Director of Health, Equity, and Social Justice

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Job description

Be a part of a dynamic team whose work enriches the health of communities by strengthening city and county health departments. At the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), we are united by our work to improve our country's over 3,300 U.S. local health departments. We represent the voice of local public health while striving to live out our core values of equity, excellence, participation, respect, integrity, leadership, science, and innovation. We provide our employees with meaningful work, opportunities to learn and grow, a strong work/life balance, and a flexible, hybrid work schedule while being a part of a collaborative team.

We are interested in growing our team with passionate, committed, and innovative individuals. The Director of Health Equity and Social Justice will join NACCHO at a time of dynamic growth. This position is important in the Programs Department.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Health Equity and Social Justice at NACCHO will lead and manage an $8 million portfolio aimed at enhancing the capacity of local health departments (LHDs) in addressing health equity and social justice. This role involves overseeing a dynamic team of nine professionals, developing and implementing initiatives that support LHDs in building capacity to address health inequities, especially those impacting historically marginalized populations. The Director will drive the strategic direction of NACCHOs Health Equity and Social Justice (HESJ) initiatives, ensuring high-quality, timely deliverables, budget management, and team development.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in public health, health equity, and social justice, with a strong track record in project management, budget oversight, and team leadership. They should also have experience in coalition building, working with diverse stakeholders, and applying health equity frameworks to public health systems, particularly in governmental settings.

POSITION SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Provides leadership, subject matter expertise, and overall oversight and management of NACCHOs

Health Equity and Social Justice portfolio, including to develop and implement capacity-building

projects, trainings, tools and resources. Specific duties include:

Develops an overall strategic plan for the direction and growth of the HESJ portfolio, outlining goals and objectives which align with NACCHOs mission and strategic plan; contributes to long term planning and overall business development.

Manages projects and activities within the HESJ portfolio to ensure deliverables are completed on time, within budget, are high quality, and meet the needs of LHDs and funders; develops internal team systems and processes that supports staff in completing successful deliverables; works with team members to create work plans that align with available budget.

Creates and manages budgets to ensure projects and activities remain on budget including developing initial proposal budgets; monitoring and updating budgets on a regular basis using NACCHO tools and resources; completing all budget and finance requirements related to NACCHO financial systems.

Supervises and manages staff including assessing staffing needs and hiring employees as needed; setting achievable goals and activities for staff; providing timely feedback on performance; supporting growth and development activities; completing performance reviews and other requirements related to NACCHO human resources systems; and supporting a strong team environment that encourages open, transparent communication.

Ensures collaboration across program teams to maximize operational effectiveness and value added including matrixing staff from other teams as needed; works with NACCHOs Research, Evaluation and Data Communications team by informing process and outcome

evaluations of project activities, as well as research opportunities that may arise. Represents NACCHO and the HESJ team to LHDs, funders, and external partners and stakeholders; builds strategic relationships that support HESJ work; serves as principal point of contact for requests and inquiries regarding issues related to NACCHOs HESJ portfolio.

Stays abreast of public health issues, particularly developments in health equity, particularly frameworks, models, tools, and practices.

Assists the Senior Director, Senior Advisor, or Chief of Programs in other matters, as assigned.

Key projects include:

o Local Support for COVID-19 Health Equity: Lead the continuation of a national, CDC funded initiative to provide training, TA, tools and other resources to build large metropolitan and rural serving LHD health equity infrastructure and partnership capacity as a result of COVID. This includes helping LHDs mobilize partners and collaborators to advance health equity and address the structural and social determinants of health associated with COVID-19 health disparities and inequities, particularly their impacts on high-risk, historically marginalized populations.

o Resilience Catalysts in Public Health: Oversee CDC-funded project in partnership with George Washington University (GWU) to provide CBTA and facilitate collaborative learning to help participating LHDs address systemic inequities through cross-sector initiatives that foster equity and build community resilience through policy practice and program change.

o Roots of Health Inequity course series: Support team in efforts to ensure the promotion and ongoing evolution of this signature HESJ product, including supporting the development of supplemental resources and tie-in materials for course users.

o HESJ Workgroup: Support the leadership and administration of NACCHOs Health Equity and Social Justice Workgroup, comprised of LHD and field experts who assist NACCHO by developing policy statements, advising on issues important to local health departments, and informing NACCHO programs regarding HESJ.

o Consulting: Support fee-for-service work related to health equity and social justice through NACCHO Consulting.

o Other Projects: Advise the development and execution of other cross-team projects related to health equity and social justice, including but not limited to leading a HESJ Ambassadors Workgroup and HESJ internship program, and representing NACCHO on national advisory boards.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:

Bachelor's degree in relevant professional field with a minimum of 8-10 years relevant work experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, including a relevant certification. Masters degree and certification in a relevant field preferred with a minimum of 7-8 years relevant work experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, including a relevant certification is required.

Relevant work experience would preferably be in equity and justice work, systems change, working in or with Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and other marginalized communities, in or with government entities, especially local health departments, facilitating meetings, and working with multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural, and multi-sectoral partnerships.

Required Knowledge and Experience

Knowledge and understanding of health equity and social justice principles and frameworks and their applications within the field of public health including the role of racism and other social and structural determinants of health (i.e., class oppression, capitalism, gender

oppression, homophobia and transphobia, etc.) on population health outcomes/ health inequities. Knowledge and understanding of public health principles and frameworks and their application, preferably in governmental public health settings.

Experience managing complex projects with significant budgets, including creating systems and processes to ensure successful deliverables and evaluating process and outcomes for quality improvement.

Experience managing large teams with staff at different organizational levels and with different backgrounds and experiences and matrixing staff across teams.

Experience building partnerships, including at the community level, including sensitivity to varied interests of many stakeholders, partners, advocates, elected officials, and colleagues.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Occasionally required to sit.

Occasionally required to walk.

Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.

Occasionally required to talk or hear.

Occasionally required to bend, lift or climb stairs.

Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds).

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate.

The position offers a competitive salary range of $101,882 - $108,266 and provides generous benefits, including hybrid remote work options. This is a term position, funded through July 31, 2025, with potential for extension based on funding.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Candidates must live in the Washington, DC, Maryland ,Virginia (DMV) area within 30 days of the start date. Only electronic applications are accepted. No phone calls. The position is subject to background checks. Qualified applicants should send a cover letter with salary requirements, resume, and one writing sample to: PN 466 Director of Health Equity and Social Justice.

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