Deputy Director of Public Health

State of Montana • Helena, MT

1d

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity within the Director’s Office. The mission of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is to serve Montanans in their communities by improving health, safety, and well-being, and empowering independence. DPHHS administers a wide range of public health and human services programs and employs approximately 3,000 people. Programs and operations are organized into four functional areas under the Department Director. Each area is headed by a leader who provides executive leadership and oversees operations, and coordinates objectives and outcomes with the Department Director, to whom this position directly reports. This position is the Deputy Director for Public Health, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of Montana's public health infrastructure and programs. The Deputy Director for Public Health provides executive leadership of the Public Health and Safety Division, encompassing comprehensive public health services including communicable disease prevention and control, chronic disease prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness and response, health promotion, vital records and statistics, laboratory services, and population health initiatives. This position oversees the Public Health and Safety Division Administrator. The Deputy Director for Public Health serves on the Director's executive leadership team. This position is responsible for ensuring the integration and alignment of public health activities with the Department's Medicaid and Health Services operations and other health and human services programs to achieve optimal population health outcomes and maximize federal funding opportunities.

Requirements

• Comprehensive knowledge of public health principles, practices, and the 10 Essential Public Health Services including assessment, policy development, assurance, epidemiology, disease surveillance, prevention strategies, and population health approaches.
• Knowledge of governmental structure, functions, programs, and organizational relationships and the laws, rules, and regulations that govern public health operations and Medicaid and Health Services programs in the State of Montana.
• Understanding of Medicaid policy, financing mechanisms, and opportunities for integrating public health activities with Medicaid programs to achieve population health goals and maximize federal funding.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives that integrate public health programs with clinical care delivery, Medicaid services, and health systems to create coordinated approaches for disease prevention, health promotion, and population health management.
• Knowledge of federal public health programs, cooperative agreements, and funding mechanisms including CDC, HRSA, EPA, and other federal partners, as well as federal-state Medicaid financing and regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge of public administration including the legislative process, rulemaking procedures, and management of programs with statewide impact on population health.
• Excellent public speaking and communication skills to represent the Department on public health matters, provide testimony, and educate diverse audiences about public health issues and policies.
• Ability to build effective networks and partnerships with local health departments, tribal health programs, healthcare systems, Medicaid providers, community-based organizations, academic institutions, and federal agencies.
• Ability to develop and implement innovative, evidence-based approaches to challenging public health problems including health disparities, chronic disease burden, emerging infectious diseases, and environmental health threats.
• Ability to establish credibility as a public health leader and develop and maintain strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the health and human services spectrum.
• Master's degree in public health, health administration, epidemiology, public policy, public administration, or closely related field of study.
• Five years of progressive leadership experience in public health program management, health policy development, population health initiatives, or related health and human services programs.
• Demonstrated experience in public health operations including disease surveillance, prevention programs, health promotion, emergency preparedness, or environmental health.
• Experience with stakeholder management, governmental relations, legislative processes, and complex regulatory environments.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered

Nice To Haves

• Doctoral degree (MD, DO, PhD, DrPH, JD) in public health, medicine, epidemiology, health policy, or related discipline.
• Certification in public health (CPH) or equivalent professional credentials.
• Senior leadership experience in state or local public health agencies, health departments, or integrated health systems.
• Strong knowledge of behavioral health services and systems.
• Experience with Medicaid program operations, population health management, value-based payment models, or rural and frontier health services delivery systems.
• Knowledge of tribal health systems, Indian Health Service programs, and culturally responsive public health approaches.
• Established relationships with Montana legislators, agency leaders, tribal governments, and public health stakeholders.
• Experience with public health emergency response, incident command systems, and crisis management.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of Montana's public health infrastructure and programs.
• Providing executive leadership of the Public Health and Safety Division.
• Overseeing the Public Health and Safety Division Administrator.
• Serving on the Director's executive leadership team.
• Ensuring the integration and alignment of public health activities with the Department's Medicaid and Health Services operations and other health and human services programs to achieve optimal population health outcomes and maximize federal funding opportunities.

Benefits

• healthcare coverage
• retirement plans
• paid vacation
• sick leave
• holidays
• work/life balance
• eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior