10101 - User Centered Design Specialist

The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement of the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. To this end, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), FPHNYC incubates innovative public health initiatives implemented by DOHMH to advance community health throughout the city. It facilitates partnerships, often new and unconventional, between the government and the private sector to develop, test, and launch new initiatives. These collaborations speed the execution of demonstration projects, effect expansion of successful pilot programs, and support rapid implementation to meet the public health needs of individuals, families, and communities across New York City. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW 

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH), with a budget of $2.3 billion and over 7,000 employees, is one of the largest public health agencies in the world. We are at the forefront of public health, addressing many health issues with innovative policies and programs designed to serve over 8 million New Yorkers.

The Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS)- launched in November 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 well-being 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.  This position will be based at the Health Department’s office in Long Island City, NY, and possibly involve hybrid work. 

POSITION OVERVIEW

As a user-centered Design Specialist at DOHMH, you will join the Center for Population Health Data Science (CPHDS) to enhance our data modernization efforts. You will be integral in identifying, designing, and refining our data platform, services, and product experiences for informaticists, analysts, and public health researchers. This role will focus on design thinking for data platforms, services, and products, generating benefits such as re-usability, lower failure risks, faster exchange, easier maintainability, better quality, and enhanced governance of data in order to drive effective public health actions and improved health outcomes.   

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate discovery workshops with various stakeholder groups within the Agency and with external partners to understand data product needs and value for decision-making.  
• Translate design concepts and findings from discovery workshops into user flows, user stories, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes that lead to intuitive experiences for users of data platforms, services, and products.    
• Engage in visioning sessions with program stakeholders while researching, conceiving, sketching, prototyping, and user-testing data platforms, services, and products.  
• Collaborate with Product Managers and engineers to design seamless and cohesive user experiences for a diverse set of public health professionals, data users, and decision-makers.  
• Make strategic design decisions informed by data engineering insight and program stakeholder input while taking into account the architecture of the integrated public health surveillance platform.  
• Identify design problems and devise elegant, timely, and cost-effective solutions.  
• Take a user-centered design approach and rapidly test and iterate your designs.  
• Collaborate with other team members and internal and external stakeholders.  
• Ask insightful questions, take risks, and champion innovative ideas to facilitate the use of data for action.  

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Master's degree required in public health, data science, health informatics, computer science, or a related field   
• Three or more years of UX design experience. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience designing complex solutions and are enthusiastic about data products and services.  
• Expertise in UX and diagramming software for wireframing/prototyping is a must. Ability to work with clients to understand detailed requirements and design complete user experiences that meet client needs and vision.  
• A solid grasp of user-centered design (UCD), planning and conducting user research, user testing, A/B testing, rapid prototyping, heuristic analysis, usability, and accessibility concerns.  
• Ability to iterate designs and solutions efficiently and intelligently.  
• Ability to clearly and effectively communicate design processes, ideas, and solutions to teams and clients.  
• A clear understanding of the importance of user-centered design and design thinking.  
• Ability to work effectively in a team setting, including synthesizing abstract ideas into concrete designs.  
• Be passionate about resolving user pain points through great design.  
• Be open to receiving feedback and constructive criticism.  

Why Join Us:  

• Contributed directly to initiatives that improve public health outcomes across one of the world's most dynamic cities.  
• Be part of a dedicated team that integrates innovative data practices with public health strategies.  
• Engage with a mission-focused organization that values diversity, innovation, and professional growth.   

SALARY 

• Salary range is $90,000-100,000.   

WORK SCHEDULE  

9:00 am – 5:00 pm  

Monday to Friday  

Hybrid  

LOCATION 

42-09 28th St, Queens, NY 11101  

BENEFITS AT A GLANCE   

FPHNYC offers a comprehensive benefits package  

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy  
• Medical, dental, and life insurance with low or no employee contribution  
• A retirement savings plan with generous employer contribution  
• Flexible spending medical and commuter benefits plan  
• Fun hybrid office environment and passionate team  
• Fun all staff events all year round  
• Meaningful work at an organization striving to advance health equity and social justice  

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT  

You must live in the New York City Tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) in order to be considered for a position at FPHNYC.