Public Health Program Director

Job Information

Opening Date/Time: 02/17/2026 12:00AM Central Time
Closing Date/Time: 02/23/2026 11:59PM Central Time
Salary (Monthly): $5,100.00 - $7,646.00
Salary (Annually): $61,200.00 - $91,752.00
Job Type: Full-Time
City / State:
Nashville, TN

Department of Health, Communicable and Environmental Disease and Emergency Preparedness Division, Davidson County, Nashville, TN

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

• 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, one year 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, to a maximum of four years.
• Necessary Special
  
  Qualifications:
  
  A valid motor vehicle operator's license may be required.

Under direction, is responsible for professional public health program development and administrative work of average difficulty and may supervise work of routine difficulty or have statewide responsibility for a small public health grant or program; and performs related work as required. An employee in this class provides central office program management and technical consultation to field services staff for a small statewide program such as chronic diseases, emergency medical services, child safety, venereal disease, immunization, prenatal, health access, speech and hearing, or children with physical disabilities.

An incumbent may supervise or provide oversight of central office professional staff and other technical and administrative staff who participate in directing specific components of the assigned program. This class differs from that of Public Health Program Director 2 in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for work of greater scope and responsibility in a larger program. An employee in this class reports to a Public Health Program Director 2, Public Health Program Director 3, or Physician.

• Determines time, costs, resources and materials needed to perform a work activity in a cost effective way. Develops and maintains grants for assigned program.
• Supervises and participates in the preparation and maintenance of a variety of reports related to assigned program.
• Makes recommendations on human resource actions such as employment, promotion, demotion, transfer, retention and increases for exceptional performance.
• Facilitates the development of short- and long-term program strategies.
• Provides leadership in completing needs assessments, resource allocation and program evaluation planning and development for the assigned program. Manages the preparation, submittal and administration of program budget.
• Monitors applicable policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines. Makes recommendations for changes to applicable policies and procedures as needed.
• Empowers and motivates stakeholders in accomplishing the program's objectives. Educates staff and stakeholders concerning current policies, procedures and processes.
• Evaluates the processes and the stakeholders to ensure compliance with program goals and objectives.

• Manages Complexity
• Cultivates Innovation
• Plans and Aligns
• Communicates Effectively
• Manages Ambiguity

• English Language
• Personnel and Human Resources
• Customer and Personal Service
• Administration and Management

• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Programming
• Troubleshooting

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning

• Computer
• Phone
• Other Standard Office Equipment

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license.
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not include record of: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.
• Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application. Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.