Assistant Commissioner, Data Technology & Strategy

Job 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 wellbeing 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. The Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Data Technology and Strategy is a cornerstone role within the Center for Population Health Data Science. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of data modernization and innovation in one of the nation's largest public health agencies. As the leader of a newly established bureau, the Assistant Commissioner will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategic vision that seamlessly integrates advanced technologies, robust data systems, and innovative methodologies to address complex public health challenges. This role is critical in ensuring that the Department's data infrastructure and technology strategies are not only cutting-edge but also scalable, secure, impactful, and successfully adopted by internal teams and external stakeholders.

The position demands a forward-thinking leader who can navigate the complexities of managing a multidisciplinary team while fostering collaboration in the team, and across diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and community organizations. With a focus on developing the future public health data workforce, a federated data and analytics model, and a data-as-a-product culture, the Assistant Commissioner will drive and supervise the development of an interoperable front door, central data platform, centralized data governance, advanced analytics, and unified data communications solutions that empower data-driven decision-making in public health planning, implementation, and policy. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of technical acumen, strategic foresight, and a passion for leveraging data to improve health outcomes for all populations as well as a track record of successful management of people, process, and technology in complex organizational environments. Experience/expertise in health informatics and interoperability in a government organization, understanding of the national data modernization initiative and health equity, and a record of securing funding for innovative initiatives are highly desirable.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Spearhead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for data modernization and data systems transformation to support public health priorities, such as disease prevention and monitoring, health equity, and emergency preparedness.
- Oversee the integration of health data systems across the Agency and with external partners, including hospitals, other government organizations, and community organizations.
- Interest in and ability to secure grants and to advocate for funding to support data and informatics work.
- Build, lead, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of about 45 data technologists, scientists, data governance and product management teams.
- Help identify and secure grants, oversee the bureau's budget and allocate resources in alignment with Center and Bureau priorities.
- Build organizational capacity in data engineering and technology, and advanced analytic methods in a public health and health equity framework.
- Establish a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the bureau.
- Manage the bureau's budget, resources, and workforce development programs.
- Further the adoption of cutting-edge technologies for data exchange, management and analytics as part of our cloud transformation to Microsoft Azure.
- Ensure the security, accuracy, and accessibility of public health data.
- Plan and drive the modernization and unification of legacy data systems to improve scalability and efficiency.
- Oversee data governance to facilitate data exchange and use, while protecting privacy, and ensuring data quality, accuracy, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Reduce data silos, focusing on smoother data exchange and data cleaning and processing to allow agency-wide analytic teams to spend more time doing analyses to drive policy, programming, advocacy and decision-making.
- Collaborate with IT teams to ensure the resilience,