Director of Strategic Operations

Company Overview:

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.        

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will be supervised by DOHMH.     

Program Description:   

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS)- launched in October of 2023- aims to catalyze critical data modernization work and enable the agency to make progress toward linking public health, healthcare, and social service for timely and effective public action. We are working towards making these data more accessible, timely, equitable, meaningfully usable, and protected – and actively used to protect and promote the health and well-being of New Yorkers. We aim to strengthen agency-wide data capabilities by empowering our workforce, enhancing intra- and inter-agency data sharing, and using modern technology to yield trusted and integrated data and insights. A real-time and comprehensive view of city needs is needed to enhance public health actions and improve health outcomes for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.  This position will be based at the Health Department’s office in Long Island City, NY, with the possibility of hybrid work.    

Position Summary:

The Director of Strategic Operations will serve as a partner to CPHDS leadership, helping to define and advance the Center’s priorities and long-term vision for data modernization across the NYC Health Department. This role requires comfort with shaping emerging initiatives and turning early ideas into actionable plans. You will lead and incubate high-priority efforts such as multi-year planning, inter- and intra-agency collaborations, advancing sustainable funding strategies, and scaling AI readiness.

This senior-level individual contributor role requires working across multiple teams to bring clarity to priorities, drive momentum, and ensure initiatives translate into tangible progress and results.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader, practical operator, and collaborator who can turn transformation and change needs into clear plans and structures without overengineering, adapt quickly as priorities evolve, lead with influence, step in where needed to define direction, fill gaps, and unblock progress, and consistently deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Specifically, the Director of Strategic Operations will:

Strategic Initiatives & Execution

• • Lead and execute high-priority strategic initiatives in partnership with CPHDS leadership, and often shaping direction as work evolves
  • Support AI and data modernization efforts, including identifying opportunities to use AI to improve our work and increasing AI literacy throughout the Agency
  • Develop and implement funding and revenue strategies in collaboration with administrative, finance, and legal teams
  • Build strong working relationships across teams to support coordination and execution
  • Translate broad priorities into clear plans, timelines, and deliverables, adjusting as needed to maintain momentum
  • Step into undefined or ambiguous emerging areas to scope problems, frame risks, and recommend paths forward
  • Identify risks and challenges early and proactively implement practical solutions
  • Develop scopes of work and oversee consultants and project-based resources

Organizational Transformation and Change Management:

• • Lead and support change efforts that help embed new ways of working into day-to-day practice
  • Identify opportunities to improve how work gets done and introduce practical, right-sized solutions
  • Help the organization move from planning to sustained execution, making change part of routine operations

Strategic Planning and Operations: 

• • Develop and refine a multi-year strategic roadmap aligned with CPHDS and agency priorities
  • Translate leadership priorities into actionable plans with clear milestones and outcomes
  • Manage the development of bureau and Center goals and coordinate regular reporting
  • Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress
  • Align strategic priorities with available funding sources, including grants and other opportunities
  • Develop and implement long-term funding and revenue approaches, working with subject matter experts
  • Lead planning efforts such as retreats, workshops, and strategy sessions that drive clarity, alignment, and action
  • Direct change management efforts to create a positive and collaborative culture and align work with the strategic plan, working with CPHDS leadership and Administration.

Coordination of Stakeholder Relationships: 

• • Build and maintain effective working relationships across CPHDS, DOHMH bureaus, and external partners
  • Ensure teams are aligned on priorities, timelines, ownership, next steps, and expected outcomes
  • Coordinate efforts across multiple groups to keep work progressing efficiently
  • Serve as a central point of coordination for initiatives involving multiple stakeholders
  • Support external partnerships and collaborations, ensuring they align with program goals
  • Provide clear, actionable updates to leadership to support decision-making

Project Management: 

• • Develop and manage project plans, timelines, and deliverables
  • Track progress across initiatives and ensure work stays on schedule
  • Identify and address risks, delays, and dependencies
  • Ensure clear ownership of tasks and follow-through on deliverables
  • Organize meetings, agendas, and documentation to support progress
  • Provide regular updates to leadership on status and outcomes
  • Identify opportunities to improve processes and team effectiveness

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of eight years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified above
• Familiarity with public health and/or data modernization, or strong interest in learning more about public health and data modernization
• Demonstrated experience in strategic planning, managing complex projects, coordinating across diverse teams, and delivering results on time
• The ideal candidate for this role will be a strategic problem solver and able to work both independently and alongside the strong teams within CPHDS to deliver results, with the ability to learn quickly, and solve problems in a dynamic environment 

Skills for success in the role: 

• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with minimal direction
• Attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with change management is a plus
• Project management experience
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to develop effective working relationships with individuals at all levels
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• High degree of self-awareness, humility, and diplomacy

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information:  

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending November 2027
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date. 
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies  

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities.  

We look forward to learning more about you!

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.