Introduction
The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), Infectious Diseases Branch, is seeking to hire a Public Health Section Chief for the HIV, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Tuberculosis (TB), and Viral Hepatitis Section. As the leader of this Section, the Public Health Section Chief will be responsible for the management of over $61 million annually in a combination of state-appropriated funds and federal grants annually from CDC and HRSA cooperative agreement funds with the majority of these funds disseminated in contracts to community organizations for HIV prevention and care activities and safety net services. This includes oversight of the Connecticut AIDS Drug Assistance Program (CADAP), which ensures patients with HIV have access to medications to maintain their health and prevent transmission of HIV.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
ABOUT US
To protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by:
- Assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy;
- Preventing disease, injury, and disability, and
- Promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
Official DPH Vision Statement: Healthy People in Healthy Connecticut Communities
THE ROLE
The Public Health Section Chief will be responsible for overseeing over 50 highly dedicated staff, ensuring their programs perform multiple critical and complex statewide functions, including:
- Data collection and analysis related to HIV prevention activities administered in the state and providing data to leadership, policymakers, and the public for decision making;
- Collaborating with other state agencies, healthcare organizations, and community-based organizations on HIV, TB, STD, and Hepatitis C prevention activities;
- Performing disease surveillance and outbreak response to HIV, TB, STD, and Hepatitis C
POSITION HIGHLIGHTS
- Schedule:
- Monday - Friday
- Full-time (40 hours per week)
- First shift (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM)
- Location: 410 Capitol Avenue in Hartford, CT
- Work environment: Hybrid position (telework and in office)
Selection Plan
FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:
Check out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Toolkit for additional support throughout the recruitment process.
BEFORE YOU APPLY:
- Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
- Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below by the closing date listed on the job posting.
- Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.
- Preferred Shift/Location: Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
- Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.
- Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.
- Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the ‘Apply’ or ‘Apply Online’ buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.
AFTER YOU APPLY:
- Some email providers may experience delays or issues delivering messages. To avoid missing important updates—such as referral questionnaires or interview scheduling links—please check your Personal Status Board regularly.
- For added convenience, you can also enable text (SMS) notifications. To do this, log in to your Personal Status Board and select “Update My Contact Information.”
- Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire’s expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).
- Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!
- Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.
- The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
- Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics.
QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:
Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Frank DeCusati at frank.decusati@ct.gov.
Join the State of Connecticut and take your next career step with confidence!
PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)
In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for directing the design, development and implementation of multi-faceted health services programs of an assigned section.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
- Directs staff and operations of large, multi-faceted health services programs at the section level;
- Coordinates, plans and manages section programs and activities;
- Develops, implements, communicates and evaluates section policies, procedures, goals and activities;
- Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations;
- Determines appropriate staffing levels;
- Directs preparation of section budget;
- Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of section who might impact policy, program or regulatory activities;
- Determines quality assurance and performance standards for staff;
- Obtains state and federal funds to maintain and implement programs;
- Develops and recommends changes to statutes and regulations;
- Reviews and evaluates legislative proposals and reports on health issues;
- Directs preparation of statistical studies and required federal reports;
- Provides testimony at legislative hearings, the courts and public hearings;
- Addresses professional and lay groups and prepares articles for publication on public health issues;
- Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
- Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to apply management principles and practices;
- relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
- principles and practices of public health with emphasis on public health administration of programs;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- Considerable ability to interpret laws, regulations and statistical reporting data;
- Ability to develop health policies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE
Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory capacity in an organization with programmatic and/or regulatory responsibilities for promoting or protecting public health.
NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a
- Health Program Supervisor
- Supervising Nurse Consultant
- Child Care Licensing Supervisor
- Epidemiologist 4
- Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst
- Supervising Environmental Engineer
- Supervising Environmental Sanitarian
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED
One (1) year of experience as a Public Health Services Manager may be substituted for the General Experience.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supervising multiple staff with diverse experience levels, including setting goals, assigning tasks, monitoring performance, and fostering collaboration
- Experience preparing and submitting federal grant and cooperative agreement applications to secure funding for programs or initiatives
- Experience developing, implementing, and overseeing contracts with service providers to deliver safety net programs or services
- Experience developing and monitoring budgets to ensure spending aligns with federal or state timelines and compliance requirements
- Experience collecting data and conducting or overseeing data analysis to inform decisions on actions or interventions
- Experience collaborating and communicating with external stakeholders to achieve programmatic objectives
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Incumbents in this class may be required to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable or infectious diseases.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
Conclusion
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.