Overview
About this Role
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.
Key Responsibilities
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.
Qualifications
• 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.
About California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
CDPH works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. The Department's programs and services, implemented in collaboration with local health departments and state, federal and private partners, touch the lives of every Californian and visitor to the state 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our Shared Vision
CDPH public health professionals, researchers, scientists, doctors, nurses, and other staff members have a shared vision to protect and improve the health of all Californians. We are dedicated to public service and passionate about our work and the people and communities we serve and protect.
Diversity Statement
At 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.
