Office Director

Office of Shared Administration•Kanawha, WV

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Director of the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) assists the Governor’s Office and Secretary of Health in implementing West Virginia’s five-year, $500 million–$1 billion health modernization initiative to strengthen care access, workforce, innovation, and community health in rural and frontier communities. Under the Director’s guidance, the Deputy Director manages day-to-day operations and coordinates the program’s lifecycle, including federal engagement, funding administration, statewide deployment, data reporting, and results measurement. The role is the program’s second-in-command and operational lead, supporting collaboration across agencies, health systems, and community partners while overseeing grant and payment reform projects and advancing measurable improvements in access, outcomes, and sustainability. The position is an exempt, at-will appointment under the Department of Health. It is full-time and term-limited for up to five years, contingent on the award and continued availability of federal RHTP funding; continued employment beyond the project period is not guaranteed. Compensation is commensurate with executive-level public service, experience, and qualifications. Full state benefits and travel reimbursement for statewide engagement are provided. The position is based in Charleston, West Virginia.

Requirements

Master’s or doctoral degree in public health, health administration, business, medicine, or a related field (DrPH, MPH, MBA, MHA, MD, DO, or equivalent).
At least 7 years of leadership experience in health system transformation, public health administration, or large-scale program management.
Demonstrated success managing health programs, federal grants, or innovation models.
Strong understanding of rural health delivery, Medicaid and CMS policy, and value-based payment reform.
Proven record of cross-sector leadership and stakeholder coordination.
Commitment to the Governor’s mission of “Stronger Lives, Healthier Choices, and a Better West Virginia.”

Nice To Haves

Experience working with the CMS Innovation Center, HRSA, or state-federal demonstration models.
Prior leadership in rural or multi-system health operations.
Familiarity with data modernization, telehealth, or health technology infrastructure projects.
Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including public-facing leadership.

Responsibilities

Support the Director as principal executive for RHTP operations and translate the program’s vision and transformation domains into operational plans, milestones, budgets, and performance metrics.
Coordinate participating hospitals, health centers, behavioral-health providers, EMS agencies, and local health departments.
Prepare routine briefings for the Director, Secretary, Governor, and Legislature on program impact, federal negotiations, and key performance indicators.
Manage operational aspects of RHTP implementation, including project governance, funding disbursement, and accountability structures.
Ensure compliance with state and federal reporting requirements, including deliverables tied to the CMS Innovation Center and related federal partners.
Oversee the operational implementation of the program’s seven core initiatives: Connected Care Grid, Rural Health Link, Mountain State Care Force, Smart Care Catalyst Health to Prosperity Pipeline, Personal Health Accelerator, HealthTech Appalachia, and the initiative described as “Smart Care Catalyst Health to Prosperity Pipeline” in the posting.
Monitor and manage combined federal and state program funding and ensure adherence to federal financial and program-integrity requirements.
Align investments with cost-reduction and outcome-improvement goals tied to quality metrics and value-based purchasing.
Serve as a liaison to health systems, academic partners, community organizations, and federal agencies, often representing the Director.
Coordinate interagency workstreams across the Departments of Health, Human Services, Economic Development, and Education.
Support public communication strategies with the Director, Secretary, and Governor’s Office to highlight program impact and transparency.
Manage implementation of WVHIN data infrastructure to unify health, workforce, and economic data for performance analytics.
Coordinate use of AI-driven dashboards and predictive analytics to monitor rural outcomes, cost savings, and community impact.
Facilitate technology-enabled care models that extend specialty, home-based, and telehealth services.
Implement and maintain performance scorecards tied to RHTP outcomes, such as reduced avoidable hospitalizations, shorter appointment wait times, higher workforce retention, and lower chronic-disease burden.
Coordinate independent evaluation partnerships with West Virginia University, Marshall University, and others.
Ensure transparent reporting to the Legislature, public, and federal partners.