Public Health Director

The Opportunity 

Guilford County is a high-performing local government organization that maintains a culture of embracing diversity, striving for equality, and inspiring individual and organizational excellence. This position is the Administrative Head of the Guilford County Division of Public Health. This role functions to ensure the delivery of essential public health services per North Carolina G.S. 130A-41 and executes the Consolidated Agreement with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Guilford County. The Public Health Director is responsible for planning, directing, and managing public health programs and services to promote and protect the health of the community. This role involves collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as community organizations, to address public health challenges and improve health outcomes for all residents.

Compensation

The full salary range is $130,064 (minimum) – $181,361 (midpoint) – $232,659 (maximum). Salary placement will depend on directly related qualifications, with an excellent benefits package. Click here for more information about why you should consider working for Guilford County!

The Public Health Director, under limited supervision, assures provision of public health services within Guilford County. Public Health and Social Services are part of the Consolidated Health and Human Services Agency and are an integral part of assuring and providing an array of services to a diverse community. Core duties of this position involve directing and administering Guilford County's public health programs, provision of sound fiscal oversight and human resource management to include directing over 450 team members who have varied education and job requirements. Core programs and functions of the department are divided amongst six divisions: Administration, Clinical Services, Community Health, Health Education and Promotion, Allied Health and Environmental Health. Some of the programs include vital records, family planning, maternity care, primary care, refugee health, school health, dental, child health, communicable disease, immunizations, environmental health, laboratory and home visitation care coordination and management. 

The Public Health Director in Guilford County plays a critical leadership role in advancing the health and well-being of the community. This position requires a collaborative approach, working closely with internal and external partners to effectively deliver public health services in key areas such as community health promotion and education, community health assessment (CHA), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, public health preparedness and response, and health department accreditation.

The director must exercise initiative and independent judgment in all phases of work, displaying tact, courtesy, and confidence in frequent interactions with county, municipal, state, and federal officials, advocacy groups, K-12 schools, and the general public. This role demands strong leadership skills to build and maintain effective partnerships and to advocate for public health resources and policies that benefit the community.

Additionally, the Public Health Director is responsible for engaging in emergency response activities alongside other county employees, demonstrating readiness and adaptability in crisis situations to protect public health and safety. This role is vital in ensuring the community's resilience against health emergencies through proactive planning and effective response measures.

The selected candidate must have strong collaborative leadership skills and value innovation, performance management, staff engagement, community collaboration, human-centered design thinking and multi-disciplinary/integrated service delivery. 

Distinguishing Features

Serving one of the largest metropolitan areas in North Carolina and a departmental budget of over $55 million, the leader of the Public Health Division will oversee a complex organization with large and diversified service lines for Guilford County which includes the City of Greensboro and the City of High Point.

The employee in this class provides overall direction to staff that is consistent with sound public health practice and the mission, vision, values and strategic direction of the County. The Public Health Director is responsible for investigating the causes of infectious, communicable, and other diseases throughout the county.  They will enforce rules made by the Local Board of Health/Board of County Commissioners, administer public health programs, disseminate public health information, advise local officials concerning public health matters, enforce personal health requirements such as immunizations, abate public health nuisances and imminent hazards, employ and dismiss employees of the Division of Public Health, and oversee State, Federal and other contracts as warranted to carry out the functions of the NC General Statutes (G.S. 130A).  This position creates and maintains linkages and extensive partnership arrangements with other health departments, hospitals, community agencies and academic institutions throughout the county and the state. The Public Health Director will work in partnership with the Department of Social Services and report to the Assistant County Manager for Successful People/Human Services Director.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Examples below include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Expertise:

• Provide public health expertise and leadership to the organization and the broader community.
• Serve as a key advisor on public health issues to county officials, community organizations, and the public.

Department Operations:

• In partnership with the Assistant Health Director, administer department operations by establishing goals and objectives for all divisions.
• Plan, organize, assign, and evaluate the work of all divisions.
• Oversee budgeting and fiscal controls, including contract negotiations.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Oversee human resource management within the department.

Policy Development and Enforcement:

• Develop public health policies, regulations, and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal public health regulations.
• Enforce communicable disease laws, environmental health regulations, local ordinances, and state animal control laws.
• Recommend and develop new regulations and ordinances.

Community Health Promotion and Education:

• Lead initiatives to educate the public on health issues.
• Promote healthy lifestyles through targeted programs and campaigns.
• Collaborate with community organizations to enhance health education efforts.

Community Health Assessment (CHA):

• Coordinate community assessment and data collection.
• Oversee the systematic collection, analysis, and dissemination of community health data.
• Interpret data for other agencies, organizations, and local policymakers.
• Identify key health needs and priorities based on assessment findings.

Program Management:

• Ensure the effectiveness and compliance of public health programs with federal guidelines.
• Oversee all public health programs and initiatives.

Public Health Preparedness and Response:

• Coordinate preparedness activities for natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and other public health threats.
• Organize and lead mass vaccination clinics, emergency shelters, and other response activities.
• Participate in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies.
• Oversee the production of reports, press releases, news articles, and public presentations related to emergency situations.

Health Department Accreditation:

• Ensure the health department meets and maintains accreditation standards.
• Promote continuous quality improvement and compliance with established criteria.

