Senior Public Health Sanitarian, Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation

Open to candidates who are permanent or those who have filed for PROMOTION TO ASSOCIATE PUBLIC HEALTH SANITARIAN Exam No. 6513.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Division of Environmental Health works to prevent and control illness and injury related to environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance, and enforcement. With staff of 1,000, the Division covers a broad range of subject matter, including oversight of environmental investigations, lead poisoning, injury prevention, occupational health, food safety, childcare, radiation control, recreational and drinking water quality, air quality, climate health, vector control, veterinary public health and pest control.

The Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation (BFSCS) protects the public, including New York’s most vulnerable citizens from a broad range of hazards that may pose a threat to health or safety. This includes hazards related to food safety wherever meals are served to the public, including restaurants, school cafeterias, mobile food vending carts, senior centers, and soup kitchens, first‑hand and second‑hand smoke for all places of employment and public spaces.

BFSCS also monitors compliance with regulations in other facilities, such as tattoo parlors, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters. Additionally, BFSCS investigates environmental health complaints received from New York City residents.

• Train and Supervise Public Health Sanitarians on new procedures and in the daily activities of the program.
• Assign work to subordinates and establish a schedule for its completion.
• Review work of subordination and evaluate work performance.
• Take corrective action when required to maintain unit performance at a satisfactory level.
• Train staff in new job procedures and/or skills.
• Orient new employees to program rules, policies, and procedures.
• Perform special inspections, assignments, and investigations of difficult or unusual situations and takes appropriate corrective actions.

• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent decision making and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent leadership and supervisory skills.

• 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 ((Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).)
• Benefits:
  City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
  • a premium‑free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
  • additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
  • a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
  • a tax‑deferred savings program and
  • 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.

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. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health.

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…