Change and Contract Management Unit Chief

The Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) has been part of the nation’s nutrition safety net for 50 years.

Extensive research has found WIC to be a cost-effective investment that leads to healthier infants, more nutritious diets, health care for children, and subsequently higher academic achievement for students. WIC helps families receive healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other community services.

Like other divisions within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), WIC builds its program by addressing social determinants of health. WIC impacts the life course by promoting health practices that can ultimately improve life outcomes often experienced by vulnerable communities.

WIC serves babies and children up to age five, pregnant women, and new mothers. Dads, grandparents, foster parents of young children, and working families are welcome at WIC too!

Monthly, nearly one million WIC participants can find support at one of 84 local agencies which offer services at more than 500 sites throughout California. WIC participants can redeem their food benefits at approximately 3,800 grocers who are authorized to serve WIC families.

In 2019 - 2020, the WIC Division implemented an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card called the California WIC Card and a new management information system that will allow WIC participants to be served more efficiently.

This position supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by advancing the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. As an employee of the WIC Systems Integration Branch, this position serves as part of a team that provides support for various technologies that support and improve WIC program services.

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:

1. Ability to communicate effectively with staff at various levels, external agencies, and the general public
2. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to accurately review and edit documents
3. Ability to lead and support staff for system changes
4. Ability to coordinate User Acceptance Testing

Experience In:

1. Managing, prioritizing, and meeting multiple deadlines in a fast-paced work environment
2. Writing, editing, and formatting various types of correspondence
3. Analyzing complex program implementation problems and developing effective courses of action to solve them
4. Overseeing the development and monitoring of contracts

Knowledge Of:

1. State and federal policies and regulations as they relate to the WIC program
2. Data-driven decision-making techniques
3. Project management methodology
4. Time management best practices

How To Apply

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 CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.