Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the country. Our mission is to protect and improve the health of all New Yorkers, in service of a vision of a city in which all New Yorkers can realize their full health potential, regardless of who they are, how old they are, where they are from, or where they live.
As a world-renowned public health agency with a history of building transformative public health programming and infrastructure, we are a hub for public health innovation, expertise, and programs, and services. We serve as the population health strategist, and policy, and planning authority for the City of New York, while also having a vast impact on national and international public policy, including 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 racial and social justice work, among others.
Our Agency’s five strategic priorities are:
- To re-envision how the Health Department prepares for and responds to health emergencies.
- Address and prevent chronic and diet-related disease.
- Address the second pandemic of mental illness.
- Reduce black maternal mortality and make New York a model city for women’s health.
- Mobilize against and combat the health impacts of climate change.
Our 7,000-plus team members bring extraordinary diversity to the work of public health. True to our value of equity, the NYC Health Department has been a leader in recognizing and dismantling racism’s impacts on the health of New Yorkers. In 2021, the NYC Board of Health declared racism as a public health crisis.
PROGRAM AND JOB DESCRIPTION:
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Division of Environmental Health works to prevent and control illness and injury related to environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance, and enforcement. With a staff of 1,000, the Division covers a broad range of subject matter, including oversight of environmental investigations, lead poisoning, injury prevention, occupational health, food safety, child care, radiation control, recreational and drinking water quality, air quality, climate health, vector control, veterinary public health, and pest control.
DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Inspect stables, investigate rental horse-related complaints, and conduct surveys of horses in Central Park and other locations in the City.
- Review all required documents including the Certificates of Health for horses used for commercial purposes to ensure completeness and compliance with laws.
- Review and update Horse Drawn Carriage Operator's course materials when needed and conduct practical examinations for the Horse Drawn Carriage Operator's course.
- Monitor general environmental health and safety of licensed horses and enforce laws related to humane work conditions.
- Educate horse and stable owners about related laws and regulations.
- Review animal health documents and conditions for animal exhibit requests and inspect exhibits.
- Consult with other veterinarians, and/or other public officials on issues as needed.
Preferred Skills
- Expertise in Equine medicine, carriage horse rules and regulation.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills.
- Be flexible, adaptable, customer-focused, and goal-oriented with a commitment to high standards of excellence.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- Possession of a valid New York State license to practice veterinary medicine.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is required within 90 days of appointment. However, city employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County.
Additional Information
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.
