JC-487811 – Chief, Alcohol Harms Reduction

Overview

The Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch (SAPB) within the Center for Healthy Communities aims to reduce individual, social, and environmental harm from addiction and substance use through research-driven prevention, education, and treatment. SAPB houses California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) youth cannabis prevention, alcohol, overdose, and problem gambling programs, creating synergy between substance use and addiction prevention efforts. In addition to efforts related to addiction and substance use, SAPB examines a wide range of societal, community, and social influences on individual consumption and the resulting social and behavioral outcomes.

CDPH’s success arises from the differences in who we are, how we think, and what we experience. It is these differences that best form policies, develop resources, and deliver services to serve California’s diverse communities.

CDPH continues to build and strengthen a work culture where all employees are inspired to share their talents and ideas, to become part of a team that works to better serve the needs of California’s diverse communities by delivering innovative solutions and quality resources.

We are committed to creating an environment where all employees are included, treated with dignity and respect, and in a position to contribute to protecting the health of all Californians.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin:

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1206

“The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.”

*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.
Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

Under the general direction of the Health Program Manager II, Behavioral Health Promotion Section (BHPS) Chief, the Health Program Manager I (HPM I) functions as the forward-thinking unit chief, leading skilled program consultants in areas of sensitivity in training, program development, health education, and related policy for the BHPS. The HPM I will lead the work of inter-agency collaboration about alcohol, other substance misuse, addiction, and substance-related harms with key public health partners and stakeholders, policy, public health systems, and environmental change strategies, and resource leveraging. The HPM I will also serve as part of the branch leadership team and will support strategic planning and may be involved in cross-cutting initiatives on topics such as opioids, cannabis, gambling, and community wellness. Minimal travel within the State of California (up to 5%) to provide collaboration and to meet with stakeholders is required.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER I
Desirable Qualifications

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 and/or experience in:

Desirable Qualifications (Reordered)

Public health, particularly in the field of substance use or behavioral health.
Planning, coordinating, and implementing public health activities and services with population-based equity principles.
Population-based strategies to improve health outcomes, including policy, systems, and environmental change strategies.
Providing consultation and guidance on cross-cutting and sensitive programmatic and policy issues.
Fosters and sustains trusting and cooperative working relationships with internal and external multidisciplinary partners and stakeholders.
Understanding how the historical, systemic, institutional, and community conditions have shaped public health disparities.
Utilizing data-driven approaches to inform policy and prevention efforts, informed by key performance indicators
Experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and building productive relationships.
Experience with strategic planning or program development.
Experience thriving in a collaborative telework team environment.
Communicates with clarity and strength, both verbally and in writing, to inspire and lead.
Excels in planning, coordinating, organizing public health initiatives grounded in health equity.
How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=487811

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.