The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), with some 1000 staff and a budget of $350 million, promotes and protects the health of all Philadelphians and provides a safety net for the most vulnerable. PDPH leads programs to: prevent communicable diseases (including HIV, other STDs, tuberculosis, and vaccine-preventable diseases); prevent chronic diseases and injuries and promote healthy behaviors; prevent environmental health risks; investigate outbreaks of disease; respond to public health emergencies; and promote the health of women, children, and families. In addition, PDPH operates eight primary care clinics. Recently, PDPH has participated with other City agencies in responding to Philadelphia’s opioid crisis and to the COVID-19 pandemic. PDPH has been an innovator in public health, pursuing novel policies to prevent and mitigate disease and injury, and intends to continue that tradition with creative solutions to both long-standing urban health problems and new crises.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Deputy Health Commissioner position is the second most senior position in the department, reporting directly to and advising the Health Commissioner. Together with the Health Commissioner, the Deputy Health Commissioners oversee the department’s 13 programmatic divisions, each addressing different diseases, populations, and health risks. The specific areas of responsibility overseen by this Deputy Health Commissioner position will be based in part on the experience and interest of the most highly qualified candidate.
It is the responsibility of the Deputy Health Commissioners to coordinate and look for synergies among the different divisions under their direction, and to develop the public health strategy that will enable the entire department to fulfill its mission of protecting and promoting the health of all Philadelphians. The position reports to the Health Commissioner and works closely with the other Deputy Health Commissioners and division leadership teams. This role requires excellent supervisory, organizational, interpersonal communication skills and writing skills, as well as strong problem solving and analytical skills.