Field Work Intern

Job Description

Job Description

Company Overview:

With an annual budget of $2.3 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is one of the largest public health agencies in the world, serving 8 million New Yorkers from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We're tackling a broad range of public health issues with innovative policies and programs and getting exceptional results, but our work is never finished. The breadth of our innovative programs provides the widest range of choices for every member of our team.

With grant funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the NYC Health Department is undertaking an initiative to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the expanding multistate outbreak of Influenza A/H5N1 and strengthen readiness for any respiratory disease threat with the potential to result in large, disruptive outbreaks to communities.

The selected candidate will be an employee of Public Health Solutions, a nonprofit organization which is the fiscal and administrative manager of the grant but will work be supervised by the NYC Health Department. This is a grant-funded position ending on January 16, 2026.

Program Overview:

The Division of Disease Control performs identification, surveillance, treatment, control and prevention of 90+ infectious diseases. It is one of the largest Divisions at the Health Department with seven bureaus including the Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

The Bureau of Communicable Diseases is responsible for the surveillance, prevention, and control of over 70 infectious diseases, including foodborne, waterborne, respiratory, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. Within the Bureau of Communicable Diseases, the Disease Investigation Unit conducts rapid investigations of infectious disease cases, exposures, and outbreaks.

Position Summary:

The NYC Health Department has an opening for a Bureau of Communicable Disease Student Intern. This position will assist with investigations of cases and outbreaks of Influenza A/H5N1 as well as field related surveillance activities, and outreach and educational activities done by BCD and in collaboration with external partners. This position reports to the Team Lead of the Community Outreach and Health Education Unit.

Specifically, the Field Work Intern will:

• Investigate cases of H5N1 and other reportable infectious diseases in animals.
• Conduct outreach and education.
• Participate in field related surveillance activities.
• Investigate outbreaks.
• Perform data entry and data management
• Assist in miscellaneous projects and other disease investigations within the Bureau of Communicable Disease where necessary

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate (MPH, MS or PhD) program in public health or related field
• Capacity and willingness to work in the field.
• The ideal candidate for this position must be a pro-active and self-motivated individual with the ability to work in teams and in a highly dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and timelines.

Additional Desired Qualities

• Experience with stakeholder engagement and project management.
• Excellent communication (verbal & written) and interpersonal skills.
• Previous work experience, particularly in fields related to public health, medicine, or customer service.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to manage and report complex information.
• Desire to grow professionally, develop new skills and willingness to work outside of comfort zone.
• Experience working with the public health sector and coordinating projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and work in fast-paced environment with hard deadlines.
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, ArcGIS and PowerPoint.

Benefits:

• Hybrid Work Schedule.
• Generous Paid Time Off and Holidays.
• An attractive and comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Commuter Benefits.
• Company Paid Life Insurance and Disability Coverage.
• 403(b) + employer matching and discretionary company contributions.
• College Savings Plan.
• Ongoing trainings and continuous opportunities for professional growth and development.

Additional Information:

• This is a temporary grant-funded position ending September 30, 2026.
• This individual must reside in the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) by their confirmed start date.
• Preference may be given to individuals residing in New York City (5 boroughs) or surrounding New York State counties.
• This individual will be expected to work non-business hours during emergencies.

At PHS, we place immense value on diversity within our teams, understanding that varied backgrounds and experiences significantly enhance our community and propel us toward our goals. If you find you don’t have experience in all the areas listed above, we still encourage you to apply and share your background and experiences in your application. We are eager to discover how your unique perspective can bring positive transformations to our team and help advance our mission of creating healthier, more equitable communities.

We look forward to learning more about you!

PHS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilitnies, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and veterans.

Monday-Friday
35 Hours Per Week
This is a temporary grant-funded position ending September 30, 2026.