EEO Director, Office of the Deputy Commissioner
City of New York · Long Island City, New York, United States
Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is the oldest and largest health department in the United States. The Department's mission is to protect and improve the health of all New Yorkers, advancing a vision of a city where every individual has the opportunity to achieve their full health potential, regardless of background, identity, age, or neighborhood.
As a globally recognized public health institution, DOHMH has a distinguished history of advancing innovative public health policies, implementing transformative programs, conducting groundbreaking research, and responding to complex public health emergencies. The Department serves as New York City's principal public health authority, shaping policies and initiatives that influence public health practices locally, nationally, and internationally.
With a workforce of more than 7,000 professionals, DOHMH recognizes that organizational excellence requires a workplace culture grounded in fairness, accountability, professional integrity, and equitable employment practices. The Department is committed to fostering an inclusive organizational environment that values diverse perspectives, promotes equal opportunity, and supports the professional development and advancement of its workforce.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) seeks an accomplished, results-oriented attorney and executive leader to serve as Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).
The ideal candidate will be an experienced attorney with demonstrated expertise in employment law, discrimination investigations, regulatory compliance, and organizational risk management, combined with the leadership capabilities necessary to oversee a comprehensive EEO program within a large and complex organization.
Serving as a senior advisor to agency leadership, the Director will oversee EEO investigations, policy development, regulatory compliance, employee training, and organizational risk management. The successful candidate will collaborate with executive leadership, Human Resources and Labor Relations, the Office of General Counsel, and external oversight agencies to promote accountability, equitable employment practices, and a respectful workplace.
The selected candidate must maintain active membership in good standing with the New York State Bar throughout their employment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Under executive leadership, the Director of EEO will:
Strategic Leadership: Direct the Department's EEO program, establish operational priorities, and develop strategies that promote regulatory compliance, organizational accountability, and equitable employment practices.
Legal Compliance and Risk Management: Oversee compliance with federal, state, and local EEO laws and Citywide policies. Develop and implement policies, procedures, and corrective measures to mitigate organizational risk. Maintain internal databases and keep detailed logs of all EEO investigations and reasonable accommodations requests.
EEO Investigations: Provide oversight of internal investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and related workplace complaints. Review findings and recommend determinations to Commissioner.
Reasonable Accommodations: Oversee the Department’s reasonable accommodation process and ensure compliance with all application laws and regulations (e.g. ADA, City procedures).
External Agency Coordination: Serve as the Department's principal liaison with DCAS, the NYC Equal Employment Practices Commission, and other regulatory agencies. Coordinate responses to external complaints, investigations, and litigation in collaboration with the Office of General Counsel.
Workplace Equity and Employee Engagement: Advance initiatives that strengthen equal employment opportunity, promote equitable workforce practices, and support Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).
Training and Executive Advisory Services: Direct EEO training and education initiatives for employees and management. Create strategies for implanting and monitoring compliance with EEO-related training, policies, and procedures. Provide guidance to senior leadership on complex employment matters, regulatory requirements, and workplace concerns.
Reporting and Performance Accountability: Oversee mandated EEO reporting, regulatory audits, and compliance reviews. Keep management and staff updated of best practices for EEO issues, ensuring requests for reasonable accommodations and compliant resolutions adhere to the City’s EEO Policy.
Operational and Staff Leadership: Direct the daily operations of the EEO Office, supervise professional staff, establish performance expectations, and ensure effective resource management and continuous process improvement.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
A minimum of ten (10) years of recent, full-time, responsible, relevant, and satisfactory legal experience following admission to any bar, of which three (3) years are in in supervisory capacity.
Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local EEO laws, employment discrimination regulations, and workplace compliance requirements.
Significant leadership experience overseeing EEO programs, employment law matters, investigations, or related compliance functions.
Experience advising executive leadership on complex legal, regulatory, and organizational matters.
Strong knowledge of discrimination and harassment investigations, reasonable accommodations, and organizational risk management.
Demonstrated ability to develop policies, implement strategic initiatives, and promote equitable workplace practices.
Exceptional communication, analytical, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
Proven ability to supervise professional staff, manage competing priorities, and exercise sound judgment in sensitive matters.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with HR information systems and electronic case management platforms.
SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification preferred.
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.
Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!
Commitment to Equity:
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.
The NYC Health Department is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To