Salary : $112,257.60 - $151,881.60 Annually
Location : Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, WA
Job Type: Regular
Job Number:
Division: Disease Prevention & Management
Program: DPM - Public Health Emergencies
Opening Date: 07/22/2026
Closing Date: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Summary
Are you an experienced public health professional ready to guide emergency response strategies that protect our community? The Disease Prevention and Management Division is hiring a Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE), Program Manager to serve as our subject matter expert in Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR). This position is tailored for a professional who thrives on leading and mentoring teams of specialists. We value top-tier expertise and offer a competitive starting salary range of $112,257.60 to $120,182.40 annually, which remains open to negotiation based on the specific qualifications and management background you bring to our division.
This is a managerial classification reporting to senior level management or Program Manager II with responsibility for overseeing the operations of assigned programs. This position is responsible for providing strategic, administrative, and programmatic direction for their assigned program, including planning, implementation, grant reporting, staff supervision, budget, and financial management. The Program Manager I works in tandem with Division leadership to align the program's operations with the Department's strategic goals and initiatives.

Distinguishing Characteristics
A Program Manager I oversees assigned program(s) within the organization. This role is responsible for managing operations and direct reports. This role serves as a liaison to the community, local, and state agencies to build public health program capacity and represent the program in areas of policy and planning. Work is performed with a considerable latitude for independent judgement and decision-making authority regarding their assigned program.

Position Series

• Program Manager I
• Program Manager II

Career Path Options
Options to continue your career at the Health Department depend on your interest, education, and training. Possibilities beyond the position series include:

• Assistant Division Director
• Division Director

Essential Functions

• Plans, organizes, directs, monitors, and evaluates assigned program area.
• Supervises, mentors, coaches, and manages staff, including hiring, training, timecard/time off approvals, performance management, and resolution of disciplinary matters. Assists supervisors with resolving complex employee relations and performance management issues.
• Plans and executes workplans to ensure goals and objectives are met.
• Formulates quality assurance, improvement and control efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of program(s).
• Plans, develops, monitors, and controls program budgets. Ensures financial accountability and fiscal viability of program(s).

Examples of Key Duties
The items in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic, and duties may change based on business needs. Any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates assigned program area. Exercises independent judgement in the oversight of daily operations.
• Formulates policies, procedures, protocols, and standards, ensuring compliance with federal, state, contractual, and Department requirements.
• Evaluates and monitors services and programs. Monitors and assesses progress toward objectives and impacts on the community. Formulates quality administrative controls and quality assurance policies and procedures to improve and/or monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
• Manages program performance to ensure goals are met and impact on the community is maximized. Determines service priorities.
• Plans and executes workplans with project managers, program supervisors, and team members to ensure goals and objectives are met. Supports strategy and service implementation, addressing equity, health equity, and social determinants of health.
• Plans, develops, monitors, and controls program budgets. Ensures financial accountability and program fiscal viability.
• Monitors expenditures and revenues. Proposes service fees and monitors reimbursement invoicing and billings.
• Negotiates and administers community-based contracts with private and public agencies. Reviews and approves contractor selection process, payment of contracts and contract performance.
• Identifies new sources of revenue and develops, monitors, and manages program budgets, contracts, grant deliverables, and program operations. Negotiates and manages grants, interagency agreements, and revenue contracts.
• Translates leadership direction into actionable plans that align current priorities with the Department Strategic Plan and organizational initiatives and objectives. Develops and implements program goals, objectives, and metrics.
• Identifies, implements, and manages quality improvement initiatives to develop recommendations and facilitate continuous improvement.
• Assesses program and community needs. Performs needs assessments, utilization, and outcome data analysis.
• Supervises, mentors, coaches, and manages staff, including hiring, training, timecard/time off approvals, performance management, investigations, and resolution of disciplinary matters. Assists program supervisors with resolving complex employee relations and performance management issues.
• Monitors, reviews, interprets, and implements detailed federal, state, or local regulations and ensures program compliance with applicable policies, practices, and the law. Assesses impact of new legislation on program operations and services and makes recommendations.
• Lead or participate in compliance review teams conducting compliance and credential review processes.
• Promotes and maintains partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and internal and external partners and collaborators. Shares information and resources with other agencies to promote public health initiatives.
• Provides expertise, consultation, and assistance in the areas of program expertise. Serves as a resource and technical consultant to explain the Health Department role and policies, laws and regulations in assigned area to officials, groups, and individuals.
• Acts as a liaison and consultant to community, local and state agencies regarding public health policy. Under the direction of the Director of Public Health, Health Officer, and/or division leadership, may represent the department on task forces, committees and planning bodies in the areas of policy and health services planning.
• In collaboration with Communications, may represent the program before the media and public.
• Represents the program by presenting at various functions including Board of Health Meetings, community events, and committee meetings.
• The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

