Executive Director of Environmental Health Legal

Benefits

Additional Information

The Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy (BESP) in EH works to ground Health Department programs and policy in science and law to support a healthy and equitable natural, built, and occupational environment for all New Yorkers. We promote environmental health through legal and data-driven program support, using innovative methods to track environmental determinants of health with a focus on New Yorkers disproportionately impacted by environmental risk. We share data and research findings to encourage evidence-based decision-making, and partner with communities in community science and outreach to address stakeholder concerns and empower residents. Embedded within BESP there is NYC Health's Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP), whose goal is to monitor injuries in New York City over time, identify populations and areas at risk, and plan prevention activities. The Program's priorities include violence prevention, falls prevention, traffic safety, and child safety. The Program collaborates with colleagues within NYC Health, across city agencies, and among non-governmental entities to advance and inform injury prevention. The Bureau of Environmental Science and Policy (BESP) seeks to hire a lawyer to serve as Executive Director of the Environmental Health Legal team (EH Legal). BESP's mission is to ground Health Department programs and policy in science and law to support a healthy and equitable natural, and occupational environment for all New Yorkers. We promote environmental health through legal and data-driven program support, using innovative methods to track environmental determinants of health with a focus on New Yorkers disproportionately impacted by environmental risk. EH Legal supports the diverse legal needs of the Division's regulatory, enforcement and policy initiatives, collaborating with division leadership and the agency's Office of General Counsel (OGC). Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner, the Executive Director will assume oversight responsibility for multiple legal and policy projects and team supervision, while operating with a wide degree of independence and autonomy. The team supports the work of the Division by developing regulations; analyzing legislative proposals; advising inspectional programs regarding enforcement actions; prosecuting civil summonses at administrative hearings at the Office of Administrative Hearings and Tribunals (OATH); and advising programs on new initiatives. We seek a lawyer dedicated to creative use of the law to protect and promote the health of all New Yorkers, a leader who inspires innovative policy ideas, and a manager who equally values their team and the work. DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: - Guide EH rulemaking, including by interpreting newly enacted legislation and analyzing operational implications; collaborate with OGC on drafting and finalizing proposed amendments to the New York City Health Code and agency regulations. - Initiate data-driven, policy assessment of administrative hearing outcomes, efficacy of enforcement, and citation strategies - Evaluate impact of regulatory change, legislative initiatives on Divisional programs. - Act as primary liaison with OATH for operational, data access and legal issues, and provide oversight for EH hearing appearances. - Manage EH administrative hearings appeals process, including review of affirmative appeals, answering respondent appeals, and strategic use of appeals process to support specific program initiatives. - Supervise 2 EH lawyers and the Division Hearing and Regulatory Coordinator, providing legal and project direction and oversight. - Manage tracking system for prioritization and efficient completion of EH Legal projects. - Assisting with legal emergency preparedness and response work. PREFERRED SKILLS: - Motivated legal thinker with demonstrated sound judgment, attention to detail, and analytic skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment. - Excellent written and oral communication skills for both legal and lay audiences, e.g., comfortable writing legal memos, guidance documents for a regulated community, and fact sheets for the general public. - Strong organizational abilities with demonstrated project management skills with multiple simultaneous initiatives. - Previous supervision of legal staff. - Experience in environmental health and public health, as well as administrative hearing, code enforcement and regulatory experience in a public, non-profit or academic setting. - Experience with OATH rules and systems and administrative court procedures. - Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with both legal partners and program or other collaborators not versed in legal procedures and language. 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,