Budget and Resource Management:

• Develop and manage the department’s budget.
• Seek and secure funding opportunities to support public health programs and county priorities.
• Allocate resources efficiently to maximize public health impact.

Community Engagement and Partnership Building:

• Foster partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders.
• Engage with advocacy groups, K-12 schools, and the public to promote public health initiatives.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships to address community health needs.
• Collaborate with health and human services agencies, health service providers, civic and community-based organizations, and local employers to coordinate service delivery and other initiatives.

Data and Research Utilization:

• Use public health data and research to inform decision-making.
• Monitor health trends and outcomes to identify emerging public health issues.
• Develop evidence-based strategies to improve community health.

Advocacy and Public Relations:

• Advocate for public health at local, state, and national levels.
• Meet regularly with Guilford County legislative delegation and consult with municipal government and elected officials.
• Provide staff support for the local board of health/County Commissioners.
• Develop and oversee public health communications in collaboration with the County’s Communications and Public Relations Department.
• Represent the health department in public forums and with the media.

Professional Development and Training:

• Promote ongoing professional development and training for public health staff.
• Stay informed about current public health practices, research, and trends.
• Encourage staff participation in professional organizations and conferences.

Miscellaneous Duties:

• Respond to issues and concerns from the general public.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of public health laws, epidemiology, and population planning.
• Knowledge of health and human services principles and practices.
• Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of County ordinances.
• Knowledge of department policies and procedures.
• Skill in management and supervision.
• Skill in establishing priorities and organizing work.
• Skill in gathering and analyzing complex data.
• Skill in developing short-range and long-range plans.
• Skill in operating standard office equipment such as a computer, calculator, scanner, copier, facsimile machine, and audiovisual equipment.
• Skill in public and interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Minimum Qualifications 

3 years of supervisory experience and a combination of education and experience as listed below:

• Medical Doctor; OR,
• Master's degree in Public Health Administration and at least one year of experience in health programs or services; OR,
• Master's degree in a public health discipline other than public health administration and at least 3 years of experience in health programs or services; OR,
• Master's degree in public administration and at least 2 years of experience in health programs or services; OR,
• Master's degree in a field related to public health and at least 3 years of experience in health programs or services; OR,
• Bachelor's degree in a field related to public health and at least seven years of experience in health programs or services.

The Community

Founded in 1771, Guilford County is the third-most populous County in North Carolina. Guilford County was named after Francis North, the first Earl of Guilford, and was formed from parts of Rowan and Orange Counties to centralize government and Courts of Guilford. The Guilford Courthouse became the location of General Nathanial Greene and Lord Cornwallis’ famous battle that was a turning point in the war and is still re-enacted today. Guilford County, part of the beautiful Piedmont Triad area of north-central North Carolina, includes the cities of Greensboro and High Point and several towns and smaller communities. The County historically served as one of the major manufacturing and transportation hubs of the Southeast, most notably for textiles and furniture, and to this day has the largest furnishings trade show in the world, the High Point Furniture Market.

With a rich history of anti-slavery activism, Guilford County is a stop on the historic Underground Railroad, a nationally known landmark within the civil rights movement. Abolitionist Levi Coffin noted Guilford College Woods (historically called New Garden Woods) as a refuge for the Underground Railroad, now a protected area. Additionally, historic segregation protests in 1960 happened at the then white-only lunch counter at the Woolworth store in downtown Greensboro. Helping to fuel similar efforts across the nation, the former Woolworth store location is now the site of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

The County is home to historical sites and institutions, as well as the host of notable recreational and cultural events such as the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, the North Carolina Folk Festival, the Wyndham Championship Golf Tournament, the Greensboro Grasshoppers and High Point Rockers baseball teams, Carolina Core FC soccer team, and a variety of collegiate events. The public enjoys multiple regional parks within Guilford County, as well as opportunities for camping, fishing, golfing, and other outdoor recreation activities.

Guilford County residents benefit from strong educational programs. The County is home to many higher educational institutions, including North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, High Point University, Bennett College, Greensboro College, Guilford College, Elon University School of Law, and Guilford Technical Community College. Guilford County Schools (GCS) is the third-largest school district in North Carolina. GCS and local public charter schools serve nearly 78,000 PK-12 students.

Guilford’s cities and towns are noted among the top U.S. cities for a low cost of living, almost 10% below the national average. These areas boast friendly, walkable neighborhoods, vibrant social scenes, plenty of cultural attractions, and a central location perfect for enjoying the abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. A three-hour drive east brings you to the beautiful North Carolina coast, while a three-hour drive west places you on Mount Mitchell in the magnificent North Carolina mountains, the highest point east of the Mississippi River.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions

Work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table.  The employee occasionally lifts light objects.  The work environment is typically performed in an office environment and occasionally outdoors.  The employee may be exposed to contagious or infectious diseases and occasionally cold or inclement weather.

May Require Driving 

This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions.   Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver’s license and that the driving record is compatible with the county’s driving criteria. If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County’s vehicle use policy. 

Special Note: This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements.   However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job description with a physical abilities checklist which can give further details about that one specific position.  Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process.  They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal defensible personnel decisions.

Salary : $130,064 - $232,659