Rural Health Program Manager

PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Job

Agency:
Department of Health - Division of Healthcare Access

Location:

Statewide

Salary: $68,950.98-$81,118.80 Annual Salary, depending on qualifications

Pay Grade: K

Closing Date: 2/5/26

This is a Full-Time position with the Department of Health
- Division of Healthcare Access. For more information on the Department of Health, please visit (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The Rural Health Program Manager provides strategic leadership, planning, and operational oversight for statewide initiatives aimed at strengthening rural and frontier health systems across South Dakota. This position leads multi-year strategic efforts focused on access to care, workforce sustainability, care delivery innovation, and community-based solutions in rural and tribal communities.

The Program Manager works collaboratively with state and federal agencies, rural and critical access hospitals and clinics, tribal health organizations, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate programs that improve health outcomes and system sustainability in South Dakota's rural and frontier regions.

This position will coordinate progress and work of all rural health strategic initiatives to ensure alignment of deliverables, timelines, and reporting metrics while managing compliance of multiple statewide grant applications.

• This position will be a visionary lead for South Dakota's Office of Rural Health.
• Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing management of rural health strategic initiatives aligned with state health priorities.
• Develop and execute strategic plans and assessments that address rural access to care, workforce shortages, financial sustainability, and care integration.
• Translate state and federal health policy into actionable programs for rural and frontier settings.
• Support sustainability planning for rural health programs beyond grant periods.
• Provide subject matter expertise on rural health policy.
• Implement and lead the South Dakota Rural Health Advisory Committee.

• Serve as a liaison with rural and Critical Access Hospitals, rural clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), tribal health programs, and community organizations.
• Conduct regular travel throughout rural and frontier areas of South Dakota to support on-site engagement, technical assistance, and relationship-building to maintain strong partnerships with all stakeholders and healthcare organizations.
• Coordinate with federal partners (HRSA, CMS, USDA, CDC) and regional collaboratives.
• Provider leadership, development, and execution of the South Dakota Rural Health Advisory Committee.
• Program Operations & Management
• Oversee project timelines, deliverables, budgets, and performance metrics for multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Manage grants and contracts, including compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Work closely with rural health team members, agency-wide leadership, and manage consultant contract(s) as assigned.
• This position does not supervise.

• Establish performance measures to evaluate program impact on access, quality, cost, and equity.
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform continuous improvement.
• Prepare reports, briefs, and presentations for state leadership, legislators, funders, and stakeholders.

Project management certification (PMP® or equivalent) preferred.

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Project management certification (PMP® or equivalent) preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years experience in health program management, public health, healthcare administration, or health policy.
• Demonstrated experience working with rural or frontier health systems.
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects or grant-funded programs.
• Knowledge and/or experience with federal or state health initiatives.

• Strong understanding of rural and frontier health challenges.
• Excellent project…