HEALTH BRANCH MANAGER

State of Arkansas • Little Rock, AR

7d • $78,130 - $115,632

About The Position

The Health Branch Manager is a senior-level leader within the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), responsible for directing the daily operations and long-term strategic planning of a public health branch. This role oversees the development, delivery, and evaluation of statewide public health programs and ensures alignment with ADH’s mission to protect and improve the health and well-being of Arkansans.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, environmental health, nursing, social work, life sciences, or a related field, plus four (4) years of experience in a public health, administrative, or program coordination setting, plus one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Strong vision-setting, team leadership, and organizational management abilities.
• Proven ability to motivate and guide teams through complex, system-wide initiatives.
• Capacity to drive change and improvement in a structured, policy-driven environment.
• In-depth understanding of public health practices, systems, and regulations relevant to the branch’s focus.
• Ability to interpret and apply scientific data and public health research to operational decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for audiences ranging from staff to legislative and community stakeholders.
• Strong decision-making and analytical skills, particularly under high-stakes or urgent conditions.
• In-state and out-of-state travel with occasional overnight stays required.
• Must have a valid Arkansas Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

• Program management experience preferred.
• Good interpersonal skills preferred.
• Experience in Water and Wastewater regulation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for all operations within the assigned public health branch.
• Develop and implement policies, goals, and strategic initiatives to meet statewide public health objectives.
• Lead emergency preparedness and response efforts related to the branch’s scope of responsibility.
• Supervise and support branch staff, including program managers, health professionals, and administrative personnel.
• Oversee program planning, grant implementation, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance activities.
• Monitor performance indicators, program outcomes, and health impact metrics to guide data-informed decision-making.
• Ensure that all services and initiatives meet applicable state and federal guidelines, public health standards, and agency benchmarks.
• Prepare and manage branch budgets; oversee grant applications, fund allocation, and contract execution.

What This Job Offers

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