PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR 3 - 79996

Executive Service

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR 3

Department of Health

Family Health and Wellness

Nashville, TN

Closing Date: 09/07/2026

Background Check:

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.

Who we are and what we do:

TDH incorporates our values into the work we do each day to achieve our mission, live our vision and address our two strategic priorities of prevention and access.

How you make a difference in this role:

This classification provides guidance and support for Tennessee Department of Health Program areas of their responsibility in accordance with state and federal guidelines and drives efforts aimed at prevention, education, and outreach to meet Department and programmatic goals and objectives. An employee in this classification in collaboration with current Section Chief and Deputy Medical Director and senior leadership, develops a strategic plan to address specific health issues within the program area they are responsible for to create an opportunity to impact their specific program area.

Job Overview:

The Tennessee Department of Health's (TDH) Division of Family Health and Wellness (FHW) is hiring a Public Health Program Director 3 to provide strategic leadership and oversight for Tennessee's Child Fatality Review (CFR), Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), and Rural Fetal and Infant Health Initiative (RFIHI) programs.This position is responsible for overseeing statewide implementation of these programs through strategic planning, federal grant and contract management, quality improvement, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation. The Director will also guide evidence-based initiatives within these programs, including Safe Sleep, Count the Kicks, the Infant Health Strategic Action Collaborative (IHSAC), and other maternal and infant health initiatives to reduce fetal, infant, and child mortality. This position reports to the Perinatal and Infant Health Section Chief.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Tennessee's Child Fatality Review (CFR), Fetal and Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), and Rural Fetal and Infant Health Initiative (RFIHI) programs.
• Supervise program staff and oversee statewide program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement.
• Develop and implement long-range strategies to reduce fetal, infant, and child mortality through evidence-based public health practice.
• Oversee initiatives implemented within the programs, including Safe Sleep, Count the Kicks, the Infant Health Strategic Action Collaborative (IHSAC), and other maternal and infant health initiatives.
• Oversee the development and publication of Tennessee's Annual Child Fatality Review Report, using statewide child death review findings to identify trends, inform prevention strategies, and support data-driven policy and program improvements.
• Manage federal and state grants, contracts, budgets, work plans, performance measures, and required reports.
• Monitor program expenditures and contract performance to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Monitor the 5-year Rural Fetal and Infant Health Initiative to assure compliance with CMS requirements and state implementation policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with Tennessee statutes governing Child Fatality Review and Fetal and Infant Mortality Review, including preparation of legislatively required reports.
• Utilize surveillance data, fatality review findings, and program evaluation results to guide strategic planning and statewide prevention efforts.
• Provide technical assistance and training to local review teams, healthcare providers, local health departments, hospitals, and community partners.
• Build and maintain collaborative partnerships with state agencies, healthcare organizations, universities, and community-based organizations to strengthen maternal, infant, and child health systems.
• Represent the Department at statewide and national meetings, advisory groups, and collaborative initiatives.
• Conduct policy analysis and develop recommendations to improve maternal, infant, and child health outcomes.
• Identify funding opportunities and support the development of grant applications to expand program impact.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience differ for this executive service classification based on the needs of the department. This might include a Bachelor's degree in a health or science field, a Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Health Administration or Health Planning, experience with statewide leadership or directing all functions of a health program as a whole.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.