Occupational Health Specialist

Reporting directly to the Employee Safety Administrator, Employee Safety Oversight, with latitude to exercise independent judgment, the Occupational Health Specialist will be responsible for assessing and evaluating NYCHA worksites and work procedures to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. The Specialist will be responsible for conducting investigations into occupational health and safety complaints and workplace injuries, through the use of standard investigation protocols to arrive at determinations of fact and the issuance of related corrective actions. The Specialist will play a key role in identifying both gaps and best practices in NYCHA’s employee safety program and will offer data-driven recommendations for improvement.
Additionally, the Specialist will support the Employee Safety Administrator, with the overall execution of Unit functions.

The successful candidate will be required to have an extensive working knowledge of federal, state and local occupational safety regulations and be a skilled communicator with the ability to solve problems, possess analytical skills with an eye for continuous improvement, and be able to balance urgent priorities.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

- Assess NYCHA’s workplaces for hazards such as airborne contaminants, ergonomic challenges, or dangerous sound levels through environmental monitoring, field visits, data collection, and observations of personnel and their respective work processes.
- Create and present reports which accurately identify the hazards observed in the work environment and develop appropriate control measures and corrective actions that should be taken to mitigate the identified hazards.
- Audit and evaluate NYCHA’s workplaces, standard procedures, and work practices for compliance with applicable regulations.
- Conduct investigations of workplace injuries in order to identify the “root cause” of the injury and develop recommendations to address the identified deficiencies.
- Monitor potential exposure to harmful substances in the workplace and interpret and communicate these results to the impacted workforce.
- Monitor potential exposure to harmful substances in the workplace and interpret and communicate these results to the impacted workforce.
- Manage and oversee projects and initiatives to improve or establish new or existing health and safety programs and procedures.
- Provide technical guidance and assist other business units in managing various safety-related programs, initiatives, and requirements.
- Participate in external safety teams, committees, events and task forces, as directed.
- Interact with internal customers of all levels within NYCHA on a proactive basis and conduct presentations on various safety topics.
- Prepare reports and supporting materials to communicate incident analyses, compliance trends, performance information, regulatory issues, and other subject matter area-specific discussion documents.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.

Additional Information
1. NYCHA employees applying for transfer, promotional, title or level change opportunities must have served a period of one year at current location and in current title and level (if applicable).
2. NYCHA residents are encouraged to apply.

NYCHA provides benefits that include a choice of medical coverage plans, deferred compensation plans and a defined pension benefit plan as a member of the New York City
Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS).

NOTE: The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) administered a civil service exam for the Associate Public Health Sanitarian title on 08/09/23. Therefore, applicants (candidates) that did not take and pass the exam will potentially not be considered; likewise, applicants not reachable on the established civil service list will potentially be in jeopardy of being replaced with an eligible civil service candidate.

NOTE: IF THIS APPOINTMENT IS MADE ON A PROVISIONAL BASIS PURSUANT TO 65 OF THE NYS CIVIL SERVICE LAW, NO TENURE OR PERMANENCE ACCRUES TO AN INCUMBENT IN THIS POSITION BY VIRTUE OF SUCH APPOINTMENT.

NOTE: This position is open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate in your cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position under the 55-a Program. For detailed information regarding the 55-a Program, please click on the link below:
https://bit.ly/55aProgram

Please read this posting carefully to make certain you meet the minimum qualification requirements before applying to this position.

ASSOCIATE PUBLIC HEALTH SANITA - 31220

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or

2. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or

3. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.

4. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or

5. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or

6. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.

7. In order to be eligible for promotion to a supervisory level, candidates must have 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian, pursuant to Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health).

8. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college, including or supplemented by 30 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, i.e., biology, botany, chemistry, geology, physics, physiology, and zoology; of which not more than 12 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, i.e., environmental technology, sanitation technology, medical technology, public health, infection control or food service; and at least two years of satisfactory full-time experience performing inspections to assure compliance with pertinent laws, rules and regulations governing the areas of food, drugs and general environmental conditions; or

9. An associate degree from an accredited college, with 15 semester credits in the physical and/or biological sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and 4 years of satisfactory full-time experience as described in "1" above; or

10. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least 60 semester credits from an accredited college, including at least 15 semester credits in the physical and and/or biological sciences. Furthermore, to assure compliance with Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health), all candidates must have at least 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian as described in "1" above.

11. In order to be eligible for promotion to a supervisory level, candidates must have 2 years of experience as a public health sanitarian, pursuant to Section 11.112 of the Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR) – Title 10 (Health).

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.