Harm Reduction Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use (BADU) works to close gaps and reduce overall morbidity and mortality related to alcohol and substance use among New Yorkers. BADU develops, implements, and evaluates interventions and prevention strategies through contracting of treatment, recovery and support services; policy analysis and development; epidemiology and surveillance; dissemination of treatment and management guidelines; harm reduction initiatives; public and provider outreach and education; and community involvement and interagency collaboration. The Bureau amplifies the voices of those most impacted and focuses on inequitable structural, social, service, and communication factors that drive disparities.
The Office of Research, Surveillance, Policy, and Communications within BADU conducts alcohol- and drug-related surveillance, program evaluation and research, maintains databases, designs research protocols, produces reports, writes scientific articles for peer-reviewed journals, facilitates program and policy development, and develops messaging and other communication materials for provider and public audiences. The Drug-Checking Operations Lead will provide administrative and operations oversight for the Drug-Checking Program. In this capacity, they will be responsible for strategizing methods of sample collection, managing relationships with partnering sites and consultants/contractors, coordinating logistics and collecting samples for shipping to the laboratory, managing invoices, and ensuring data are shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as required.
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Oversee day-to-day operations for the Drug-Checking Program.
Strategize and pilot novel methods of sample collection that reflect geographic variation across the city to better monitor the unregulated drug supply.
- Engage stakeholders in the identification of drug-checking data needs and analyze results to inform the development of data products.
- Contribute to research activities related to the Drug-Checking Program, including developing research study protocols and instruments, recruiting participants, analyzing results.
- Contribute to the dissemination of drug-checking findings, including for presentations, manuscripts, and other data products.
- Build relationships with staff at community-based sites, including harm reduction specialists, outreach workers, and program managers, to ensure seamless and effective service delivery.
- Coordinate logistics for the shipping of samples to a secondary testing lab partner with drug-checking technicians and partner sites, including picking up samples from sites across the city on a routine basis.
- Process and track receipt of sample data from the secondary testing laboratory partner.
- Maintain records for the routine submission of drug-checking program data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Oversee the work of drug-checking consultants and contractors, including developing scopes of work, supervising and ensuring the timely completion of deliverables, and processing invoices.
- Develop and refine Drug-Checking Program policies and procedures for the safe collection, storage, and shipping of samples.
- Coordinate Drug-Checking Program presentations and events.
- Stay up to date on the latest trends, developments, and innovations related to drug checking, harm reduction, and substance use to enhance the overall effectiveness of the program.
- Contribute to the Bureau's racial justice and health equity activities.
- Perform all other responsibilities and projects as assigned by supervisors
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience working in a field related to substance use
- Experience in managing a budget and/or contracts
- Familiarity with using public health program data to inform service delivery
- Able to work independently, have excellent oral and written communication and organizational skills, and be a flexible team player
- Detail-oriented with outstanding organizational skills
- Able to multi-task in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, with proficiency in Excel, Access, Word, and PowerPoint
- Sensitive to various ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic conditions
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 (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- 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.
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 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!
The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at [email protected] or 347-396-6549.
CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

1. 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:
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.