Principal Technical Advisor

Overview

Overview will serve as a senior technical expert and trusted partner supporting jurisdiction-based public health systems strengthening initiatives. This role is part of the Program Development and Innovation team in the Programs and Innovation Office.

The Principal Technical Advisor will provide subject matter leadership across a portfolio of engagements with state, local, Tribal and territorial health departments, advancing systems-level change through applied systems thinking, design methodologies and implementation planning. This includes contributing technical expertise to initiatives focused on rural public health systems and communities. The Principal Technical Advisor will work closely with internal teams and external partners to guide jurisdictions from system analysis and visioning to actionable implementation plans.

The role synthesizes insights from field engagement, data and best practices to inform program strategy, improve public health system performance and support sustainable change.

In addition to supporting the portfolio of current work, the Principal Technical Advisor will play a key role in program development and the growth and scaling of the organization’s public health systems strengthening portfolio. This includes identifying emerging opportunities, contributing technical leadership to proposal development, shaping new engagement models and strengthening partnerships with jurisdictions. This role will help translate lessons learned from current engagements into scalable approaches, positioning the organization to expand impact and sustain systems strengthening efforts over time.

This position will combine deep, direct expertise in public health systems change with expertise in systems modeling, data-informed decision-making and implementation planning.

Atlanta-based candidates are preferred. Remote work arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates.

• Serve as a principal technical advisor and trusted partner to state, local, tribal and territorial health departments on public health systems strengthening.
• Lead systems-level analyses using applied systems thinking, design methodologies and data-informed approaches to identify priorities and leverage points for change.
• In collaboration with the CDC Foundation team, guide jurisdictions from system assessment and visioning through development of actionable, implementable plans.
• Translate complex system dynamics, data and stakeholder input into clear recommendations and practical decision-support tools.
• Provide subject matter leadership across a portfolio of jurisdiction-based engagements, ensuring technical quality and consistency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deliver integrated systems strengthening approaches.
• Synthesize insights from field engagement, data and best practices to inform program strategy and continuous improvement.
• Support the development and refinement of systems strengthening frameworks, tools and methodologies.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with jurisdictional leaders and external partners.
• Contribute technical leadership to business development efforts, including proposal development and scoping of new engagements.
• Identify emerging opportunities for public health systems strengthening and support portfolio growth.
• Translate lessons learned from current engagements into scalable and repeatable models.
• Represent the organization as a technical thought partner in meetings, workshops and convenings.
• Support staff by providing technical guidance and systems expertise.
• Perform other duties as required.

• Master's degree in public health, public policy, systems engineering, health administration or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience). PhD preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of direct professional experience applying public health systems strengthening approaches in real-world settings. Demonstrated leadership experience working with rural and/or Tribal jurisdictions required.
• Demonstrated direct, applied experience across more than one public health system model (e.g.,…