Cluster Analyst, Bureau of Tuberculosis Control

Hiring Rate: $72,190 (Flat)

The NYC Health Department's Bureau of Tuberculosis Control (BTBC) aims to prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB) and eliminate it as a public health problem in New York City. The goals of BTBC are to identify all individuals with suspected or confirmed tuberculosis disease and ensure their appropriate treatment and to ensure that individuals who are at high-risk for progression from latent infection to active disease receive treatment for latent tuberculosis infection and do not develop disease. To achieve these goals, BTBC conducts surveillance and data analysis, monitors patient care, conducts case management, detects, investigates, and responds to outbreaks, and conducts provider and community outreach. Universal whole genome sequencing (WGS) for all tuberculosis cases with a positive culture has been available in NYC since 2016. BTBC uses WGS routinely to characterize TB strains, identify and refute transmission, detect clusters and outbreaks, identify potential contamination, and inform public health intervention. TB cases and clusters are systematically reviewed, prioritized, and assigned for epidemiologic investigation.

The Outbreak Detection and Response Team in the Office of Epidemiology is seeking a TB Cluster Investigator.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:

Lead cluster and outbreak investigations to identify and interrupt TB transmission in NYC. Activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Review and abstraction of available demographic, social, and clinical characteristics from BTBC's electronic case management and surveillance system (Maven), external medical and social service databases, and other data sources.
- Review and interpret genomic data
- Conduct in-person and/or telephone interviews with patients using an open-ended, semi-structured questionnaire
- Compile, analyze, and synthesize relevant data and create data collection/visualization tools, including epi curves, maps, timelines, diagrams of epidemiologic links, and summary presentations
- Document investigation findings in Maven
- Communicate with BTBC case managers, physicians, and others to alert them about patients and clusters of interest
- Generate summary reports to inform potential interventions aimed at detecting and interrupting further TB transmission and communicate investigation findings to internal and/or external stakeholders
- Review additional high-priority populations, develop transmission hypotheses, and document findings
- Coordinate with the NYS Wadsworth Center TB lab team and the CDC molecular epidemiology team and utilize the national TB genotyping information management system (TBGIMS)

PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience working with public health surveillance or lab data and/or experience working in an applied epidemiology setting conducting infectious disease investigations
- Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and multitask
- Ability to work well in a team environment
- Knowledge of basic data management, analysis, and reporting
- Familiarity with reading medical charts and conducting chart abstraction

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 child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.

Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!

The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at [email protected] or 347-396-6549.

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:
1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

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.