State Program Director Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $5,751.00 - $11,284.00 Monthly
Location : Baton Rouge, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: OS/SP/222183
Department: LDH-Office of Secretary
Opening Date: 06/11/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
About this Job
The mission of the Louisiana Department of Health is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive, and rehabilitative services for all residents of the State of Louisiana.
Learn more about Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is seeking a collaborative and innovative professional to support the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a statewide initiative focused on strengthening healthcare access and sustainability in Louisiana's rural communities. In this highly visible role, you will partner with executive leaders and healthcare organizations to evaluate financial performance, develop innovative sustainability strategies, and provide recommendations that improve operational efficiency and support long-term success. If you're ready to drive meaningful change and make a statewide impact, we encourage you to apply and help shape the future of healthcare in Louisiana.
This position is filled as a Job Appointment (JA), a temporary appointment that may last up to 48 months. Selection into this position does not constitute a permanent appointment, and continued employment beyond the appointment period is not guaranteed.
Minimum Qualifications
Seven years of experience in developing, managing, or evaluating health or social service programs; or in public health, public relations, social services, health services, health regulation, or administrative services; OR
Six years of full-time work experience in any field plus four years of experience in developing, managing, or evaluating health or social service programs; or in public health, public relations, social services, health services, health regulation, or administrative services; OR
A bachelor's degree plus four years of experience in developing, managing, or evaluating health or social service programs; or in public health, public relations, social services, health services, health regulation, or administrative services; OR
An advanced degree or a Juris Doctorate plus three years of experience in developing, managing, or evaluating health or social service programs; or in public health, public relations, social services, health services, health regulation, or administrative services.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:

• Lead sustainability planning efforts across multiple rural healthcare transformation initiatives.
• Conduct financial assessments of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations.
• Identify risks, opportunities, and long-term sustainability strategies for funded programs.
• Work with executive leadership, providers, consultants, and financial stakeholders to develop sustainable operating models.
• Evaluate business plans, financial projections, and funding requests.
• Develop recommendations related to reimbursement, financing, operational efficiency, and long-term financial viability.
• Present findings and recommendations to executive leadership and external stakeholders.

Position-Specific Details:
Specialized Experience Preferred

• Significant experience in healthcare finance, strategic planning, healthcare operations, or healthcare consulting.
• Deep understanding of rural healthcare financial challenges and sustainability strategies.
• Knowledge of hospital, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Rural Health Clinic (RHC), behavioral health, and provider payment models.
• Familiarity with Medicaid supplemental payments, cost-based reimbursement, value-based payment arrangements, and other healthcare financing mechanisms.
• Experience evaluating organizational financial performance using metrics such as operating margin, days cash on hand, cost per patient, payer mix, service line performance, and financial runway.
• Understanding of healthcare capital planning, debt financing, public-private partnerships, tax strategies, and long-term sustainability planning.
• Experience advising executive leadership on financial transformation initiatives.

Location: Office of the Secretary / Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability / East Baton Rouge Parish
Appointment Type: This position will be filled as a Job appointment (temporary appointment that may last up to 48 months). Current classified state employees should carefully consider the temporary nature of this Job Appointment. Acceptance of a temporary appointment may affect leave balances in accordance with applicable Civil Service rules and agency policy. Applicants are encouraged to review the implications of accepting a temporary appointment before applying.
Cost Center: 3071220300
Position Number(s): 50693065
How To Apply
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Contact Information:
Shambrielle Pooler
LA Department of Health (LDH)
Division of Human Resources
PO Box 4818
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
225-342-6477
This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.
LDH supports Louisiana's commitment to being a State as a Model Employer (SAME) by promoting the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.
Information on the Louisiana Works, Louisiana Rehabilitation Services is available .
LDH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to recruit a highly productive and diverse workforce and will provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and prospective employees. Employment decisions shall be based strictly on merit and without regard to religious or political beliefs, sex, race, or any other non-merit factor.
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at
Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement- State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (), among others

01
This position will be filled as a Job appointment only. Job appointments may last up to 48 months. Acknowledge by checking "Yes" that you understand this is a temporary position.

• Yes

02
Describe your experience with healthcare financial planning and sustainability initiatives. Type N/A for no experience.
03
Describe your experience working with hospitals, FQHCs, rural providers, or healthcare systems. Type N/A for no experience.
04
Explain your experience evaluating healthcare financial performance and organizational sustainability. Type N/A for no experience.
05
Describe your experience with Medicaid reimbursement, supplemental payments, or value-based payment models. Type N/A for no experience.
06
Describe your experience developing strategic or financial sustainability plans. Type N/A for no experience.
07
To ensure compliance with LDH Nepotism Policy#41, if you have any immediate family members that are currently employed by LDH, please list the name and relationship. Please type "N/A" if no immediate family members are employed by LDH.
Required Question