Executive Director of Environmental Health Legal

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.

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, 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 sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.

Minimum Qualifications

Admission to the New York State Bar; and four years of recent full-time responsible, relevant, satisfactory legal experience subsequent to admission to any bar, eighteen months of which must have been in the supervision of other attorneys, in an administrative, managerial or executive capacity, or performing highly complex and significant legal work.

Incumbents must remain Members of the New York State Bar in good standing for the duration of this employment.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.