Public Health Program Director

The Tennessee Department of Health’s Division (TDH) of Family Health and Wellness (FHW) is hiring a contract Public Health Program Director 1 (PHPD1) to lead the Rural Fetal and Infant Health Initiative (RFIHI), which is funded by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program. This position will provide strategic leadership and oversight for rural infant mortality reduction initiatives across West and Southeast Tennessee. 

This role is responsible for overseeing contracts, guiding implementation of funded activities, and supporting community-based collaboratives working to improve birth outcomes and reduce fetal and infant mortality. This position will report to the Director of Child Safety and Brain Injury Programs.  

Key Responsibilities: 

Provide leadership and oversight for the Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction Rural Health Transformation Program across assigned rural regions 
Manage and monitor grant-funded contracts, including reviewing scopes of work, budgets, expenditures, and deliverables to ensure compliance with State and federal requirements 
Serve as the primary liaison to funded grantees, providing technical assistance, guidance, and ongoing support to ensure the successful implementation of program activities 
Support the establishment and sustainability of multisector, community-based collaboratives that include healthcare, public health, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience 
Ensure grantees are implementing data-driven planning processes, including the use of vital statistics, Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) data, and other relevant data sources 
Guide and support the development and execution of data-informed action plans aligned with the TDH Infant Health Strategic Plan 
Oversee implementation of evidence-informed and community-driven strategies, including initiatives related to: 
Community Health Access and Navigation in Tennessee (CHANT) and Tennessee Community Compass 
Count the Kicks fetal movement awareness program 
Priority areas such as prenatal care, safe sleep, breastfeeding, smoking cessation, and preterm birth prevention 
Promote coordination and systems integration across healthcare, public health, and community-based services to improve access and continuity of care 
Monitor program performance through shared measurement approaches, including review of process and outcome data, quarterly reports, and evaluation activities 
Participate in and support state-led evaluation, reporting, training, and technical assistance efforts 
Ensure meaningful community engagement, including integration of individuals with lived experience in planning, implementation, and evaluation activities 
Support development of sustainability plans, including identifying funding opportunities and strategies to maintain program impact beyond the grant period 
Conduct site visits, facilitate meetings, and represent the program in regional and statewide stakeholder engagements 
Collaborate with internal TDH programs and external partners to align efforts and advance maternal, fetal, and infant health priorities 
Minimum Requirements: 

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in public health or a related field 
Experience equivalent to substantial (5 years or more) of full-time, increasingly responsible professional health program work 
Experience in program or grant management, including contract oversight, budgeting, and reporting 
Demonstrated ability to lead or support multi-partner initiatives or community collaboratives 
Strong understanding of public health data and experience applying data to program planning and evaluation 
Excellent organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills 
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including community members and individuals with lived experience 
Experience providing training or technical assistance is preferred 
Knowledge of maternal, fetal, and infant health and rural health systems is preferred 
Ability to travel within assigned regions and statewide as needed 
Ability to work remotely with periodic in-person meetings in Davidson County and assigned rural locations