Division Chief – Woman Infants and Children’s Division (WIC)

Overview

Are you seeking a dynamic career with a purpose that advances health equity and strengthens the health and well-being of California’s diverse families? Are you skilled and experienced in establishing collaborative relationships, fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and serving as a leader in your organization? If so, the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Division has a career opportunity for you.

CDPH is seeking to hire a new state-wide WIC Director – who will serve as the CDPH WIC Division Chief. With one in six WIC recipients in the nation residing in California and half of California babies enrolled in WIC, the California WIC Director has immense national and state-wide influence in advancing the health of children and families via program and policy. At a time when WIC is undergoing comprehensive modernization efforts nationally – including improvements in outreach and data sharing, family services and communications, local workforce support, and improved shopping options (such as food options, online shopping, and farmers market shopping) – the California WIC Director will play a pivotal role in ensuring diverse families have increased ease, accessibility, and dignity while accessing WIC benefits and nutrition.

About the CDPH WIC Family

Over 200 state staff work at CDPH’s WIC Division, headquartered at the Natomas campus in Sacramento. The WIC Division is led by senior managers administering a Local Policy and Health Programs Branch; Local Services Branch; Vendor Management Branch; and Communications, Food, and Vendor Policy Branch. Through these branches, our support staff, analysts, specialists, researchers, and nutritionists serve  and support the health of WIC families, collaborate with our program partners, and ensure the California WIC Program is administered appropriately and effectively.

 

The incumbent directs the activities and has full management responsibility for the California WIC nutrition programs including management of an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion, representing about a quarter of CDPH’s entire budget, and a staff of approximately 240 full-time positions. With one in six WIC recipients in the nation residing in California and half of California babies enrolled in WIC, the California WIC Director has immense national and state-wide influence in advancing the health of children and families via program and policy. At a time when WIC is undergoing comprehensive modernization efforts nationally – including improvements in outreach and data sharing, family services and communications, local workforce support, and improved shopping options (such as food options, online shopping, and farmers market shopping) – the California WIC Director plays a pivotal role in ensuring diverse families have increased ease, accessibility, and dignity while accessing WIC benefits and nutrition.

The California WIC Director fosters a collaborative relationship with WIC local agencies, authorized stores, and other community partners to implement WIC services and advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. The California WIC Director has an active role in the Department’s executive leadership team and works within the Center for Family Health to communicate and collaborate on public health program activities. In partnership with other Department programs and agencies, WIC contributes to the delivery of services and programs that advances maternal and childhood health equity. The incumbent keeps apprised of current and innovative literature and changes in the field that would impact the work and direction of the Division. The incumbent serves as a spokesperson and a liaison to key community partner groups about the goals and objectives of WIC, including health equity, trauma-informed principles, and anti-racism

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:
Knowledge of / Experience with:

WIC, nutrition/nutrition security, or maternal/child health programs.
Public health programs, policy, and systems; public health inequities; and issues that affect families.
Providing or administering services to culturally diverse communities and families.
Organizational development, human resources principles, and team management.
Administrative functions, including but not limited to financial management, contract/procurement management, and compliance oversight.
Data systems and data management.
Trauma-responsive leadership.
Lean principles and practices, including foundational values of respect for people and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Ability to:

Collaborate and maintain effective relationships with other governmental institutions, local government, community-based organizations, and other strategic and business partners to enhance programs and services as well as advance policies, systems, and environmental changes that promote health equity.
Approach complex problems with creativity, inclusiveness, and critical analysis and make clear and concise, data- and community-driven recommendations with the ability to continuously iterate and pivot as needed given evolving information and feedback.
Encourage and support innovation and continuous improvement.
Advance coordination and collaboration with local entities.
Manage, engage, motivate, and organize successful teams.
Acknowledge and respect cultural and linguistic differences of the state’s diverse population.
Understand data and understand its importance as a cornerstone of public health.