College Aide, Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation

Job Description

College Aide (Junior -Senior) 35 hours when school is not in session.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Division of Environmental Health works to prevent and control illness and injury related to environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance, and enforcement. With staff of 1,000, the Division covers a broad range of subject matter, including oversight of environmental investigations, lead poisoning, injury prevention, occupational health, food safety, childcare, radiation control, recreational and drinking water quality, air quality, climate health, vector control, veterinary public health and pest control.

The Bureau of Food Safety and Community Sanitation (BFSCS) protects the public, including New York's most vulnerable citizens from a broad range of hazards that may pose a threat to health or safety. This includes hazards related to food safety wherever meals are served to the public, including restaurants, school cafeterias, mobile food vending carts, senior centers and soup kitchens; first-hand and second-hand smoke for all places of employment and public spaces. BFSCS also monitors compliance with regulations in other facilities, such as tattoo parlors, correctional facilities, and homeless shelters. Additionally, BFSCS investigates environmental health complaints received from New York City residents.

Duties entail a myriad of responsibilities and tasks to include but are not limited to performing inspections of 1000 sites explaining findings to operators, prepare statistical reports, enter and analyze data, answer telephones, respond to inquiries, and perform other duties as required.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

- Phase I (May 5 through June 30, 2025): Work in central office creating, editing, and updating records in NYC and NYS database systems Reconcile data in preparation for Summer Feeding Program
- Phase II (July 1- September 30, 2025): Report to inspection site by 8:00 AM to begin inspection route; return to the Central Office by 3:00 PM to enter the day's logs and information into BFSCS database.
- Ensure a safe environment for children by surveying feeding sites that are usually located at schools, day camps, parks and playgrounds.
- Take and pass the monthly on-line and in-class training to receive a Food Protection Certificate which includes weekly testing.
- Perform mandated services to meet Agency survey targets to regulate 1000 feeding sites.
- Travel all five (five) boroughs to conduct inspections inclusive of Staten Island. Inspect feeding locations to determine if there is vermin activity.
- Survey feeding sites using handheld tablets to evaluate their impact on food safety. Test and monitor food temperatures, while explaining findings to operators.
- Prepare statistical reports, enter, and analyze data in BFSCS database, answer telephones, respond to inquiries, and perform other duties as required.

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 chi