Rollins Director of Public Health

Atlanta Speech School•Atlanta, GA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Atlanta Speech School seeks a nationally respected and collaborative leader to serve as Director for Public Health of its Rollins Center for Language & Literacy. The Director will lead the strategy, content, partnerships, and implementation to address the public health imperative of ensuring children's universal access to language and literacy. Working across perinatal and pediatric healthcare and community systems, this leader will translate research in early healthy brain development, language acquisition, and a foundation for reading into science-driven practices for adults who shape children’s first years of life. The Director will guide public health professional learning delivered live and through Cox Campus, the Rollins Center’s free online professional development platform, and steward the continued growth of Talk With Me Baby, a public health initiative that equips healthcare professionals and families to support babies’ early language and brain development. The Director will also ensure the scientific integrity, quality, and relevance of all content – whether delivered online or in-person, through partnership coaching. As a member of the Rollins Center Leadership team, the Director will collaborate with healthcare and community partners, independent evaluators, and funders. The Director for Public Health will set and execute the Rollins Center’s public health strategy across the continuum from the last trimester of pregnancy through literacy and deep reading. This leader will ensure that Rollins Center content and implementation models are scientifically sound, accessible to varied adult audiences, responsive to community context, and designed to change professional practice and child outcomes. The Director will lead the public health portfolio, including Talk With Me Baby, professional learning for perinatal and pediatric teams, health literacy initiatives, and cross-sector partnerships that connect healthcare with early learning and elementary education. The Director will also help steward coursework on trauma-informed practice and implicit bias, recognizing that the conditions surrounding a child and the beliefs of the adults serving that child can either strengthen or obstruct access to language, learning, and belonging.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public health, maternal and child health, nursing, medicine, speech-language pathology, neurology, early childhood development, education, health communication, implementation science, or a closely related field.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, healthcare, maternal and child health, early childhood systems, professional learning, or a related field, including significant leadership responsibility.
Demonstrated success translating research into professional practice, scalable programming, or systems change.
Experience developing high-quality professional learning, curriculum, or content for adult audiences, including online learning.
Strong understanding of early brain development, language acquisition, the foundations of literacy, health equity, and the influence of relationships and environment on development.
Experience using implementation and evaluation data to improve programs, professional practice, and outcomes.
Proven ability to build trust and lead change across complex institutions and multidisciplinary teams.
Exceptional written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex science clearly and responsibly.
Strong project management skills and the ability to move multiple initiatives from concept through implementation and evaluation.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree or advanced clinical credential in a relevant field.
Leadership experience within a hospital, health system, public health agency, academic medical center, or national maternal and child health initiative.
Experience with perinatal, neonatal, pediatric, or family-centered care settings.
Experience leading grant-funded, multisite, or national initiatives and working with philanthropic partners.
Familiarity with continuing education accreditation, digital learning platforms, and professional learning at scale.
Established national relationships or thought leadership in public health, early childhood development, language, literacy, or health equity.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, content, partnerships, and implementation to address the public health imperative of ensuring children's universal access to language and literacy.
Translate research in early healthy brain development, language acquisition, and a foundation for reading into science-driven practices for adults who shape children’s first years of life.
Guide public health professional learning delivered live and through Cox Campus.
Steward the continued growth of Talk With Me Baby, a public health initiative that equips healthcare professionals and families to support babies’ early language and brain development.
Ensure the scientific integrity, quality, and relevance of all content – whether delivered online or in-person, through partnership coaching.
Collaborate with healthcare and community partners, independent evaluators, and funders.
Set and execute the Rollins Center’s public health strategy across the continuum from the last trimester of pregnancy through literacy and deep reading.
Ensure that Rollins Center content and implementation models are scientifically sound, accessible to varied adult audiences, responsive to community context, and designed to change professional practice and child outcomes.
Lead the public health portfolio, including Talk With Me Baby, professional learning for perinatal and pediatric teams, health literacy initiatives, and cross-sector partnerships that connect healthcare with early learning and elementary education.
Help steward coursework on trauma-informed practice and implicit bias.