Public Health Deputy Director

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$114,542.63 - $171,815.58 Annual

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Non-Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

November 17, 2025

The Opportunity:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

About the Position:

We seek leaders, achievers and doers who bring skill and passion to a challenging and evolving environment. At the Multnomah County Health Department we are all inspired by the mission: We work with communities to advance health equity, protect the most vulnerable, and promote health and wellness for everyone and we uphold the values: Compassion and Care, Empowerment, Racial Equity, Creativity and Integrity. We create a culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse population we serve in our communities.

The Public Health Deputy Directorserves in a senior leadership role to plan, organize and manage the operations and activities of the Public Health Division, ensuring a strategy for future growth and financial sustainability in alignment with the Division’s vision, mission and strategic plan. This position is responsible for the day to day activities related to administering and enforcing the rules of the local public health authority and public health laws and rules of the Oregon Health Authority.

This position is responsible for managing an engaged, expert, and diverse workforce that delivers person-centered and culturally relevant services. It also involves determining and communicating how diversity and inclusion contribute to core business strategies and results, as well as generating insights on their impact on both service experience, workforce strategies, and business outcomes.

The Public Health Deputy Director supports the Public Health Director in overseeing programs and staff, including Environmental Health Services, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Communicable Disease, Maternal Child and Family Health, WIC, Program Design and Evaluation, Public Health Operations, and all foundational Public Health capabilities. This role involves leading the integration of public health and healthcare through Health Care Transformation processes, and representing public health within the Health Department across various committees and task forces in Multnomah County, Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO), and the broader Oregon area. The Deputy Director is also responsible for fostering a respectful, trusting, and understanding work culture for diverse populations, and ensuring all employees report conduct that interferes with a discrimination and harassment-free environment.

Key functions directly related to the position:

Leadership

• Serves as Deputy Director and executive management team member, planning, organizing, managing, and administering Public Health Division programs to create healthy communities in Multnomah County.
• Collaborates with the Public Health Director and Senior Leadership to prioritize work, develop strategic plans, and oversee the implementation of Division policies and practices.
• Provides leadership and policy direction for public health functions, including Environmental Health, Chronic Disease Prevention, Communicable Disease, Maternal Child and Family Health, WIC, Program Design and Evaluation, and Public Health Operations.
• Leads the integration of Clinical and Public Health Services, Health Care Transformation, and emergency preparedness, while developing strategies to address the health and well-being of Multnomah County residents.
• Ensures compliance with Federal, State, and Local public health laws and regulations, coordinates with the Board of Health and other agencies, assesses health needs, promotes disease control, and develops and retains highly competent staff.

Financial Management

• Develops, administers, and monitors the Division's budgets, including ongoing financial performance and corrective actions.
• Creates plans for achieving program objectives and operational goals, ensuring fiscal viability, and justifying budgetary recommendations.
• Participates in strategic discussions for funding, recommends policy revisions for efficiency, and analyzes financial information for programmatic changes.
• Monitors and analyzes expenditures and service revenues to maintain budgetary control and meet productivity targets.
• Identifies new revenue sources, explores business opportunities, and develops and maintains a realistic, cost-effective annual budget.

Human Resources Management

• Responsible for hiring, ensuring adequate staffing, and conducting timely performance evaluations and fostering employee professional growth.
• Manages and provides feedback to staff, directly or through subordinate supervisors, to ensure high performance standards, planning, prioritization, assignment, training, and work review.
• Determines and communicates how diversity and inclusion contribute to core business strategy and priorities.
• Acts as a resource and provides guidance for conflict resolution, negotiates cultural differences, and manages complex group dynamics.
• Regularly evaluates staff performance, maintains accountability, addresses performance issues, and creates a supportive culture through motivation, coaching, and training.

Partnership Development & Management

• Develops, defines, conceptualizes, and enhances new and existing multi-sectoral and multi-jurisdictional partnerships to create community-wide strategic planning and collective impact action plans.
• Ensures strong linkages and coordinated approaches to public health efforts and practices across state and county-wide initiatives, including health care transformation.
• Represents the Public Health Division by participating in system building with local public health, elected officials, other agencies, governments, and community-based organizations.
• Provides expert guidance to other departments, the general public, and outside agencies, and develops relationships with external public and private organizations.
• Serves as a technical expert on committees, interagency task forces, and special projects, providing leadership in facilitation, consensus building, and collaboration on complex issues.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website.

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Education/ Experience:

• A Bachelor's Degree - in lieu of a degree, we will consider equivalent years of related experience (Master’s Degree is preferred)
• Three (3) to six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in a large Public Health organization, including 3+ years in a senior leadership or a management role
• Demonstrated experience with compliance of federal, state, and local policies in public health or social service settings.

Preferred Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/ transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Extensive experience in operational business management, including budget development and management, contract negotiation, and human resource management.
• Experience working with state or national foundational public health standards
• Strong communication skills, with experience representing an organization in governmental and community settings, including working with media and presenting to governing bodies.

• Experience working with Unions is strongly preferred.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED:

The Application Packet: You must submit ALL requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

• A completed online application.
• A resume that explains all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in your resume.
• A cover letter that expands on your resume, addressing how you qualify for the position, why you are interested in the role, and how you will apply an equity lens in this role.

Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the ‘Overview’ and ‘To Qualify’ sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review ouroverview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Background, reference, and education checks

Note: Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Type of Position: This salaried position is not eligible for overtime.

Type: Not-Represented Management

FLSA: Exempt

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, some weekends and evenings

Location: Gladys McCoy Building @ 619 NW 6th Ave Portland, OR 97209

Note: The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill regular, full or part time, temporary, and limited duration assignments.

Salary/Pay: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Inclusively Leading with Race: Multnomah County is not exempt from our nation’s legacy of white supremacy culture in its institutions, policies, structures and systems of care. This legacy furthers racial disparities in our community and our workforce. The County is committed to Inclusively

Leading with Race to fulfill our promise to address racism within our workforce and the community. The word “inclusively” ensures that communities with overlapping identities — and people for whom those identities compound disparities — are not overlooked. We must center the experiences of people of color within other marginalized identities. We lead with race with the recognition that the creation and perpetuation of racial inequities have been baked into American culture and our government, and that racial inequities across all indicators for success are deep and pervasive. We also know that other groups of people are still marginalized, including based on gender, sexual orientation, ability, and age, to name but a few. Knowing this helps us take a more intersectional approach, while always naming the role that race plays in people’s experiences and outcomes.

Our Commitment to Safety, Trust and Belonging: Multnomah County is committed to developing, nurturing and continually improving workforce equity by identifying and addressing the structural and policy barriers to equal employment opportunity faced by our employees and communities. County employees across the organization have stepped forward to develop a strategic plan and help create a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential. Learn more by reading ourWorkforce Equity Strategic Plan and exploring our Core Competencies for all County employees

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters: Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Informationpage.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Jon Marquardt

Email:

jon.m.marquardt@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (503) 9888647 x88647

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

9601 - Division Director 1