Position summary:

The mission of NY/NJ HIDTA is to invest in partnerships to build healthy and safe communities. HIDTA is a program of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and HIDTAs across the country focus on reducing drug trafficking and its harmful consequences, particularly drug abuse and drug-related crime. To accomplish this, the NY/NJ HIDTA builds innovative and effective partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies operating in the region. In 2011, the NY/NJ HIDTA established the Drug Trends Group (DTG) to gather, analyze, and distribute drug use indicator data; to develop and support innovative data-driven policy and programming initiatives; and to facilitate interagency, public health-public safety collaboration in the region.
 
DTG’s current work has paid particular attention to the threat posed by heroin and prescription drug diversion and abuse. Recent initiatives DTG has been involved with include the NYC RxStat initiative (a public health-public safety initiative to reduce drug overdose deaths in NYC), expansion of naloxone dissemination, pilot implementation of Electronic Patient Care Reports in EMS agencies, expanded collection and analysis of overdose death data, and development of a 15-state Heroin Response Strategy.
 
DTG works with representatives from federal, state, and local public health and public safety organizations including the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), New Jersey Division of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York City Police Department, New Jersey State Police, New York City Office of the Mayor, and the Department of Justice – Bureau of Justice Assistance, among many others.

 
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• In collaboration with DOHMH, strategize and coordinate RxStat, including planning meetings, assembling data presentations, and brainstorming response strategies/ideas.
• Assist coordination of the Heroin Response Strategy across 15 states. Support Drug Policy Analysts and Drug Intelligence Officers in NY & NJ to innovate and implement most effective approaches for maximum impact.
• Provide expertise in reviewing public health and public safety analyses, especially with regard to data analysis and data quality control.
• Develop, manage, and implement, new initiatives and projects with partner organizations.
• Build and maintain relationships with key public health and law enforcement partners.
• Assist preparation of the annual NY/NJ HIDTA Threat Assessment -- a comprehensive analysis of available data on drug crime and abuse -- to be delivered to the HIDTA Director, HIDTA
• Executive Board and to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
• Respond to requests from ONDCP, government officials, and HIDTA partners for information regarding data analyses and/or trends in drug abuse.
• Address and fill gaps in collection and availability of public health and public safety data on drug use via partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies.
• Manage group budget, with HIDTA fiscal administration.
• Conduct in-depth, independently-guided analysis of drug use data from a variety of public health and law enforcement sources.
• Prepare and edit reports, presentations, and communications for internal and external purposes.
• Assist in applying for federal grants as needed. Assist in supervising and monitoring federal grant activities and reporting as needed.
• Identify and attend relevant seminars, conferences and trainings.

 
Qualifications:

• 3+ years of work experience required.
• Strong understanding and experience with applying statistical analyses, research methods, and data interpretation is required.
• Strong interest in the field of drug control policy/drug abuse prevention.
• Exceptional research and writing skills (writing sample will be requested), command of Microsoft Excel, experience synthesizing and interpreting data, preparing and presenting reports, excellent communication/interpersonal skills, detail-oriented, self-motivated, organized, ability to multi-task.
• Familiarity with drug use-related data, criminal justice data, hospitalization data, or death data is a plus.

 
Educational Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Public Policy, Public Health, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, International Studies, or other relevant field.
• Prior experience with research projects in fields of public health, public policy, or law enforcement, experience with GIS/mapping and statistics-related programs.

 
Location:

• 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281

Commitment:

• A one year commitment to the hiring bureau.