Under general direction of the Deputy County Executive for Health, Housing and Human Services, the incumbent of this class serves at the pleasure of the County Executive in accordance with the Virginia Code Ann. §15.2-807, 15.2-808, and 15.2-809, and is subject to appointment by the County Board of Supervisors pursuant to Fairfax County Code 3-1-12(1)(a).
The Director of the Fairfax County Health Department serves as the official health advisor to the Board of Supervisors, Health Care Advisory Board, Human Services Council, and local government officials and other community groups on all health-related matters including health policy, access to care, health needs, community health planning, food safety, environmental health, and emergency preparedness and response.
Leading a workforce of approximately 900 employees and a FY2027 budget of over $100 million, the Director oversees one of Virginia's largest and most complex local public health systems, providing strategic leadership for county operations while serving as a key regional public health leader across Northern Virginia and the National Capital Region.
The Director oversees a geographically dispersed operation that includes a central administrative office, four Public Health Centers which house public health clinics, a free-standing, Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory and staff embedded in additional satellite sites throughout the County. The Department’s School Health Program ensures coverage for school health rooms located in each of the Fairfax County Public Schools’ nearly 200 school locations as well as the schools within the City of Falls Church.
Major duties and responsibilities include:
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Provides executive leadership, strategic direction, oversight, and evaluation for all public health programs and services administered through contract with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and on behalf of Fairfax County Government, the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Herndon, Vienna, and Clifton.
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Serves as an integral member of the County’s Health, Housing and Human Services System, collaborating across agencies to address complex community issues and advance coordinated human services strategies, including integrated service delivery, case management coordination, universal access to services, information technology integration, and collaborative budget planning.
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Develops and implements the Department’s multi-year strategic plan, incorporating community health assessments, stakeholder collaboration, partnerships with private-sector and community organizations, and ongoing engagement with residents and consumers to inform priorities and improve outcomes.
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Collaborates with regional healthcare systems and community partners to maintain a robust safety net and ensure the delivery of essential public health services to all residents; maintains strong, effective relationships with VDH and other state agencies to secure essential funding, advance policy priorities, and support public health legislation.
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Participates in regional workgroups, committees and taskforces focused on public health programming, preparedness and response, including the committees and convenings of the Council on Governments, Northern Virginia Health Officials, Northern Virginia Emergency Response System, others; maintains Memoranda of Understanding and ensures mutual aid and working relationships with a wide variety of local, regional, state and federal authorities and organizations to ensure capacity for and coordination on public health response activities.
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Directs the development, administration, and oversight of the Health Department’s operating and capital budgets for Fairfax County and the Cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, including presenting budget recommendations and public health priorities to governing bodies, advisory boards, community organizations, and residents.
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Leads and supervises senior management staff by monitoring agency operations, providing strategic guidance on complex issues, resolving organizational challenges, overseeing program development and implementation, and evaluating organizational and staff performance.
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Represents the Health Department as the public face of public health in Fairfax County by communicating critical public health information through media relations, public presentations, community outreach, and engagement with local, regional, and state partners.
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited medical school, with a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or capacity to obtain a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia within 3 months of hire; and five years of professional experience working in either a public health agency or public health-related position, including three years of experience in a senior leadership role, such as senior manager, department director, executive director, or equivalent level position; or
Possession of a master's or doctoral degree in the area of public health, with at least seven years of professional experience working in either a public health agency or public health-related position, including three years of experience in a senior leadership role, such as senior manager, department director, executive director, or equivalent level position.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
AED – Required within 60 days of hire
CPR – Required within 60 days of hire
Valid driver’s license
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate has knowledge, experience and demonstrated success in the following:
Licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia or capacity to obtain a license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia within 3 months of hire; and board certification in preventive medicine, primary care, or related specialty.
At least eight years of progressively responsible experience in public health, health care administration, community health, or government health services, to include five years of experience in a senior leadership role, such as senior manager, department director, executive director, or equivalent level position.
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration, epidemiology, health promotion and health education, and public health emergency preparedness and response, including the application of medical science to community health trends, communicable disease control, and environmental sanitation.
Senior, director or executive-level management experience in personnel administration, strategic planning, and budget development and management, including demonstrated ability to formulate and justify complex budgetary requirements and supervise multi-fund expenditures.
Proven ability to select, train, and supervise a large, multidisciplinary workforce, and the analytical skill to resolve complex administrative and operational problems.
Exceptional ability to establish and maintain cooperative, high-level relationships with federal, state, and local public and private agencies in the field.
Thorough knowledge of community resources and the ability to apply a social equity lens to public health programs and community trends.
Demonstrated ability to create and maintain a work environment that is respectful and accepting of diverse opinions while fostering a healthy organizational culture that encourages teamwork and collaboration.
Exceptional executive-level verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking, presentations to elected officials and governing bodies, stakeholder engagement, and media relations.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Appointee will be required to complete a criminal background investigation, Child Protective Services Registry, sanction screening, credit check, social media check, and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
Contingent upon area of assignment, some positions within this class will require a National Provider Identifier.
Willingness to work extended hours to cover evening and weekend committees and events.
On-call for emergencies after hours, weekends, and holidays as needed. Must be able to maintain 24/7 "on-call" availability for public health emergencies.
This position is considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
A non-physician health director shall rely upon a licensed physician on staff, if applicable, or shall rely upon a consulting agreement (MOU/MOA) with a licensed physician for the purpose of executing prescribing duties, consulting on clinical matters, and carrying out all other State Health Commissioner delegated statutory authority requiring a physician in accordance with the Code of Virginia.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position is primarily sedentary in nature; however, visual acuity to work on electronic equipment such as a computer monitor, typing on a keyboard and carrying/lifting up to 15 pounds are essential to this position. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview; may include a practical exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others.) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact TTY [email protected] EEO/AA/TTY.
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