Job Description

Job Description and Duties

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by protecting the public’s health and promoting health, wellness, and equity.

The incumbent works under the direction of the Health Program Manager II (HPM II), Public Awareness Section within the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch. The Health Program Specialist I (HPS I) functions as a communications specialist supporting the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch’s (SAPB) multifaceted, cutting-edge advertising and marketing campaigns. Prevention and awareness campaigns include a broad range of topics, including youth cannabis prevention; opioid misuse and overdose prevention; and problem gambling awareness. The HPS I oversees project management, public relations activities, and social media for advertising campaigns designed to effectively reach multiple priority target groups. The HPS I supports branch-wide communications policy, messages, priorities, and strategies in the use of media to prevent risky substance use and promote behavioral health and wellness. The HPS I provides consultation in relevant meetings with local, state, and federal agencies, and community organizations. Limited in-state travel (10%) with occasional overnight stays are required.

If new to California state service, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. If you are a current state employee, but do not have transfer eligibility or list eligibility, you will need to have taken and passed the examination for this classification in order to be hired for this position. Please go to CalHR’s website to review the exam bulletin:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Telework Information :

This position may be eligible for telework. The amount of telework permitted is at the discretion of the Department and is subject to change, consistent with CDPH’s Telework Program. All employees who telework are required to be California residents in accordance with Government Code 14200. Candidates who reside outside of the state of California may be interviewed; however, the selected candidate must have a primary residency in the state of California prior to appointment (and continue to maintain California residency) as a condition of employment. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the job offer being rescinded.

Travel may be required for this position. Reimbursement for travel takes into consideration an employee’s designated headquarters, as reflected in the duty statement, and is subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. All commute expenses to the designated headquarters office will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

The headquarters office location for this position is identified in the attached duty statement.

Please let us know how you heard about our position by taking this brief survey:

Special Requirements

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Employment Application (STD 678) and/or Resume, including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYYY) .  Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed State application (STD. 678) and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers Account. Please reference Job Control # 479348 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers Account at Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application.

If you are unable to submit your application electronically through your CalCareers account, please email apply@cdph.ca.gov for assistance and a CDPH Human Resources Division staff member will contact you to assist with the online application process or, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method as explained in the How to Apply section below. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Understands how the historical, systemic, institutional, and community environments shape health equity.
• Works with a high degree of initiative, responsibility, independence, and accountability, producing high-quality work products with minimal supervision.
• Prioritizes and effectively manages multiple complex projects.
• Shows flexibility and forward-thinking while managing multiple shifting priorities.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills with clarity.
• Possesses strong organizational and project management skills.
• Experience with:
  • Public health, particularly in the field of behavioral health (e.g., substance use, misuse, addiction, nutrition, tobacco).
  • Policy, systems, and environmental change strategies.
  • High-profile or sensitive issues.
  • Health communications.  

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions:

Applicants must submit a Statement of Qualifications with specific and relevant examples that addresses how their experience, training, and education relate to the duty statement. The Statement of Qualifications must be no more than two pages, single-spaced, using 12-pt font.

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see Statement of Qualifications instructions below at end of posting .  Any applications received that  do not provide a written response to the SOQ may be rejected .

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Contract work, Local area, Remote job, Shift work, Night shift,

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