Public Health Program Director 1

The Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Family Health and Wellness is seeking a full-time (37.5 hours/week) contract Public Health Program Director 1. The Parents as Teachers (PAT) Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) Model Consultant provides quality assurance, technical assistance, and contract monitoring to local PAT programs funded by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). This position helps ensure that grantees meet contractual, programmatic, and model-specific requirements while delivering high-quality, visiting (EBHV) services to pregnant women and families with young children.

The PAT Model Consultant supports local programs in strengthening implementation, addressing challenges, and maintaining alignment with TDH expectations and PAT model requirements. As an integral member of the state Early Childhood Initiatives (ECI) team, this position contributes to the oversight, coordination, and continuous improvement of prevention-focused EBHV services across Tennessee.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and ongoing operation of Tennessee's Parents as Teachers state office designation by coordinating statewide leadership, affiliate support, model replication, training, technical assistance, quality improvement, and collaboration with Parents as Teachers National Center.
• Provide consultation and technical assistance to local grantees implementing the Parents as Teachers model.

Develop and revise contract language for local implementing agencies in alignment with program, model, and Tennessee Department of Health requirements.

• Conduct quality assurance and technical assistance visits for TDH-funded Parents as Teachers programs to assess model implementation, support program improvement, and address identified needs.
• Host a model-specific meeting and/or Community of Practice.
• Collaborate with TDH program staff to align Parents as Teachers policies, procedures, referral processes, and services with Tennessee's broader Early Childhood and EBHV Systems.
• Collaborate with key TDH ECI staff, including Epidemiologist and CQI Director, to evaluate program measures, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and support Continuous Quality Improvement efforts.
• Assist with grant development and writing, conference planning, and other TDH activities as identified by the manager.
• Serves as the primary contact with the Parents as Teachers national office.
• Participate in national and state advisory groups, committees, and work groups as requested or invited.
• Establish and maintain positive, credible, and professional relationships with all state and local partners and always represent the best interests of TDH.
• Participate in section, division, and department-level activities that strengthen knowledge and understanding of health equity, health disparities, and related public health practices.
• Maintain an understanding of current sections, divisions, and department initiatives designed to reduce health disparities and promote diversity in the workforce.
• Promote the meaningful inclusion of parent and family voice in state and local grantee activities.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education: Bachelor's degree in early childhood,home visiting, or family support fields. Masters preferred.

Experience:

• Professional experience in maternal and/or child health, with at least two years of prevention-focused home visiting, preferred.
• Experience providing leadership to other professionals via consultation, training, supervision, or administration is preferred.

Desired Skills and Characteristics:

Experience with program monitoring, consultation, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation; knowledge of prevention-focused home visiting programs serving pregnant women and families with young children; ability to collaborate effectively with individuals and groups; ability to provide leadership and guidance to home visiting professionals; ability to gather stakeholder feedback, identify training needs, coordinate access to training opportunities, and plan and facilitate meetings.

Impact on Projects, Services, and Operations

This position will have a direct impact on the implementation of the EBHV program, Parents As Teachers, ultimately improving outcomes for families with high-risk. This position will work as part of the TDH ECI team to support building the statewide EBHV system.

Work Environment:

Candidates must be Tennessee residents at time of hire.

Hybrid position with minimum in-office attendance 1 day per week, additional days may be required at supervisor's discretion. Attendance at in-person Tennessee Department of Health meetings is required as needed. The position also requires travel to designated communities throughout Tennessee and may include travel to national meetings, conferences, or state-sponsored activities related to project implementation.

New hires will be required to come in for the first day of employment for laptop deployment and onboarding in Nashville, and at least quarterly, or as requested for quarterly meetings and professional development.

Travel to central office in Nashville will not be reimbursed.

Typical working hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM, 37.5 hours per week.

Not eligible for overtime.