Senior Program Specialist

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is committed to effectively delivering essential public health services directly and/or through strong and effective partnership. CDPH is a nationally accredited health department—mobilizing communities and institutions to transform policies and systems towards a culture of equity, antiracism, healing and health for all people and our planet.

CDPH continues to build and strengthen a work culture where all employees are inspired to share their talents and ideas, to become part of a team that works to better serve the needs of California’s diverse communities by delivering innovative solutions and quality resources. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees are included, treated with dignity and respect, and in a position to contribute to protecting the health of all Californians.

Through statewide, regional and local partnerships, programs and policy initiatives, CDPH’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Branch (NPAB) promotes healthy eating, physical activity and nutrition security with an emphasis in communities with the greatest health disparities.? 

THIS IS A STATEWIDE RECRUITMENT. THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN THE COUNTY CLOSEST TO THEIR RESIDENCE.

The Health Program Specialist (HPS) II, supports the CDPH’s mission and strategic plan by leading or co-leading activities in the NPAB, whose vision is well-nourished, physically active Californians living in healthy communities.  The incumbent works under the direction the Chief of the Equity and Strategic Alignment Section.  

The HPS II serves as a highly skilled, technical public health program consultant. The HPS II requires a high level of expertise in statewide assessment, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of major statewide programs, initiatives, and policy development that support community-based and public health approaches to increase nutrition security and physical activity, and reduce health disparities, of priority populations and all Californians. The HPS II identifies, develops, and fosters partnerships to advance healthy eating, active living, and obesity prevention policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes; assists leadership with planning and implementation of prevention strategies and activities; and works in collaboration with cross-sectional teams within the NPAB to drive state-level nutrition and physical activity interventions and evaluation of program impacts in accordance with state and federal funding requirements. The HPS II may represent the Branch by serving on relevant cross-sectional, cross-department and public workgroups to advance healthy eating, active living, and chronic disease prevention approaches and other nutrition and physical activity-related opportunities. Travel is an essential function of this position and is required up to 15 percent of the time.   

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Experience and/or education in public health, nutrition, physical activity, and/or obesity/chronic disease prevention
• Facilitation and meeting planning experience
• Ability to work with a high degree of independence and as part of a functional team
• Fast learner with ability to prioritize workload; managing multiple assignments at a time
• Excellent problem solving and critical thinking abilities
• Excellent communication skills
• Conducting, directing and/or analyzing complex public health programs in communities experiencing the greatest health disparities, and recommending and implementing effective courses of action
• Providing leadership on diverse workgroups and projects, and fostering positive collaboration and partnerships
• Professionally representing employers/programs with high-level partners 
• Assessing, recommending and/or developing policies, systems and environmental change strategies and actions that can positively impact the public’s health

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.