Deputy Commissioner

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 departments 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.

Essential Functions

Concentrating on these focus areas the Deputy Health Commissioner will:

• Work with Division Directors to establish and oversee systems for data collection and analysis that provide insight needed to better prevent diseases and promote health.
• Work with Division Directors to develop strategies for prevention including setting appropriate quantitative longterm goals and shorterterm objectives.
• Coordinate prevention strategies across the different focus areas.
• Oversee of these strategies including establishing performance metrics and setting up systems for continuous quality improvement.
• Establish mechanisms for cooperation between Divisions and synergy in reducing risks and preventing health problems. For example: joint efforts by the Division of HIV Health the Division of Disease Control and the Division of Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction in reducing needlesharing among injection drug users to prevent HIV and hepatitis C.
• Work with Division Directors to set budgets needed to execute these strategies braiding funding from local state and federal sources and monitor expenditures to ensure that they are within approved budgets.
• Serve in rotation with others as Incident Commander for public health emergencies.
• Communicate (orally in writing and through presentations) health risks and prevention strategies to the press the public and elected officials.
• Propose policies where appropriate that reduce health risks and work with stakeholders on policy enactment and implementation.
• Serve as central advisor to the Health Commissioner on all public health problems and as a core member of the departments Executive Team.

Competencies Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to lead and manage large organizations with diverse staff to work effectively toward a common goal.
• Ability to work with stakeholders within government and external to government to identify and achieve common objectives.
• Ability to use data and evidence to understand public health problems and ability to develop and articulate strategies based on that data and evidence to address public health risks.
• Strong oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate with the press and represent the Department at public hearings.

Qualifications :

Required: Masters in public health (doctoral preferred) with at least 510 years of experience managing governmental public health programs or Medical degree with at least 5 years of experience managing governmental public health programs preferably in a senior role.

Additional Information :

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTAs Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses subways trolleys and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation sick leave and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster As a qualifying employer City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10 to 40 on your educational expenses extending not only to City employees but in some cases spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial wellbeing and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22 2023 vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in nonmedical nonemergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result only employees in positions providing services that  are patientfacing medical care (ex: Nurses doctors emergency medical personnel) must be fully vaccinated.

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