DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY HEALTH

*THIS POSITION IS EXEMPT FROM CIVIL SERVICE*

The Deputy Commissioner of Community Health is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Health.

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a diverse workforce dedicated to delivering exceptional service to its residents. If you have a passion for being a part of an inclusive team of public servants, please consider the following opportunity.

The Position 

The Deputy Commissioner of Community Health develops, implements, manages, and evaluates evidence-based programs for the Family and Community Health (FCH) Division of the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD).

The Department

Since 1867, the City of Milwaukee Health Department has served the residents of the City of Milwaukee, seeking to improve and protect the health of all who live, work, and play within the City. Over 150 years later, the MHD remains steadfast in this mission. As the largest local health department in Wisconsin, the MHD serves nearly 600,000 residents through direct services, evidence-based programs, partnerships, and policy development.

The MHD has an annual budget of approximately $40 million and a multidisciplinary team of over 250 public health employees across four divisions: Family and Community Health; Environmental Health; Clinical Services; and Policy, Innovation and Equity.

For more information about the Milwaukee Health Department, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/HEALTH.

Program Leadership       

• Plan and develop overall strategy related to the FCH Division goals and objectives, work plans, budgets, and intra-divisional and department-wide collaboration.
• Engage in needs-assessment activities, including evaluation of community needs, program capacity, and the success of previous and current activities and projects.
• Coordinate and plan community health activities to ensure balanced and effective programs.
• Formulate progressive programs designed with community-level data and feedback to meet the changing needs of the community.
• Develop and oversee contracts and subcontracts in all areas of FCH programming, including negotiating terms, drafting documents, authorizing payments, and monitoring performance of contractors and subcontractors.
• Evaluate, plan, and develop standards for community health program measurement, using existing and new resources and methods.
• Write, edit, and approve reports produced by the FCH personnel (including internal, foundation, and government funding sources).
• Participate in relevant internal and external committees that relate to community health, particularly those that encourage or adopt innovative approaches to the work, and those that focus on communities with the greatest need.
• Monitor and participate in efforts to strengthen data collection within all data systems in FCH.
• Analyze and interpret statistics deemed significant to program planning and budget preparation.
• Direct FCH research activities, including an analysis of service impact on target populations, data collection, comparative study of various interventions, and ongoing surveillance of community health indicators (such as infant mortality, teen pregnancy, adolescent suicide rates, etc.).
• Prepare and recommend the annual budget for community health programs.
• Propose and facilitate changes and improvements within the organization’s public health practices.

Staff Management and Administration        

• Hire, train, support, supervise, and evaluate staff responsible for new and innovative community interventions and community health strategies.
• Help establish programs, policies, procedures, and performance standards for guidance and professional development of the FCH staff.
• Lead, coordinate, and contribute to staff training and educational sessions.
• Promote an environment of accountability, critical and creative thinking, professional growth, adult learning, open communication, and responsibility, as well as collaboration.
• Participate in recruitment, selection, and assignment of personnel for FCH services and programs.
• Lead efforts to build morale, enforce accountability and discipline, and improve FCH performance.
• Guide and mentor division directors, managers, supervisors and the FCH staff.
• Oversee, and participate as needed in, performance improvement plan development and disciplinary procedures for staff.
• Approve student and intern program placement within the FCH.
• Participate as a member of the senior management team, working with and advising the Commissioner of Health.

Community Leadership

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with other city departments, state and federal regulatory and funding agencies, medical providers, community-based organizations, advocacy agencies, and academic institutions to coordinate and consult on comprehensive city-wide efforts.
• Represent the MHD in community groups. Participate in community planning concerning health and social welfare.
• Act as the media spokesperson for all FCH programs.
• Represent the MHD and the FCH programs at Common Council meetings.

Grant Writing and Program Development    

• Plan a mission-driven grant strategy for the FCH in terms of proportion of grant and non-grant funding, strategic areas of expansion, and vision for medium to long-term future.
• Identify and research corporate, foundation, and government sources of funding for community health activities.
• Champion grant opportunities within the organization, and play a lead role in writing the grants, developing the budgets, and building new or existing projects through those grants.
• Manage grant-writing teams; sign off on the final draft, and gain permission to submit from the Commissioner of Health.

We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

• The incumbent must be willing and able to work outside standard business hours to respond to emergencies and to represent the department.
• Required to file a Statement of Economic Interests in accordance with the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances Chapter 303-Code of Ethics.
• The required pre-employment tests include:
  • Physical
  • Audiogram
  • Vision
• The required pre-employment vaccines include:
  • TB Test; at time of appointment and annually throughout employment
  • Hepatitis B Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccine Confirmation
  • MMR Vaccine
  • Varicella Vaccine

1. Qualified to serve as the local health officer (Level III), as established by Wis. Stat. § 251.06 (1) (c).  Accordingly, qualified candidates must meet one of the following requirements:

A.    A master’s degree, or a degree or educational credential higher than a master’s degree, in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and three years of experience in a full-time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

B.     A bachelor’s degree and 16 graduate semester credits towards a master’s degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field and five years of experience in a full−time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

C.     A license to practice medicine and surgery under Ch. 448 and at least one of the following:

a. Three years of experience in a full−time administrative position in either a public health agency or public health work.

b. Eligibility for certification by the American Board of Preventive Medicine in public health or general preventive medicine.

c. A master’s degree in public health, public administration, health administration or, as defined in rules promulgated by the department, a similar field.

d. Notwithstanding pars. (a) and (c), relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), counts toward satisfying the requirements for education, training, instruction, or other experience to qualify as a public health officer if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with their military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to qualify as a public health officer.

