Director of Health

Overview

The City of St. Louis is seeking a highly qualified, dynamic, and visionary executive to serve as the Director of the Department of Health (DoH) and bring renewed focus to its public and community health mission and programming. This critical role is the chief health officer for the City, tasked with providing strategic leadership to protect and improve the health and well-being of all St. Louis residents.

The City is looking for a new Director of the Department to lead it in navigating and pursuing critical public health priorities amidst a changing, challenging landscape. The City and this key department are confronting a convergence of proposed federal budget cuts that challenge local public health infrastructure, valuable programs, and exacerbate staffing shortages. They come at a time of rising demand for care, an aging population, and a stretched workforce, and at a time when local public health agencies must navigate a volatile, fast-moving threat landscape while innovating to maintain operational resilience in a post-COVID-19 environment where public health, funding, and trust are all under intense scrutiny.

The Director will oversee all public health initiatives, policies, and programs, leading a team dedicated to achieving health equity and safety for the community. This position demands a leader with extensive experience in public health administration, policy development, and community engagement, who possesses a passion for community health and creative problem-solving abilities.

The vision for this role is that the ideal candidate will:

• Develop and execute an ambitious, proactive public health strategy.
• Bring a strong focus to the City's current public health needs.
• Implement evidence-based, data-driven, and equitable solutions to complex population health issues.
• Develop long-term programs to address significant public health challenges, including chronic disease, infectious diseases, behavioral health, sexually transmitted infections, asthma, and lead poisoning.
• Enforce public health laws, manage departmental resources, and actively engage with community partners.

The Director reports directly to the Mayor and Chief Operating Officer in the Mayor's Office and is expected to attend all Cabinet meetings.

About the Department

Core Services and Functions

The DoH offers a wide array of services designed to promote health equity for all St. Louisans. These services encompass:

• Public Health Programs: Behavioral health, family and community health, school health, communicable disease prevention, surveillance, and investigations, and health promotions and marketing.
• Data and Research: Data analysis, epidemiological surveillance, and research.
• Preparedness and Response: Emergency preparedness and response.
• Community Engagement: Community education and engagement.
• Environmental and Regulatory Work: Environmental health (including Animal Care and Control), regulatory, and enforcement activities mandated by State and local laws.
• Administrative Functions: Administrative and government services, fiscal and payroll, and grants administration.

The Department is committed to continuous evolution in its structure and services to better meet the community's needs.

Accreditation and Quality

Since 2018, the Department has maintained accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). This achievement signifies adherence to national quality standards for public health through performance management, strategic planning, data-driven programming, and ongoing quality improvement.

Staffing and Structure

The DoH operates with a budget of approximately 180 employees, organized across the following administrative areas and public health programs:

• Administrative and Government Services
• Behavioral Health
• Family, Community, and School Health
• Communicable Diseases
• Environmental Health (including Animal Care and Control)
• Epidemiology
• Health Promotions and Marketing
• Fiscal and Payroll
• Grants Administration
• Quality Improvement, Strategic Planning, and Accreditation

Work Environment

This position involves work in both an office environment and within the community. Occasional work outside of standard business hours is required to manage emergency responses.

Learn More

Further details about the Department of Health are available in its current Strategic Plan.

Key Responsibilities

The Director's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership & Administration: Oversee the department's daily operations, strategic planning, budget, resources, and personnel management. Develop and implement policies and initiatives in alignment with federal, state, and local regulations, focusing on the City’s public health goals and health equity frameworks.
• Public Health Improvement & Equity: Lead the development and execution of the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIP). Drive efforts to reduce health disparities and address social determinants of health, particularly among marginalized communities. Ensure all programs center health equity and cultural competency, with a focus on entrenched issues such as asthma, lead poisoning, STIs, and behavioral health.
• Health Information & Advocacy: Serve as the primary public health spokesperson for the City, communicating critical health information to the public, media, and City leadership. Act as the subject matter expert to the Mayor, Board of Aldermen, and regional stakeholders, advising on public health legislation and advocating for necessary funding.
• Program Management: Direct essential public health programs, including communicable disease control (e.g., HIV/STI), maternal/child health, lead safe initiatives, and environmental health.
• Crisis Management & Emergency Preparedness: Lead the City's response to all public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, environmental hazards, and severe weather events.
• Partnership Building & Community Engagement: Build trust and foster strong relationships with community organizations, local stakeholders, healthcare providers, and government agencies to address health disparities collaboratively.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Education: Candidates must:
  • Must be a regularly licensed practitioner of medicine and surgery and a graduate of an accredited school of medicine; OR
  • Have completed graduate work in an accredited school of public health to the level of a Master's Degree in Public Health or have been certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Public Health.
• Experience: Shall have had at least three years' experience in the practice of medicine and at least three years' experience in public health work, with at least two years of such experience in a responsible administrative capacity, such as a senior leadership or management role, preferably within a government or urban environment.
• Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of the 10 Essential Public Health Services, epidemiology, health policy, and the application of health equity frameworks.
• Skills: Exceptional skills in strategic planning, budget development, grant management, and communicating complex health information to diverse audiences.
• Residency: Must be a resident of the City of St. Louis or willing to relocate within a designated timeframe.
• Other: Background in addressing urban health disparities (e.g., gun violence as a public health issue, chronic disease in under-resourced communities).

Required Skills

• Proven Leadership and Management: Effective leader capable of inspiring and directing multidisciplinary teams. Must excel at strategic planning, organization, fostering an equitable culture, conflict resolution, performance management, and developing new leaders.
• Expert Public Health Knowledge: Deep understanding of core public health disciplines (epidemiology, environmental health, health policy, etc.), laws, regulations, and accreditation. Ability to translate data into policy, understanding health equity and social determinants.
• Exceptional Communication: Superior ability to clearly and persuasively communicate complex public health information to diverse audiences (public, officials, providers, partners). Must be an effective public speaker, adept at proactive and crisis media relations, and skilled in preparing professional reports and presentations.
• Navigate Complex Environments: Proven experience collaborating with elected/appointed officials, city/county departments, and community groups. Requires political acumen, consensus-building skills, and the ability to advocate for public health within complex governmental structures.
• Strong Fiscal Management and Grant Administration: Expertise in developing and managing multi-million dollar public/non-profit budgets. Comprehensive knowledge of public sector accounting and procurement. Extensive experience securing and managing federal, state, and private grants, ensuring rigorous compliance and auditing.

Compensation and Benefits

The City offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package. Specific details will be discussed during the interview process. The salary for this position will range from $180,000 - $218,000.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials electronically:

• Cover letter detailing qualifications and interest in the position.
• Comprehensive resume/curriculum vitae.
• List of three professional references with contact information.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a comprehensive resume, a compelling cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the role, and three professional references, to Chief of Staff, Casey Millburg, at millburgc@stlouis-mo.gov, by 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 15th.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of St. Louis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of St. Louis will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the City.

Published: February 17, 2026