Deputy Director, School Mental Health

ONLY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN THE TITLE AND THOSE THAT ARE REACHABLE ON THE HEALTH SERVICES MANAGER CIVIL SERVICE LIST ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.

The Division of Family and Child Health (DFCH) of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is charged with the creation and oversight of programs, policies, services, and environments that support physical and socio-emotional health, and promote primary and reproductive health services, health equity, social justice, safety and well-being for New York City families and children. The Division is comprised of the Bureau of Maternal Infant and Reproductive Health, the Bureau of Early Intervention, the Office of School Health, and the Bureau of Administration.

The vision of the DFCH is that every child, woman, and family recognizes their power and is given the opportunity to reach their full health and development potential.

The Office of School Health (OSH) is a joint initiative of the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), serving over one million students across approximately 1,800 public and non-public schools. OSH provides a comprehensive range of health services, including chronic condition management, preventive screenings, urgent care, medication administration, counseling, health education, and referrals for ongoing treatment.

Under the leadership of the Director of School Mental Health (SMH), the Deputy Director plays a pivotal role in driving the strategic growth, operational excellence, and capacity-building efforts of the SMH program. As a senior member of the SMH Central Team, the Deputy Director ensures the effective delivery of school-based mental health services citywide, while fostering innovation, equity, and sustainability in youth mental health systems.

• Program Operations & Administration:
  Oversee administrative functions and staff to ensure seamless operations, including HR coordination, procurement, budget oversight, and resource allocation.
• Provide executive-level support to the Director in policy development, strategic planning, and operational logistics.
• Lead the development and refinement of centralized systems and infrastructure that support SMH service delivery across all school sites.
• Monitor program performance and ensure alignment with citywide health and education goals.
• Partner with Human Resources to lead recruitment, onboarding, and retention strategies for SMH staff.
• Supervise and coach direct reports and broader team members to foster professional growth, accountability, and a culture of excellence.
• Design and implement staff development initiatives, including training, peer learning, and leadership pathways.

• Collaborate with the Director to shape and execute the long-term vision for SMH program expansion and innovation.
• Represent the Director in high-level meetings with internal and external stakeholders, contributing to strategic decision-making and advocacy.
• Lead cross-functional planning efforts to identify service gaps, prioritize resource deployment, and guide programmatic growth.
• Collaborate with internal data teams to monitor program impact, identify trends, and inform strategic adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with reporting requirements, grant conditions, and regulatory standards.
• Contribute to the development of performance metrics and evaluation frameworks that drive accountability and transparency.
• Support data-informed decision-making and continuous quality improvement across all SMH initiatives.

• Benefits:
  City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
• a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
• additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
• a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
• a tax-deferred savings program and
• 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,…