Deputy Director for Health Department - Public Health Operations

Salary : $143,563.68 - $272,770.99 Annually
Location : HEALTH DEPARTMENT KELLY SQUARE, 10777 MAIN ST, FAIRFAX (FJ56), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01431
Department: Health Department
Opening Date: 09/19/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: M05
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

The Deputy Director of Public Health Operations is responsible for the daily operations of the department's core business and fiscal operations, and facilities and equipment management. Provides oversight and direction for the Divisions of Environmental Health, Laboratory Services, Administrative Operations, and the Office of Information Technology and Informatics. Oversees, plans, directs, manages and evaluates all business operations and administration functions, including objectives set for Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies. Responsible for development of policy, procedures and best practices for key administrative functions such as budget, finance, contracts, procurement, grant management, human resources, workforce planning, information technology, business process improvement, facilities, safety and risk management. Works with Health Director and senior program staff to implement, monitor and advance the department's strategic plan and initiatives; facilitates the development and monitoring of departmental performance measures and performance outcomes, and ensures resources are available for strategic priorities. Builds strategic partnerships to bring about collective impact and advance health equity. Serves as liaison with community groups, other county departments, the Virginia Department of Health, and state and other human services organizations as appropriate. Acts on behalf of the Health Director in his/her absence.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Thorough knowledge of public health practice including environmental health, health services and laboratory services;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration (including personnel, budgeting, accounting and management analysis), and the ability to apply them in overseeing a variety of health department services; Knowledge of Federal, State and County laws, regulations, ordinances affecting public health and the environment and the ability to interpret and apply them correctly;
• Knowledge of best practices for human service agencies from a federal, state and local perspective;
• Knowledge of strategic planning and project management;
• Ability to analyze data and draw sound conclusions;
• Ability to solve problems and resolving conflicts;
• Ability to analyze data and performance measures in and draw sound conclusions;
• Ability to develop and implement departmental goals/objectives and agency strategic plan department-wide;
• Ability to coordinate and implement organizational, personnel, and program changes;
• Ability to effectively manage, train, and motivate employees;
• Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate the work of a large staff;
• Ability to develop leadership in others through coaching and mentoring;
• Ability to provide effective leadership;
• Ability to delegate effectively;
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, coworkers, County officials, public and private sector organizations, community groups and the public.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in public health or related field such as healthcare administration, public administration, community development, business administration plus seven years' of increasingly responsible managerial, administrative and operational experience in a public health/community health setting involving policy development, service delivery or integrated local government operations, experience with governing boards/advisory boards; two years of the required experience must include supervision and management of professional staff.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification (Required within 60 days of hire).
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certification (Required within 60 days of hire).

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, Child Protective Services Registry check, credit check, driving record check, and sanction screenings to the satisfaction of the employer.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in an executive or senior-level leadership role overseeing complex processes across public health disciplines.
• Knowledge and experience leading a business operations team in a public health or primary healthcare setting.
• Experience and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, Health & Human Services senior management and staff, community leaders and groups, federal, state and local agencies, and the public; exceptional interpersonal skills and effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.
• Experience overseeing, monitoring and evaluating public health services and operations.
• Experience managing and overseeing a complex budget with multiple funding or revenue streams.
• Functions as a self-directed and results-oriented leader.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Job is generally sedentary in nature, and job requires walking, standing, sitting (for long periods of time), and kneeling, reaching, bending, climbing stairs; uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor; ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer. Ability to drive a motor vehicle. Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. Employee may be required to lift or carry up to 25 lbs., occasionally. Generally, works in an office environment yet may occasionally be required to perform job duties outside of the typical office setting. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home including We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

#LI-KA1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate all major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Public Health
• Healthcare Administration
• Public Administration
• Community Development
• Business Administration
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent increasingly responsible managerial, administrative and operational experience in a public health/community health setting involving policy development, service delivery or integrated local government operations do you have?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten to less than eleven years
• Eleven to less than twelve years
• Twelve or more years

06

Of the years listed in the previous question, how many years of full-time equivalent experience do you in the supervision and management of professional staff?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

Do you have experience with governing boards/advisory boards?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

09

How many years of experience do you have overseeing, monitoring and evaluating public health services and operations?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

10

How many years of experience do you have managing and overseeing a complex budget with multiple funding or revenue streams?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

11

How many years of experience do you have in an executive or senior-level leadership role overseeing complex processes across public health disciplines?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

12

How many years of knowledge and experience do you have leading a business operations team in a public health or primary healthcare setting?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine or more years

13

How many years of experience do y