17 Public Health Program Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Public health program managers develop, implement, and oversee the operational aspects of public health programs. They work in a variety of settings, including public health departments, hospitals, and community health organizations.

To become a public health program manager, you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in public health or a related field. However, many employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree or higher. You will also need several years of experience working in public health or a related field.

If you’re looking for a job as a public health program manager, you will need to be prepared to answer a variety of interview questions. In this guide, we will provide you with some sample questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Are you familiar with the public health model known as the “four D’s”? If so, what are they?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of the public health field and how it relates to their organization. This is because many public health organizations use the four D’s model as a framework for understanding disease prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. Your answer should show that you understand what each “D” means and how they relate to one another.

Example: “The four D’s are detect, prevent, diagnose and treat. The first two steps in the process—detecting and preventing diseases—are crucial to keeping communities healthy. For example, if I notice an increase in cases of flu-like symptoms among children at my current job, I would work with other professionals to determine whether there was a need for additional testing or preventive measures. If we determined that there was a need for either, we would implement those measures immediately.”

What are the most important skills for a public health program manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to be successful in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to public health program management.

Example: “The most important skills for a public health program manager are communication, organization and problem-solving. As a public health program manager, I would need to communicate with many different people from various backgrounds about their projects. It’s also important to be organized when managing multiple projects at once. Finally, being able to solve problems is crucial because there will always be challenges that arise during my work.”

How would you rate your teamwork skills as a public health program manager? Can you provide an example of when you worked well with others?

Teamwork is an important skill for public health program managers to have. It’s common for them to work with other professionals in the field, such as epidemiologists and statisticians, so it’s important that they can collaborate effectively. When answering this question, you should describe your teamwork skills and provide a specific example of when you worked well with others.

Example: “I believe I have strong teamwork skills. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work on teams where we collaborated to solve problems and find solutions. In my last position, I was part of a team that developed a new method for tracking disease outbreaks. We all contributed our ideas and feedback to create a system that has been used by many different organizations.”

What is your experience with creating budgets for public health initiatives? Can you provide an example?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial management. They want to know how you use budgets to achieve goals and objectives, so they can understand if you have the skills necessary for the role. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a budget you created in the past and what steps you took to create it.

Example: “In my current position as public health program manager, I am responsible for creating the annual budget for our department. To do this, I first meet with each team leader to discuss their projects and initiatives for the upcoming year. Then, I work with them to determine which projects are most important and how much funding we need to allocate to each initiative. After that, I review all of the information from the meetings and compile it into a spreadsheet where I can calculate the total amount needed.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a project with a tight deadline. How did you manage the project and what tools did you use?

Interviewers ask this question to learn more about your time management skills and how you handle stressful situations. When answering, try to describe the project in detail and explain what tools you used to manage it effectively.

Example: “In my current role as a public health program manager, I have had to work on several projects with tight deadlines. One of these projects was creating a new website for our department’s outreach programs. The website needed to be informative and easy to navigate, so I worked with a web designer to create an attractive site that met all of our needs. We also wanted to include social media integration, which required me to learn more about coding languages. I learned some basic coding techniques to help us integrate social media into the website.”

If hired as a public health program manager, what would be your priorities? Can you provide an example?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a plan for success and can prioritize your time. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what you would do as a public health program manager and how you would achieve those goals.

Example: “If hired as a public health program manager, my first priority would be to ensure that all of our programs are reaching their objectives. I would evaluate each program to make sure they’re achieving their goals and making progress toward improving public health in the community. If any programs aren’t meeting expectations, I would work with the team to develop new strategies or improve existing ones.”

What would you do if you noticed that the results of a public health survey were inconsistent?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your critical thinking skills and how you would respond to a challenging situation. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to investigate the inconsistencies in the survey results and determine their cause.

Example: “If I noticed that the results of a public health survey were inconsistent, I would first try to understand why they are different from previous surveys. If I couldn’t find an explanation for the differences, I would contact the person who conducted the survey to discuss my concerns. After speaking with them, I would review the data myself to ensure it was accurate. If there were still inconsistencies, I would repeat the survey until I could confirm its accuracy.”

How well do you perform under pressure? Can you provide an example of a time when you had to complete a project on time?

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you had to complete a project on deadline. This can show the interviewer that you are capable of handling pressure and have experience with managing projects.

Example: “I am very comfortable working under pressure. In my last role as public health program manager, I was responsible for overseeing several different programs at once. One day, one of our programs experienced a technical issue that caused some data to become lost. I worked with my team to find a solution to fix the problem while also completing other tasks for the rest of the week. We were able to recover all of the lost data and continue with our normal operations.”