2.  Five years of full-time experience in public health care program planning, policy development, community health assessment or health administration

3.  Valid driver's license at the time of appointment and throughout employment. Private auto allowance may be paid pursuant to Section 350-183 of the Milwaukee Code.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may also be considered.

IMPORTANT NOTE: College transcripts are required and must be emailed as an attachment to LOCONNOR@milwaukee.gov by the closing date and time. Student/unofficial copies are acceptable; however, your transcript must be legible and include your college/university name, your name, the degree completed and the date completed.

• Registration as a Certified Public Health Professional.

Technical

• Ability to lead and support community health assessments and community health improvement planning.
• Knowledge of program planning, budget development and monitoring, contract and grant development, staff supervision and development, team management, and quality assurance.
• Knowledge of and ability to apply health equity concepts and the social determinants of health to develop strategies to improve public health and set public health priorities.
• Knowledge of grant application and monitoring practices.
• Ability to formulate policies related to community health issues using prevention-focused public health practice and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Ability to develop and implement performance management strategies and measures and to facilitate assessment and planning to promote individual staff accomplishments toward objectives, teamwork and organizational change.
• Ability to translate policy decisions into organizational and community programs and services.

Organizational /Strategic Management

• Skill in short and long-term strategic planning.
• Ability to assess the organizational assets, resources and opportunities and to develop new organizational structures, systems and metrics that support accountability and efficiency in the delivery of public health.
• Ability to maintain and oversee data management systems related to the evaluation of outcomes, expenditures and revenues.
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations to further the public health of the community that are based upon research and known mitigation strategies.
• Ability to identify and interpret emerging trends in public health and to provide information, analysis and interpretation to stakeholders and community partners. 
• Ability to articulate and promote a vision for public health.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic public health policies through effective delegation, persuasion and negotiation skills.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a large, multidisciplinary staff with direct and indirect reporting relationships. 

Communication

• Strong communication, public speaking and presentation skills.
• Written communication skills to craft policies and procedures, reports and correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, boards of directors, media and legislative bodies.
• Ability to effectively communicate medical and public health information to a variety of partners, including medical and public health professionals, elected officials, the media, and the general public.
• Skilled in managing press inquiries and communications concerning FCH topics.

Relationship Building

• Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relationships with diverse coworkers, elected officials, representatives of City departments, community organizations, and federal, state, and local officials in public health, and residents.
• Ability to engage key partners in collaborative ventures, to develop partnering strategies and to develop strategic plans that involve the input and engagement of stakeholders.
• Ability to design and implement inclusive feedback systems that engage individuals from diverse backgrounds, with knowledge of how cultural, social, and behavioral factors influence the accessibility, availability, acceptability, and delivery of public health services.
• Honesty, integrity, the ability to maintain confidentiality and responsible stewardship of City resources.

The current salary range (1PX) is $125,201-$175,275 annually, and the resident incentive salary range for City of Milwaukee residents is $128,957-$180,533 annually. Appointment above the minimum is possible based upon level of experience and other qualifications and is subject to approval.  

BENEFITS

The City of Milwaukee provides a comprehensive benefit program that includes the following:

• Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Defined Benefit Pension Plan       
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan     
• Health and Dental Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave 
• Comprehensive Wellness Program        
• Onsite Clinic Services       
• Onsite Employee Assistance Program       
• Alternative Work Schedules        
• Long Term Disability Insurance     
• Group Life Insurance     
• Tuition Benefits      
• Paid Vacation        
• 12 Paid Holidays        
• Paid Sick Leave and other paid leaves
• Flexible Spending Arrangement       
• Commuter Value Pass

For full details of the benefits offered by the City of Milwaukee, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/DER/benefits

Screening for this position will be based on an evaluation of each applicant’s education, experience, and professional accomplishments, which should be detailed in a cover letter and resume.

• Please email a cover letter, resume and transcripts (student copies accepted) by 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, to: loconnor@milwaukee.gov.
• Please indicate “Deputy Commissioner of Community Health” in the email message subject line.  
• Questions relative to the selection process may be directed to Lindsey O’Connor, Human Resources Administrator at 414.286.6406 or loconnor@milwaukee.gov.

The City of Milwaukee reserves the right to invite only the most qualified applicants to participate in the selection process.

INITIAL FILING DATE: The selection process will be conducted as soon as practical after December 2, 2025. Receipt of application materials may be discontinued at any time after this date without prior notice. However, recruitment may continue until the City's needs are met. The applicant is responsible for attending all phases of the job selection process at the time and place designated by the City of Milwaukee.

EEO 101

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.