Deputy Health Commissioner: Philadelphia Department of Public Health

Bryn Mawr College; Brynmawr; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health seeks a Deputy Health Commissioner, the second most senior official, to oversee 13 divisions and develop public health strategies. This role requires strong leadership and analytical skills, with responsibilities adjusted based on the chosen candidate's experience and interests.

Qualifications

• Excellent supervisory, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and writing skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing the department’s 13 programmatic divisions.
• Coordinating and identifying synergies among divisions.
• Developing public health strategies.

Skills

Supervisory Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Abilities

Analytical Skills

Job description

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), with approximately 1000 staff and a budget of $350 million, promotes and protects the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable populations.

PDPH leads programs to:

1. Prevent communicable diseases, including HIV, other STDs, tuberculosis, and vaccine-preventable diseases;
2. Prevent chronic diseases and injuries, and promote healthy behaviors;
3. Prevent environmental health risks;
4. Investigate outbreaks of disease;
5. Respond to public health emergencies;
6. Promote the health of women, children, and families.

Additionally, PDPH operates eight primary care clinics. Recently, the department has been actively involved in responding to Philadelphia’s opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. PDPH is known for its innovative approaches in public health, pursuing novel policies to prevent and mitigate disease and injury, and aims to continue this tradition with creative solutions to both longstanding urban health challenges and emerging crises.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Deputy Health Commissioner is the second most senior official in the department, reporting directly to and advising the Health Commissioner. This role involves overseeing the department’s 13 programmatic divisions, each focused on different diseases, populations, and health risks. The specific responsibilities will be tailored based on the experience and interests of the most qualified candidate.

The Deputy Health Commissioners are responsible for coordinating and identifying synergies among divisions, and developing public health strategies that enable the department to fulfill its mission of protecting and promoting the health of all Philadelphians. The position reports to the Health Commissioner and collaborates closely with other Deputy Health Commissioners and division leadership teams. The role requires excellent supervisory, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, along with strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.