‑from‑home policy allowing up to two days per week from home, depending on position.
• Greater job security compared to the private sector and the opportunity to contribute to a healthy New York City.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the United States, dedicated to protecting and improving the health of New Yorkers. Its mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve optimal health.

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal‑opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Sye‑Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn
1.gov or 347‑396‑6549
.

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and five years of full‑time paid experience within the last fifteen years, including supervisory or administrative experience handling business promotion or urban economic problems; at least two years must have been in a managerial or executive capacity with a primary focus on business promotion or urban economic planning.
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of education and experience, with a minimum of two years of managerial or executive experience as described above.

Appropriate graduate study may substitute for general experience on a year‑for‑year basis. All candidates must also possess a four‑year high school diploma or an equivalent approved by a…