Do you have experience working with public health data? How do you analyze data to come up with solutions?

The interviewer may ask you this question to see if you have experience working with public health data and how you use it to improve your organization. Use examples from your past experience to show the interviewer that you can work with data and apply what you learn to make improvements in your department or organization.

Example: “In my previous role as a program manager, I worked with data every day. I used data to analyze our current programs and services to find out where we could improve them. For example, I once analyzed our vaccination rates for children and found that some areas of the county had lower vaccination rates than others. We then created a plan to increase those rates by creating more outreach programs in those areas.”

When is it appropriate to involve the media in public health campaigns?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to work with the media and public figures. They want to know that you can use these resources effectively when they’re necessary for a campaign’s success. In your answer, explain how you would determine whether or not it’s appropriate to involve the media in a public health campaign. You can also mention specific instances where you’ve worked with the media in the past.

Example: “I think it’s important to consider all of our options before involving the media in a public health campaign. I would first evaluate the goals of the campaign and decide if we could meet those goals without involving the media. If we need their help, I would then consider who is best suited to speak on behalf of the campaign. For example, I might choose someone from the medical community rather than a celebrity.”

We want to increase the number of people who get vaccinated for a certain disease. What strategy would you use?

This question can help the interviewer understand your public health knowledge and how you would apply it to their organization. Use examples from your experience that show you know what strategies are effective for increasing vaccination rates.

Example: “I would first assess why people aren’t getting vaccinated, such as if they don’t have access to a clinic or if there’s misinformation about the disease. Then I would develop a strategy to address those issues by either providing more clinics or educating the community on the facts of the disease. For example, in my last position, we wanted to increase vaccination rates for measles, so we sent nurses into communities where parents were hesitant to vaccinate their children. This helped us reach families who didn’t have easy access to medical care.”

Describe your experience with public speaking. What examples can you provide from your previous job?

Public health professionals often need to give presentations and speeches about their work. Employers ask this question to learn more about your public speaking experience, especially if you’re applying for a job that requires regular public speaking. When answering this question, try to describe the types of experiences you’ve had with public speaking. If you have any examples from previous jobs, feel free to share them.

Example: “I’ve given several presentations in my career as a public health professional. I usually present at community events or other gatherings where people can learn more about our department’s work. In my last position, I also presented regularly to my team members about new projects we were working on. This helped everyone stay informed about what was happening within the department.”

What makes you the best candidate for this public health program manager position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. They want someone who is passionate about public health and has experience managing a team of professionals. When you answer, make sure to highlight your relevant skills and abilities that match what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate.

Example: “I am highly organized and detail-oriented, which makes me a great fit for this position. I have worked as a program manager for several years now, so I know how to manage my time well and delegate tasks effectively. My communication skills are also strong, which means I can work with different types of people from all backgrounds. These skills make me the best candidate for this role.”

Which public health programs or initiatives do you have the most experience with?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your experience level and how you might fit into their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention programs or initiatives that are similar to those in the role you’re applying for.

Example: “In my current position as public health program manager, I oversee our immunization program. This includes managing the budget for the program, ensuring we have enough staff members to administer vaccines and overseeing the distribution of supplies. Another major responsibility is making sure all of our county’s children receive their required vaccinations by age two.”

What do you think is the most important thing for a public health program manager to remember?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what it takes to be a successful public health program manager. Use this question as an opportunity to highlight some of your most important skills and abilities, such as communication, organization or leadership.

Example: “The most important thing for a public health program manager to remember is that they are responsible for the well-being of their team members. As a public health professional, I know how important it is to take care of my colleagues because I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns they may have. I also know that if I am not taking good care of myself, then I cannot effectively manage my team.”

How often do you update your knowledge on public health trends and developments?

Employers ask this question to see if you are committed to staying up-to-date on the latest public health trends and developments. They want to know that you will be able to apply new information to your work as a program manager. In your answer, explain how you stay informed about current events in public health. Share any resources or publications you use to learn more about public health news.

Example: “I am passionate about public health because I believe it is an important field of study. To keep my knowledge fresh, I subscribe to several newsletters and blogs that discuss recent research and advancements in public health. I also attend conferences and seminars where experts share their insights into the latest public health issues.”

There is a new disease spreading in your area. What is your strategy for containing the disease?

This question is an opportunity to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you would take to contain the disease and how you would communicate with others about containment efforts.

Example: “I would first assess the situation by researching the symptoms of the disease and determining if there are any cases in my area. If I find that there are no current cases, I would contact local hospitals and healthcare providers to make them aware of the new disease so they can watch for possible cases. If I find that there are cases, I would immediately alert public health officials and begin contacting people who may have come into contact with infected individuals.”