Director, Public Health Science and Innovation

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

The Director of Public Health Science and Innovation reports to the Commissioner and plays a key role in providing strategic leadership and oversight of the Centre for Public Health Science and Innovation. The Center utilizes up-to-date and comprehensive data along with state-of-the-art methodology to deliver timely, accurate, and community-responsive public health information and resources to local, state and federal stakeholders for evidence-based decision-making and implementation of interventions while continually evaluating the quality and impact of processes and products for improved public health and racial equity outcomes.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Sets the strategic direction for the use of Epidemiology and Evaluation (E&E), Population Health and Research (PHAR) and Informatics to advance health equity and fulfill Bureau and BPHC-wide objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to facilitate ongoing development and growth of E&E, PHAR and Informatics departments to support projects aligned with BPHC strategic objectives.
• Provides consultation on key epidemiology issues to the Commissioner and Bureaus
• In collaboration with Admin and Finance the Director is responsible for proposing and maintaining the budget for the Center and aligning objectives across members of the Center to ensure optimal resource allocation to meet strategic objectives and project priorities.
• Creates and maintains partnerships with state and local health agencies, universities, and external partners to enhance generation of knowledge, access to data, and utilization of and translation of data and evidence into policy, strategies, operations, and communications.
• Identifies resource development opportunities and leverages funds in support of Center priorities. Promotes and facilitates long-term investment in infrastructure including new and emerging epidemiological methods, continuous training and development of public health analytics and informatics workforce.
• In collaboration with Information and Technology Services, coordinates and supports data governance and data stewardship principles and practices.
• Provides and oversees design and implementation of key epidemiological studies and models whether conducted by BPHC, or in collaboration with academic or other public health departments.
• Contributes, reviews, and approves the writing of relevant components of data and information briefs, dashboards, journal articles, policies and mandates.
• May represent BPHC at conferences, meetings, hearings and community meetings as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• A doctoral degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Informatics, Medicine or Biostatistics or a related field, or master's degree in Epidemiology, Public Health, Informatics, Medicine or Biostatistics 10 years' experience leading an epidemiology or biostats team in a public health setting. Plus at least 5 years progressive experience within the public health setting and at least 10 years progressive public health/real-work research experience or closely related function; initiating, designing and managing complex programs and designs
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology and statistical methods.
• Experienced in overseeing and directing the planning for and application of surveillance, epidemiologic methods, health informatics, and related areas to understand the patterns, distribution, and determinants of conditions of public health significance in the population.
• Exceptional ability to apply innovative analytical tools to continually assess racial and health disparities; and apply a racial and health equity lens to all strategies.
• Experience with design, implementation and analysis of epidemiological methods essential, including but not limited to infectious disease epidemiology, estimation of burden and impact, transmission models, observational research, including vaccine effectiveness research
• Track record of exchange of scientific and medical information including Advisory Boards and presentations at national meetings
• People management skills and leading high performing teams
• Knowledge of strategies for effective data acquisition, management, quality, storage, use, and application to address population health needs. Experience in leveraging real-time health surveillance data (including sampling) and social media for disease modeling, prevention, or reduction chronic disease, infectious disease and substance use disorder is preferred.
• Knowledge of public health reporting, information system standards, and public health data. Experience working with publicly available socio-demographic data, including US Census data, local government, and publicly available geographic data.
• Significant expertise with using SAS and/or R for statistical analysis. Demonstrated expertise in advanced/complex statistical methods.
• Track record of grant writing, acquisition and management.
• Strong record of productivity, motivation, adaptability, and collaboration with exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with a track record of research excellence who enjoys having broad responsibilities, can thrive in a collaborative work environment, and can contribute to multiple projects across BPHC.

Additional Information

• City of Boston Residency Required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• This position requires the Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the departments discretion.

Shift

40 Hours per week. Monday - Friday

Pay Range

$150,000.00 - $170,000.00 Annually

Union Status

Non-Union

Job Grade

SAL