Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Opening Date: May 10, 2023

Closing Date: May 31, 2023

Job Class Code: HE30
Grade:  70
Salary: $189,425.60 / $288,059.20

Position Number: 31-1851

Candidates are sought to fill the position of the Director of the Maine CDC. The Office resembles the Federal CDC in its duties and structure. It is part of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, with the Director reporting to the Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Jeanne Lambrew, PhD. With concerted effort, the staff at Maine CDC has increased from 333 in 2019 to 404 currently. Work continues to fully staff the agency.

Maine’s public health system is relatively centralized, with limited district, county, and municipality infrastructure. It manages the typical array of public health surveillance, prevention, and detection programs as well as Maine’s programs for home visitation, Public Health Nursing, rural health, community health workers and social supports, and school-based health programs. It hosts a robust environmental health division. Maine CDC is implementing major initiatives to reduce health disparities, eliminate lead and promote clean drinking water, and modernize its lab and processes in part due to lessons and resources from COVID-19. For more information, see: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/agency-3-example/about-us.shtml

The Director has the opportunity to make major advances in public health given the current strength of the agency and supportive leadership in both the executive and legislative branches. Opportunities in particular exist in primary prevention of substance use disorders and mental health; healthy aging; addressing public health infrastructure needs with potential forthcoming federal funds; and helping to lead the State’s response to emergencies, climate change, and PFAS.

Candidates must be licensed, or eligible for licensure, as a physician or advanced practice registered nurse or have a degree in public health from an accredited school of public health or any equivalent combination of education and experience in public health. Preference is given to individuals with management experience, communications skills, and demonstrated leadership in the field of public health. Diversity is welcome. Salary is competitive and the position is appointed by the Commissioner.

Interested candidates should send their resumes to Desirea Chase at  Desirea.Chase@Maine.gov

 Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

 Application Information:

 Please submit all documents or files in a PDF or Word format.  To request a paper application, please contact Ashley.Smith@Maine.gov .

Benefits

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including: 

• Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3 weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave. 
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($10,150.80-$11,942.16 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.  

• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements. 

• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($350.40 annual value). 

• Retirement Plan – The State of Maine contributes 13.16% of pay to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS), on behalf of the employee.  
• Gym Membership Reimbursement – Improve overall health with regular exercise and receive up to $40 per month to offset this expense. 
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts – Set aside money pre-tax to help pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and/or daycare expenses. 
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness – The State of Maine is a qualified employer for this federal program. For more information, visit the Federal Student Aid office. 
• Living Resources Program – Navigate challenging work and life situations with our employee assistance program. 

• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including fathers and adoptive parents—receive four weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation – Save additional pre-tax funds for retirement in a MaineSaves 457(b) account through payroll deductions. 
• Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness. 

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role.

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

Salary : $189,426 - $288,059