Deputy Executive Director – Public Health

Overview

El Paso County Public Health is seeking a strategic and experienced Deputy Executive Director to help lead the organization through its next phase of operational maturity and organizational effectiveness. As the agency moves from a period of stabilization and transition toward long-term sustainability, the focus is on strengthening systems, clarifying accountability, developing leadership capacity, and building the operational consistency and enterprise thinking needed to support a high-performing public health organization.

 

The ideal candidate brings strong executive judgment, demonstrated leadership experience in local government, public health, or similar organizations, and a proven track record of leading and contributing to organizational change. They will have successfully helped organizations navigate evolving funding environments, organizational restructuring, modernization efforts, and emergency response activities while maintaining operational effectiveness, organizational trust, and an enterprise-wide perspective on organizational priorities.

Success in this role is rooted in people leadership rather than program management. The Deputy Executive Director will strengthen leadership capacity, support organizational accountability, improve cross-divisional coordination, and help create an environment where issues are identified early, ownership is clear, and decisions are made with both organizational impact and long-term sustainability in mind. As a trusted executive partner, they will exercise sound judgment, lead effectively during complexity and change, serve in key incident command roles, and support the agency’s emergency preparedness and response responsibilities.

Hiring Range: $155,000.00 – $180,000.00 annually

This is an in-person position and is not eligible for remote work.
This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm, subject to change.
Willingness to provide responsive support during urgent or sensitive situations outside normal business hours and maintain reliable cell phone availability.

Please be advised this position may close without advance notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.

This position assists the Executive Director in leading and advancing the strategic vision, operational effectiveness, and organizational priorities of El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH). The Deputy Executive Director provides executive leadership and oversight for assigned divisions, programs, and agency-wide initiatives to ensure effective public health service delivery, regulatory compliance, fiscal stewardship, organizational performance, and alignment with community health priorities.

The Deputy Executive Director serves on the Public Health Executive Leadership Team and leads strategic initiatives in public health modernization, workforce development, operational improvement, emergency preparedness, and organizational effectiveness. This position serves as second in command and acts on behalf of the Executive Director in their absence, including exercising decision-making authority on agency-related matters. This position may be dependent on variable funding sources, including categorical grants. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). Regular in-person presence is required as an essential job function.
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
Provides executive leadership, strategic oversight, and operational direction for assigned Public Health divisions, programs, and agency-wide initiatives.
Translates strategic priorities into operational execution to achieve organizational goals, community health outcomes, and performance objectives.
Drives implementation of the agency’s strategic plan and ensures alignment with Board of Health priorities, County objectives, accreditation standards, and community health needs.
Leads enterprise-wide initiatives related to public health modernization, organizational effectiveness, workforce development, quality improvement, health equity, and operational sustainability.
Oversees development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of public health programs and services to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, grant requirements, and evidence-based practices.
Promotes operational excellence through process improvement, performance management, data-informed decision-making, technology optimization, and organizational accountability measures.
Collaborates with County leadership, healthcare partners, governmental agencies, and community organizations to advance strategic public health priorities and strengthen community partnerships.
Provides executive oversight of budgeting, grant administration, contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and resource allocation for assigned operational areas.
Serves as a member of the Public Health Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership on agency operations, policy, workforce planning, and organizational performance.
Leads emergency preparedness, response, and continuity of operations activities and serves in a leadership role within the Incident Command System (ICS) during emergencies.
Ensures consistent interpretation and implementation of County policies, Board of Public Health directives, and public health regulations.
Provides leadership, mentoring, and performance oversight for division leaders and senior staff; supports succession planning and workforce development initiatives.
Represents EPCPH before the Board of County Commissioners,  the Board of Health, elected officials, community organizations, and external stakeholders.
Serves as the Executive Director in their absence, including exercising decision-making authority on agency-related matters.
Promotes exceptional customer service, professionalism, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
Attends trainings, conferences, and professional development activities to maintain knowledge of emerging public health trends and best practices.
Participates in departmental emergency preparedness and response activities. Plays a critical role in the department’s incident command system (ICS) during incidents or other emergencies. Promotes public health within the community. Takes personal responsibility to provide exceptional customer service in order to promote and maintain a positive Public Health image, constructive working environment, and foster pride and professionalism in the workplace and community.
Performs other duties as required.

Supervision Exercised: This classification requires managing and monitoring work performance of a department including evaluating program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishing broad organizational goals and realigning work and staffing assignments for the department.

Supervision Received: Receives minimal and broad direction. This classification typically performs job duties with broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. End results determine the effectiveness of job performance.

Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Extensive knowledge of public health administration, leadership, organizational management, and governmental operations principles and practices.
Knowledge of current public health theory, emerging public health trends, evidence-based practices, and Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and standards governing public health administration.
Knowledge of strategic planning, organizational development, quality improvement methodologies, workforce planning, budget administration, grant management, and performance management principles.
Strong executive leadership skills, including the ability to inspire, influence, develop, and hold leaders accountable for organizational performance and results.
Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex public health operations in a governmental or similarly regulated environment.
Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives that align organizational operations, public health priorities, and community health outcomes.
Ability to analyze complex operational, financial, epidemiological, and organizational data; translate findings into actionable strategies; and implement sustainable solutions.
Ability to assess organizational and operational risk, manage sensitive and confidential matters, and exercise sound judgment in high-impact situations.
Ability to lead organizational change, foster innovation, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across multiple operational areas.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, executive leadership, healthcare partners, governmental agencies, community organizations, employees, and the public.
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, including presenting complex public health information to governing bodies, executive leadership, policymakers, and community stakeholders.
Financial management skills, including budget development, fiscal forecasting, grant oversight, and resource allocation.
Ability to perform effectively under pressure and during emergency response situations.
Ability and willingness to respond to emergency or sensitive situations twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and maintain availability through electronic communication methods.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Required Education & Experience
Master’s degree or higher in public health, public administration, health administration, epidemiology, environmental health, nursing, health policy, biostatistics, or a closely related field.
Eight years of progressively responsible public health or governmental leadership experience, including at least five years in a senior management or executive leadership capacity overseeing multiple operational or programmatic areas, inclusive of grant-funded programming.
Experience in a Federal, State, or Local governmental public health agency or similarly regulated public sector environment.
Preferred Education & Experience
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and/or organizations through periods of significant change with clarity, accountability, and operational discipline, including experience aligning organizational structure, staffing, and resources with evolving strategic and fiscal priorities.
Local governmental public health leadership experience.
Experience leading organizational transformation, modernization, or large-scale operational improvement initiatives.
Experience managing emergency preparedness, incident command operations, or public health emergency response activities.

Licenses/Certificates
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.

Work Conditions
Duties are primarily performed in an office environment; travel using personal transportation may be required daily. Will be required to work evenings and weekends as business needs dictate. Ability and willingness to respond to sensitive situations twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and carry a cell phone. Public Health employees are responsible for providing proof of vaccinations and/or tuberculosis testing as applicable to the specific position and must provide proof of completion of required vaccinations/testing or proof of initiation within sixty days of hire date.