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Associate Director, Office of Communication, Education and Engagement

Harris County

Job Location:

Houston, TX - USA

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer

Posted: 17 July 2026 (30+ days ago)

Application Deadline: 14 October 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Description

If youre looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services community programming and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation engagement and health equity HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

Our Values:

HCPH embraces a foundation of progressive work anchored by the departments cornerstone values guiding our work to improve the communitys health and well-being.

Transparency - We share information openly and honestly so that staff partners and the community understand our actions and the reasons behind them.
Integrity - Our actions reflect strong ethical principles ensuring we remain trustworthy accountable and consistent with our mission.
Respect - We foster a supportive environment by valuing diverse perspectives listening intentionally and treating people with dignity in every interaction.
Impact - We focus our efforts on activities that improve health reduce disparities and create meaningful measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
Collaboration - We actively partner across teams disciplines organizations and communities to align our efforts toward common goals.

Position Overview:

Under the supervision of the Director Office of Communication Education & Engagement (OCEE) the Associate Director will be responsible for providing leadership oversight and overall operational management to this critical area. The Associate Director is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of OCEE while leading strategic communications public information health education marketing outreach large scale event planning stakeholder engagement and media relations initiatives that advance the mission of Harris County Public Health.

Provides leadership for multiple service areas and managers oversees departmental communications and engagement strategies establishes performance measures manages budgets and personnel and serves as acting Director in the Directors absence. The Associate Director ensures communications and engagement activities are evidence-based data-driven culturally responsive and aligned with departmental strategic priorities and emergency response efforts.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Stakeholder and Community Partnerships: Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with community organizations governmental agencies healthcare partners educational institutions and other stakeholder to advance public health initiatives and objectives.
Operational Management and Performance: Directs daily operations to ensure efficient delivery of communications events outreach and engagement services. Establishes performance measures monitors outcomes and drives continuous improvement to achieve OCEE objectives.
Budget Management: Oversees office budgets contracts staffing plans procurement activities and resource allocation.
Communications Strategy: Leads the development and implementation of comprehensive internal and external communication and engagement strategies that align with departmental strategic priorities and emergency response efforts.
Outreach Strategy: Ensures communications and outreach strategies are evidence-based data-driven culturally responsive and incorporate public health practices behavioral theory and health literacy principles.
Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight: Provides strategic leadership management and operational oversight for all OCEE sections programs and initiatives. Serves as acting Director in the Directors absence to ensure continuity of operations and strategic priorities.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

you need special services or accommodations please call or email

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and even when considered may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:

Bachelors degree in communication marketing public relations public health or closely related field

Experience:

Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in communications marketing public information community engagement public affairs public health or related field.
Five (5) years of supervisory or executive leadership experience managing multiple large scale teams.
Three (3) years of experience leading strategic communications initiatives within a governmental healthcare nonprofit or public health organization.
Five (5) years of experience managing budgets contracts personnel and organizational operations.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

Extensive knowledge of strategic communications marketing public information media relations health education and community engagement.
Strong understanding of public health principles and population health.
Demonstrated executive leadership and organizational management skills.
Experience leading multiple teams with diverse responsibilities and competing priorities.
Ability to develop strategic initiatives and translate vision into operational execution.
Strong project management budgeting and resource management skills.
Experience developing organizational performance metrics and evaluating outcomes.
Exceptional written verbal and presentation communication skills.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with executive leadership elected officials media community organizations and governmental agencies.
Strong decision-making conflict resolution and organizational change management skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 communications platforms social media management systems content management systems and project management software.

Core Competencies

Data Analytics and Assessment Skills: Ability to use data to analyze community health needs and support decisions that improve community health outcomes.
Policy Development and Program Planning Skills: This competency focuses on developing implementing and improving policies programs and services that support effective public health strategies and improve community health outcomes.
Communication Skills: This competency focuses on using clear and effective communication to engage audiences address misinformation and build trust supporting informed decisions and stronger public health outcomes.
Health Advancement Skills: This competency focuses on applying principles of equity diversity and inclusion to public health addressing systemic barriers and promoting fair access to resources for healthier communities.
Community Partnership Skills: This competency focuses on collaborating with communities to address the systems and policies affecting health fostering engagement shared ownership and sustainable improvements in well-being.
Public Health Science Skills: This competency focuses on using public health science and evidence-based approaches to develop and improve policies and programs ensuring effective delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
Management and Finance Skills: This competency focuses on managing human and financial resources promoting equity and collaboration and optimizing organizational performance to support effective public health programs.
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills: This competency focuses on aligning stakeholders fostering innovation and managing change to implement effective public health initiatives that strengthen community health.

NOTE: Qualifying education experience knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentationbutONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. See Resumewill not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:

Masters degree in communication marketing public relations public health or closely related field.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

Regular Full-Time Position
Monday Friday 8 am 5 pm
Occasional weekends holidays and overtime may be required based on the specific needs and demands of the department.
This position may also require extended and/or irregular hours during public health incidents infectious disease outbreaks or other emergency response activities.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones photocopiers filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

Individuals in these positions frequently lift carry push and pull objects weighing up to 10 lbs. They also occasionally move objects weighing up to 20 lbs. and sometimes but rarely up to 50 lbs.

Work location: