Director, Public Health Services

Public Health Institute; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation allowance

Comprehensive benefits package

SDCERA retirement

Job summary

The County of San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) seeks a Director of Public Health Services to lead a broad portfolio of health services and emergency response initiatives. The role serves as appointing authority and oversees a department with a sizable budget and 950 employees.

Ideal candidates bring senior executive experience, strong collaboration with government and community partners, and a track record of advancing equity and data-driven public health outcomes.

Qualifications

• Executive leadership experience in public health or health services
• Experience aligning department priorities with Board of Supervisors
• Ability to secure and manage grants and funding
• Experience with accreditation and public health standards (PHAB)

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership aligned with Board priorities and county values.
• Direct the department’s budget and fiscal operations, ensuring resource stewardship and sustainability.
• Lead public health programs, emergency response, and disease control across the department.
• Oversee EHR implementation and other strategic initiatives to strengthen service delivery.
• Foster partnerships with healthcare systems, tribes, NGOs, and academic partners.
• Represent the department on legislative matters affecting public health and advocates for initiatives.
• Maintain PHAB accreditation and implement Foundational Public Health Services framework.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budget management

Public health

Policy & advocacy

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Position Title: Director, Public Health Services

Please note the following role is not with PHI, but with our colleagues at the County of San Diego’s Department of Health and Human Services.

About the Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA)

The County of San Diego’s Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is one of the region’s most impactful public service organizations, delivering essential health, housing, and social services to more than 3.3 million residents across 18 cities, 18 federally recognized tribal nations, military communities, and unincorporated areas throughout the county.

Serving approximately one in three residents each year, HHSA plays a critical role in strengthening communities, improving quality of life, and advancing opportunities for all San Diegans to live well.

HHSA is a large, complex, and mission-driven organization comprised of departments providing services in:

• Aging & Independence Services
• Child & Family Well-Being
• Housing & Community Development
• Public Health Services
• Self-Sufficiency Services

With an annual budget exceeding $2.2 Billion and 6700 employees, HHSA is a nationally recognized leader in integrated public service delivery.

Our Mission

Strengthen our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data-driven services through a skilled and supportive workforce.

The Position

The Director, Public Health Services (PHS), is an executive management role that leads Public Health Services in partnership with the Public Health Officer, ensuring alignment with the County’s strategic plan and Board of Supervisors’ priorities and HHSA.

The Director serves as the department’s appointing authority and oversees operations for a department with a budget of $235.5 Million with 950 employees.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the department, ensuring alignment with Board priorities, community needs, and County values while fostering an innovative, accountable, and high-performing workforce.
• Direct the department’s budget and fiscal operations, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, securing and maximizing grant funding opportunities, and maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability.
• Lead and oversee public health programs, initiatives, and emergency response efforts, including communicable disease control, chronic disease prevention, the Tijuana River Valley Sewage Emergency response, and priority health improvement and disease elimination initiatives, ensuring services are equitable, data-driven, and responsive to community needs.
• Provide executive oversight of the continued implementation, optimization, and maintenance of the department’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and other strategic initiatives that strengthen service delivery, operational effectiveness, and public health outcomes.
• Advance a modern, resilient public health system by working across the County enterprise through innovation, technology, emergency preparedness, quality improvement, and the use of data to improve community health and reduce disparities.
• Foster strategic partnerships with healthcare systems, Tribal health programs, community-based organizations, academic institutions, environmental agencies, and other stakeholders to advance shared public health goals and improve health outcomes.
• Serve as the department’s lead representative on legislative matters affecting public health and advocate for initiatives that strengthen public health systems and community well-being.
• Maintain Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) accreditation and ensure integration of the Foundational Public Health Services framework, the Ten Essential Public Health Services, and continuous quality improvement principles across departmental operations.
• Responsible for aligning the department’s priorities with the County’s mission and vision and priorities laid out by the Board of Supervisors.

The Ideal Candidate

HHSA is seeking a dynamic and innovative leader to provide direction over a large, complex department that provides a broad range of health services, promoting wellness, and a better quality of life for all individuals and families in San Diego County.

The candidate selected will have knowledge of:

• Federal, State, and local health laws, regulations, codes, and accreditation standards
• Principles and practices of public health with an emphasis on prevention, community health, communicable disease control, epidemiology, environmental health, emergency medical services, public health emergency preparedness, public health nursing, health promotion, and health care access
• Dynamics and needs of diverse client populations including the elderly, persons with disabilities, veterans, adults, children, youth and families, to ensure equity across communities
• Community resources available to provide a variety of public health and preventative health care services to diverse client populations
• Equity, belonging and racial justice to inform and align programs, proposals, and policies to the County’s Operational and Strategic Plan through this lens
• Policy/procedure development and implementation related to HHSA programs and services

The ideal candidate will also possess a professional history that demonstrates the following experience and leadership competencies:

• Senior/Executive management-level experience interpreting and implementing local, State, and Federal health laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Proven expertise working with government and community organizations to resolve issues related to public health and preventative health care services
• Experience working within a large, complex, matrix organizational structure
• Experience working with elected officials, top management, community groups, advisory boards, and government officials; and presenting to high-level audiences and the media

Education And Experience

Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, or a certified foreign studies equivalency.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years’ management level experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the classification. Experience must include one year of supervision.

Note: A master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a certified foreign studies equivalency, may substitute for up to one (1) year of the required experience and cannot be applied to the required one year of supervision.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range is $250,000 – $260,000, depending on qualifications. Compensation is supplemented by a comprehensive benefits program including: Relocation allowance of up to $20,000 for eligible expenses

RETIREMENT

• Defined Benefit Pension – Membership in the San Diego County Employees Retirement Association (SDCERA). Reciprocity with other governmental retirement systems may be granted; for further information, visit the website for the San Diego County Employee Retirement Association
• Deferred Compensation Plans – Optional 457 and 401(a) retirement savings plans through Empower.

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS CREDITS – County provides per-pay-period Flex Credits to help pay for selected benefits; amounts vary by coverage tier.

• Medical Insurance – Multiple plans available through UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente, including HMO, PPO, and HDHP options.
• Dental Coverage – Choice of PPO or DHMO dental plans for employees and eligible dependents.
• Vision Coverage – Vision plan available through VSP for routine eye care and eyewear.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS – Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).

LIFE INSURANCE – County-paid coverage equal to two times annual salary (minimum $50,000; maximum $1,000,000).

ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT – County-paid AD&D coverage with optional supplemental coverage.

LONG-TERM DISABILITY – County-paid income protection at 66 2/3% of monthly salary, up to $12,000/month.

SHORT-TERM DISABILITY – Optional plan covering up to 60% of weekly earnings.

PAID TIME OFF

• Vacation Leave – 15 to 25 days annually depending on years of service.
• Sick Leave – 13 sick days per year, with 80 hours credited at hire.
• Paid Holidays – 12 paid holidays each year.
• Floating Holidays – Two additional floating holidays annually.
• Paid Family Leave – Included with short-term disability plan for up to eight weeks annually.
• Bereavement Leave – Three days plus two additional sick leave days if needed.
• Emergency Family Care Leave – Three days per fiscal year for child or older adult care needs.

Application and Selection Procedure

Open until filled, first review of applications starts December 11, 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.

Resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates deemed to have the most relevant qualifications will be invited to interview with the consultant. CPS HR Consulting will report the results to County of San Diego – Health and Human Services Agency. The Agency will then select candidates to be interviewed; Additional and final interviews may be scheduled for selected candidates along with reference and background