Public Health Program Director 1

The Tennessee Department of Health's Division of Family Health and Wellness (FHW) is seeking a contract Adolescent Health Program Coordinator to provide statewide leadership for adolescent health initiatives that improve the health and well-being of Tennessee's youth. Under general supervision, this position leads the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of adolescent health programs through collaboration with state and local partners, schools, healthcare providers, youth-serving organizations, and adolescents.

The Adolescent Health Program Coordinator serves as the subject-matter expert for adolescent health and positive youth development, ensuring that youth perspectives inform public health strategies and programs. This position leads the development and implementation of Tennessee's Adolescent Health Strategic Plan, provides leadership for statewide initiatives, develops partnerships, manages grants and projects, provides technical assistance, and supports data-informed decision-making to improve adolescent health outcomes across Tennessee.

Key Responsibilities:
• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of Tennessee’s Adolescent Health Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment with state and federal priorities and advancing coordinated adolescent health efforts across Tennessee.
• Provide statewide leadership for adolescent health initiatives that promote healthy youth development and improve health outcomes for adolescents across Tennessee.
• Develop, implement, manage, and evaluate adolescent health programs and initiatives.
• Lead coordination of the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program in Tennessee by collaborating with implementing schools, community organizations, and local and national trainers to ensure the program is implemented with fidelity.
• Lead the statewide implementation of Screenagers: Under the Influence, including project planning, coordination, partner engagement, implementation, evaluation, technical assistance, and reporting to TDH leadership and funding agencies.
• Lead the support of Tennessee Generations (TNGen) by facilitating meetings, developing youth leadership opportunities, maintaining communication with members, coordinating youth-led initiatives, and supporting federal reporting requirements.
• Coordinate adolescent engagement strategies, including advisory groups, focus groups, and other opportunities that ensure youth perspectives are incorporated into program planning, implementation, and evaluation.

• Serve as the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (MCHBG) Social Emotional Well-Being Priority Lead and coordinate activities in collaboration with the Domain Lead.
• Build and sustain partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, youth-serving agencies, and other partners to advance adolescent health priorities.
• Identify emerging adolescent health needs and implement effective strategies related to positive youth development, healthy relationships, sexual health education, pregnancy prevention, dating violence prevention, nutrition, physical activity, and other factors that influence adolescent health and well-being.
• Provide technical assistance, consultation, and training to internal and external partners on adolescent health best practices.
• Monitor program performance, evaluate outcomes, analyze data, and use findings to support continuous program improvement.
• Develop grant applications, progress reports, presentations, and other required state and federal reports.
• Represent the Tennessee Department of Health on statewide and national committees, workgroups, conferences, and collaborative initiatives related to adolescent health.

Qualifications:
• Knowledge of adolescent development, positive youth development, and effective public health practices.
• Experience developing, implementing, managing, and evaluating public health programs or initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans and translate priorities into measurable actions.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships and collaborate with diverse partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking, facilitation, and technical writing.
• Experience providing technical assistance, training, and consultation.
• Knowledge of grant management, program evaluation, and performance measurement.
• Strong organizational, analytical, critical thinking, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently while working collaboratively across teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Education/Experience Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Health Education, Social Work, Behavioral Science, Education, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of three years of experience in adolescent health, public health, program management, strategic planning, or a related field.
• Experience leading statewide initiatives, grants, or community-based public health programs preferred.
• Experience working with adolescents, schools, healthcare providers, or youth-serving organizations preferred.
• Experience with grant writing, grant management, program planning, and evaluation preferred.
• State government experience is a plus.

Work Environment & Eligibility Requirements
• Applicants must reside in the State of Tennessee at the time of hire and maintain Tennessee residency as a condition of employment.

• Must successfully complete a background check.
• New hires will be required to report in person to Nashville for onboarding and equipment deployment.
• This position operates in a hybrid work environment with periodic in-person meetings in Nashville.
• Ability to travel throughout the State of Tennessee for meetings, trainings, site visits, and partner engagement activities, as needed.
• Ability to travel out of state approximately four times per year for conferences, federal meetings, and professional development opportunities.
• Travel to the Nashville office is not reimbursed.

Typical working hours - Monday - Friday, 8AM to 4:30PM CST, 37.5 hours per week. Not eligible for overtime.