• Adheres to all workplace and trade safety laws, regulations, standards, and practices.
• Understands and properly follows established procedures in preventing and responding to unsafe or emergency situations. Identifies and reports potentially unsafe practices or conditions.
• Operates equipment, tools, machinery, and vehicles safely and understands processes for reporting an accident or injury.
• Understands and applies knowledge and skills necessary to successfully perform assigned emergency response role during an emergency.

When public health responds to an emergency, you may be assigned duties and responsibilities that are outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time and reporting to a location other than the department with different working conditions and physical requirements. You are expected to participate in emergency preparedness activities including our emergency notification system, WA SECURES. Drills and real-world events may take place at any time.

For a full description of the classification specification
What you bring to the table

• Intermediate knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs, financial management software, and timekeeping systems.
• Proficient with modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of program management including planning, development, monitoring, evaluation, and administration.
• Knowledge of organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational need of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public health program services to include evidence and practice-based assessment, prevention, treatment, and education.
• Skilled in health education practices, policy development, and program planning.
• Applied knowledge of administrative principles, practices, and methods including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, policy and procedure development, quality control, and work standards.
• Knowledge of public health laws and regulations governing public health programs and services. Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws applicable to the body of work.
• Skilled in multi-tasking complex functions.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct.
• Knowledge of government and departmental procurement practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Departmental policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Knowledge of contract and budget development, implementation, and management.
• Skilled in grant writing.
• Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information.
• Skilled in communication:
  • Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner.
  • Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information.
  • Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
  • Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations.
  • Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information.
  • Writes in a clear, concise, and organized manner for the intended audience.

Foundational Competencies

• Knowing and managing oneself: Understands that all equity, trauma-informed, and restorative practices start with oneself. Exercises a high degree of self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. Is willing to learn, apply, and model agency values and ethical standards.
• Restorative practices and conflict resolution: Articulates through words and actions authentic commitment to create an environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal opportunities and impartial treatment. Centers work inequity and trauma informed and restorative practices to achieve and maintain collaboration and teamwork and to effectively work with historically underrepresented and/or underserved populations to advance community health. Utilizes restorative practices to address harm and promote healing to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities.
• Collaboration and engagement: Provides balanced and objective information to help teammates, partners, and the public understand problems, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Works directly with partners within the Department, in the community, and members of the public affected by the work to obtain feedback and understand diverse points of view, concerns, and aspirations. Identifies preferred solutions together, incorporating advice and recommendations to the maximum extent possible.
• Evidence informed practices and decision-making: Applies evidence informed practices and methodologies to achieve the greatest impact in delivery of services to internal and external customers and partners. Incorporates the social determinants of health into public health work. Integrates research and evidence into the decision-making process. Seeks to systematically identify and eliminate inequities resulting in differences in health and in overall living conditions. Utilizes evidence informed practices to increase equity in systems and policy. Creates a robust culture of assessment and evaluation and continuous process improvement.
• Cross cultural communication and Engagement: Understands that cultural awareness, appreciation, and humility can only occur when you practice curiosity and open-mindedness. Operates with a high level of humility and cultural agility to achieve effective intercultural communication, engagement, and collaboration in the workplace and in the community. Is open to feedback and continuously self-reflects on one's own actions and responses. Centers personal accountability on the Department's mission, values, and ethical standards.

Who should apply

The items below are the requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values work experience, lived experience, and education and realizes that people take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• Bachelor's degree in business, public health, environmental health, or applicable related field.
• Three years of experience in public health program management.
• Directly related experience in the assigned program(s).
• Three years of experience supervising or leading teams.

We will consider any equivalent combination of educ