Public Health Program Director

As a Public Health Program Director with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, you will play a central role in managing disease intervention strategies that support healthier communities. This position gives you the opportunity to coordinate statewide teams, respond to emerging health needs, and advance public health goals. You will help create strong partnerships across agencies and organizations. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys leading teams and improving health outcomes through effective strategies. Take the next step and apply to support healthier communities across Pennsylvania!

This position leads the Division of Communicable Disease Field Services by planning, directing, and monitoring statewide disease intervention work. It supports efforts to reduce communicable disease through strong leadership, coordination, and collaboration across teams and partners. As a Public Health Program Director, you will perform the following duties:

• Field Service Leadership: Plan, direct, and evaluate communicable disease field services for statewide disease prevention
• Staff Supervision: Oversee supervisors and field staff across the state and ensure effective implementation of field activities
• Program Oversight: Review data, guidelines, and health objectives to guide HIV, STD, and other disease prevention efforts
• Financial Monitoring: Review budgets and grants and coordinate with partners to manage program funding and expenditures
• Workforce Development: Coordinate training and skill building opportunities for field staff and support ongoing development
• Partnership Collaboration: Work with public health bureaus, providers, and community groups to improve statewide disease response

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time up to 3 days per week. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Eight years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health or health related services, which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience; or
  
• One year as a Public Health Program Manager (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Two years as a Public Health Program Administrator (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• An associate's degree in allied health sciences or nursing and six years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health, or health related services, which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience; or
• A bachelor's degree and four years of professional public health, health, allied health sciences, drug and alcohol or related experience; which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience, which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience; or
• A bachelor's degree and four years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health, or health related services, which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience; or
• A master's degree in public health, health services administration, health care administration, health education, public health administration, public administration, nursing, epidemiology, social work, nutrition, hospital administration, physical therapy, occupational therapy, business administration, or education and three years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health or health related services, which includes two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience.

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
  • Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.