HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II

State Of California

Sacramento, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$7,276–$9,107
SKILLS
Administrative Skills, Analysis Skills, Best Practices, CPR Certification, California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), Change Management, Continuous Improvement, Dental Laboratory, Disease, Emergency Planning, Emergency Response, Environmental Research, Government, Healthcare, Healthcare Administration, Incident Response, Leadership, Lean Manufacturing, Medical Records, Nursing, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Organizational Development/Management, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Performance Reviews, Pharmacy, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Public Health, Quality Assurance, Quality Management, Radiography, Records Management, Regulations, Reimbursement, Research Skills, Service Delivery, Strategic Analysis, Strategic Planning, Technical Leadership, Trend Analysis
LOCATION
Sacramento, CA
POSTED
3 days ago

Job Posting: Strategic Alignment Specialist

Department of Public Health

JC-526134

  • Strategic Alignment Specialist

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II

$7,276.00 - $9,107.00 per Month

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 8/7/2026

Application Methods:

Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)

By Mail

Drop-off

Print Job

Save Job

Job Description and Duties

The Health Program Specialist II serves as a strategic advisor who advances emergency preparedness, organizational performance, and workforce development within the Center for Preparedness and Response. The position conducts research and analysis on best practices, emerging trends, and evidence-based approaches to strengthen public health preparedness and organizational effectiveness. The incumbent leads workforce development, training initiatives, and quality improvement efforts that enhance operational efficiency and support continuous improvement. They coordinate strategic planning, performance evaluation, and alignment activities to ensure program objectives support departmental priorities and statewide emergency readiness. The role also manages Public Records Act requests, legislative coordination, and provides technical guidance on policy implications related to public health preparedness. During emergency activations, the incumbent may support CDPH Emergency Operations Centers and serve on an Incident Response Team.

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees' monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR's website to review the exam bulletin:

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1191

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDPHRecruitment

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Telework Information

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH's Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee's designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

  • HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II

Additional Documents

  • Job Application Package Checklist
  • Duty Statement

Position Details

Job Code #:

JC-526134

Position #(s):

580-230-8336-007

Working Title:

Strategic Alignment Specialist

Classification:

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST II

$7,276.00 - $9,107.00

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

# of Positions:

1

Work Location:

Sacramento County

Telework:

Hybrid

Job Type:

Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

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.

The Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR) within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is a critical center dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of Californians during public health emergencies. CPR coordinates statewide preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts for events such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, bioterrorism, and other emergencies impacting public health.

Through robust planning, collaboration with local health departments, and partnerships with federal, state, and community organizations, CPR ensures readiness to manage and mitigate health threats effectively. Its responsibilities include developing emergency response plans, training health professionals, conducting exercises to test response capabilities, and providing resources and guidance to strengthen California's public health infrastructure. By fostering resilience and preparedness, CPR plays a vital role in protecting the state's diverse populations from evolving health challenges.

"The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year."

"CDPH is an E-Verify Employer"

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week, and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # (526134) and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e. social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

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 CalCareers Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 8/7/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Individuals who are eligible for a Training and Development assignment may also be considered for this position(s).

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

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. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Department of Public Health

CCAU Mailing

Attn: Classification & Certification Unit

P.O. Box 997378

MS 1700-1702

Sacramento, CA 95899-7378

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Department of Public Health

CCAU Drop Off

Classification & Certification Unit

1615 Capitol Avenue Suite 73.430

Sacramento, CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

  • Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
  • Resume is required and must be included.
  • Statement of Qualifications -

Please see Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) instructions below at end of posting. Applications received without a written response to the SOQ may be rejected.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

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:

  • Strong experience in public health emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and organizational performance improvement.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead workforce development, training design, and competency-based assessment activities.
  • Proficiency in continuous quality improvement, Lean methodologies, performance management, and change management.
  • Skilled in strategic planning, evaluation, and aligning program goals with organizational priorities.
  • Strong analytical skills for conducting research, environmental scans, literature reviews, and developing evidence-based recommendations.
  • Ability to coordinate complex Public Records Act and legislative activities with cross-departmental partners.
  • Capacity to support emergency operations, work under pressure during activations, and participate on Incident Response Teams.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the application process. The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

Human Resources Contact:

Human Resources Division

(916) 445-0983

apply@cdph.ca.gov

Hiring Unit Contact:

Ozela Kabir

(279) 667-0894

Ozela.Kabir@cdph.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:

EEO Office

(916) 445-0938

CivilRights@Cdph.CA.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

Health program administration refers to the practice of managing and overseeing the operations of healthcare or public health programs to ensure efficient delivery of health services within a specific healthcare setting. Significant health programs include, but are not limited to: Mental Health Services, Physician Services, Medical Records, Pharmacy, Medical Appeals, Dietary, Nursing Services, Diagnostic (X-Ray, Lab), and Dental. Describe in detail your health program administration experience including the duties

performed, the length of time, with the start and end dates (month and year) of each job.

Describe your experience in one or more of the following areas:

  • Strategic planning, strategic alignment, or organizational performance management
  • Workforce development, training, or capacity building initiatives
  • Research, analysis, and development of recommendations related to organizational, programmatic, or policy issues
  • For each area you choose to discuss, describe:
  • The organization and your role
  • The scope of your responsibility and level of independence
  • The methods, tools or approaches you used
  • Outcomes or results achieved.

Responses should be no more than 2 pages in length, single spaces, size 12 Arial font.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

About the Company

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State Of California