Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Health Program Manager

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a visionary leader passionate about shaping the future of community health? This role requires a dynamic and experienced Health Program Manager to spearhead our critical health initiatives. In this role, you will be the central architect and driver of programs designed to improve health outcomes, enhance access to care, and address public health challenges. You will not just manage projects; you will build relationships, mentor teams, and strategically navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape to create lasting positive change. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in a mission-driven environment where your work directly contributes to the well-being of the communities we serve.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Health Educator or Community Health Worker
Clinical Coordinator or Nurse Manager
Healthcare Project Manager or Public Health Analyst

Advancement To:

Director of Health Programs / Director of Clinical Services
Senior Program Manager / Portfolio Manager
Vice President of Community Health or Population Health

Lateral Moves:

Healthcare Operations Manager
Health Policy Advisor or Analyst
Quality Improvement Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Develop, implement, and manage the strategic direction of health programs from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and public health priorities.
Oversee all operational aspects of assigned health programs, including workflow design, resource allocation, and the establishment of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Manage program budgets, including forecasting, tracking expenditures, performing variance analysis, and ensuring compliance with funding source requirements.
Lead, mentor, and supervise a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, support staff, and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including community partners, government agencies, healthcare providers, and funding bodies.
Spearhead grant writing and reporting processes, identifying new funding opportunities and ensuring all deliverables and reports for current grants are met on time and with high quality.
Design and implement robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks to track program performance, measure outcomes, and assess overall impact against key performance indicators (KPIs).
Utilize data analysis to inform program decisions, identify trends, report on progress to leadership, and drive a cycle of continuous quality improvement (CQI).
Ensure all program activities adhere to relevant local, state, and federal regulations, as well as healthcare industry standards and evidence-based practices.
Direct community outreach and engagement strategies to promote program services, increase participation, and gather community feedback for program refinement.
Plan and facilitate program-related meetings, workshops, and trainings for staff, partners, and community members to build capacity and ensure consistent communication.
Author comprehensive program reports, policy briefs, and presentations for diverse audiences, including executive leadership, board members, and external funders.
Act as the primary subject matter expert and point of contact for the health program, representing the organization at conferences, coalitions, and public forums.
Manage vendor and consultant contracts, including negotiation, scope of work definition, and performance monitoring to ensure deliverables are met.
Conduct regular needs assessments and environmental scans to identify emerging health issues and gaps in service, recommending new program development or adaptations.
Collaborate with clinical leadership to integrate program services with primary care and other clinical offerings, ensuring a seamless patient experience.
Resolve complex programmatic and operational challenges by developing creative and sustainable solutions in a timely and effective manner.
Oversee the development and dissemination of health education materials and program-related communications to ensure they are accessible, culturally competent, and impactful.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer urgent questions from leadership or funders.
Contribute to the organization's broader strategic planning process, providing insights and recommendations from a programmatic perspective.
Collaborate with IT and data teams to translate program needs into technical requirements for EHR/EMR systems or data dashboards.
Participate in organizational committees and cross-departmental working groups to promote synergy and address overarching strategic goals.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program/Project Management: Expertise in project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and software (e.g., Asana, Smartsheet, Jira).
Budgeting and Financial Acumen: Proficiency in creating, managing, and reporting on complex program budgets, often with multiple funding streams.
Grant Writing & Management: Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and manage reporting requirements for federal, state, or private foundation grants.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Skill in using data analysis tools (e.g., Advanced Excel, SPSS, Tableau) to interpret programmatic data and generate insightful reports.
Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Strong understanding of M&E principles, including logic models, indicator development, and data collection methodologies.
Public Health Principles: Deep knowledge of epidemiology, health equity, social determinants of health, and evidence-based public health interventions.
Healthcare Systems Knowledge: Familiarity with clinical workflows, healthcare compliance (e.g., HIPAA), and Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.

Soft Skills

Strategic Leadership: Ability to inspire and guide a team towards a common vision while managing day-to-day operations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Exceptional skill in building and maintaining relationships with diverse groups, from community members to executive leaders.
Communication: Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
Problem-Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying issues and implementing effective, sustainable solutions.
Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in a dynamic environment, effectively managing ambiguity and shifting priorities.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: A natural team player who can work effectively across departments to achieve shared objectives.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH), Healthcare Administration (MHA), Public Administration (MPA), Social Work (MSW), or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Public Health
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Social Work
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5-8 years of progressive experience in public health, healthcare administration, or a related field, with at least 3 years in a program management or supervisory capacity.

Preferred:

Direct experience managing programs focused on specific health areas such as chronic disease, behavioral health, maternal-child health, or infectious disease.
Proven track record of managing government-funded grants (e.g., HRSA, CDC, SAMHSA) and/or large-scale foundation grants.
Experience working within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), hospital system, or public health department.
Lived or direct professional experience working with underserved or marginalized populations.