Public Health Program Director 1

Job Name: Public Health Program Director 1
Location: Nashville, TN 37243, Hybrid with in-person meetings as needed; some in-state travel required; Tennessee residency preferred
Duration: 6 months + (Possible Extension)
 
Shift: Fulltime / 37.5 hours per week, Mon - Fri, 8 AM - 4:30 PM
 
Job Overview:

• The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), Division of Family Health and Wellness (FHW) is accepting applications for an experienced contract strategic planning consultant to lead the development of a comprehensive Child Health Strategic Plan.
• The contractor will guide a collaborative planning process, engage diverse stakeholders, assess current child health needs, and produce a clear, actionable multiyear roadmap that advances child health outcomes across the state.
• The contractor will drive the full planning process, from landscape assessment through final plan delivery, working closely with internal leaders, external partners, and community stakeholders.
• The ideal candidate brings expertise in child health, strong strategic planning skills, and the ability to translate complex data and diverse perspectives into a clear, actionable roadmap.

 
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the full strategic planning process for child health initiatives.
• Conduct a comprehensive review and crosswalk of child health priorities published from local, state, and national entities, including the TN Title V Block Grant, American Academy of Pediatrics, Zero-to-Three, etc., and gather TN-specific data points for child health metrics.
• Engage and survey parent/family representatives, community-based organizations, service providers, and other stakeholders through listening sessions, focus groups, and presentations of crosswalked priorities and data.
• Identify strategic priorities, measurable objectives, and implementation pathways.
• Develop a comprehensive multi-year Child Health Strategic Plan based upon identified priorities, complete with clear goals, objectives, and multi-year strategies, to improve indicators of children’s health and well-being in Tennessee.
• Create an implementation roadmap outlining timelines, resource needs, partnerships, and evaluation metrics.
• Draft the full strategic plan, including narrative, data visualizations, recommendations, and implementation considerations.
• Present findings, drafts, and final deliverables to leadership and relevant stakeholders.

 
Minimum Requirements:
Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to substantial (five or more years of) full-time increasingly responsible professional health program work, including at least two years of full-time supervisory work or statewide program oversight.

Substitution of Education for Experience:

• Additional graduate coursework in a business or health-related field may be substituted, on a year-for-year basis, for one year of the required nonsupervisory experience.

Substitution of Experience for Education:

• Additional qualifying professional experience may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of four years.

 
Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience (5+ years preferred) in strategic planning, public health program development, or health systems planning.
• Background in child health, maternal child health, community health, or related fields.
• Strong facilitation skills and experience engaging diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
• Excellent written communication skills, including development of strategic or planning documents.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

 
Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in public health, health policy, child development, social work, or a related field.
• Experience working with state public health agencies.
• Familiarity with Tennessee child health systems or similar integrated health and social service environments.
• Experience with data-driven planning methods, and designing implementation or evaluation frameworks.
• Knowledge of policy levers affecting child health at local, state, and federal levels.