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How to hire a director of health services

Director of health services hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring directors of health services in the United States:

  • The median cost to hire a director of health services is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per director of health services on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • There are a total of 14,565 directors of health services in the US, and there are currently 137,115 job openings in this field.
  • Portland, OR, has the highest demand for directors of health services, with 10 job openings.

How to hire a director of health services, step by step

To hire a director of health services, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a director of health services:

Here's a step-by-step director of health services hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a director of health services job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of health services
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of health services do?

A Director Of Health Services is responsible for evaluating and supervising the overall activities for health maintenance and promotion of a health department. They are also responsible for budgeting, procurement, and requisition of biological supplies and equipment.

Learn more about the specifics of what a director of health services does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    The director of health services hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a director of health services to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a director of health services that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of directors of health services.

    Type of Director Of Health ServicesDescriptionHourly rate
    Director Of Health ServicesMedical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. They might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians... Show more$25-57
    Nurse ManagerThe primary role of nurse managers is to supervise the nursing staff in a clinical or hospital setting. They are the ones who are in charge of patient care, setting work schedules, and making budgetary and management decisions... Show more$28-55
    Managed Care DirectorA managed care director is responsible for providing quality care services for the patients by supervising clinical operations and managing medical staff. Managed care directors review all the medical activities in the institution and disseminate communications across the organization... Show more$25-64
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Patient Care
    • Home Health
    • Oversight
    • Social Work
    • Quality Care
    • Resident Care
    • Public Health
    • CPR
    • Behavioral Health
    • Mental Health
    • Quality Improvement
    • Rehabilitation
    • Medication Management
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Complete comprehensive assessments for all LTC residents which include managing falls, pain, skin integrity, and medications.
    • Assist residents with ADL's as needed.
    • Develop, expand and implement medical programs and health services that promote rehabilitation and health.
    • Direct management of the rehabilitation, employee health and occupational medicine departments.
    • Develop education programs for physicians on computer upgrades so they can locate patients and on-line documentation.
    • Generate electronic newsletters and distribute educational information to patients, patient families and sponsors regarding upcoming events.
    More director of health services duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the director of health services job description is a good way to get more applicants. A director of health services salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a director of health services in Montana may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level director of health services. Additionally, a director of health services with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average director of health services salary

    $80,298yearly

    $38.60 hourly rate

    Entry-level director of health services salary
    $53,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 23, 2026

    Average director of health services salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$117,607$57
    2New Jersey$102,166$49
    3Delaware$101,713$49
    4Washington$100,750$48
    5Massachusetts$100,453$48
    6District of Columbia$100,288$48
    7Oregon$96,590$46
    8New York$92,071$44
    9Oklahoma$84,028$40
    10Illinois$80,939$39
    11Michigan$80,126$39
    12Arizona$77,947$37
    13Minnesota$74,069$36
    14Florida$73,202$35
    15Colorado$72,626$35
    16Montana$70,967$34
    17Texas$66,913$32
    18Iowa$66,652$32

    Average director of health services salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Fairview Health Services$140,905$67.7421
    2PeaceHealth$125,307$60.249
    3CVS Health$124,112$59.67575
    4Santa Rosa High School$123,282$59.27
    5The Wonderful Company$116,284$55.911
    6Massachusetts General Hospital$112,425$54.05
    7Mercy Corps$110,810$53.2727
    8Wabtec Corporation$109,016$52.41
    9Aetna$104,823$50.40
    10Mt. San Antonio College$104,329$50.167
    11University of Maryland Medical System$103,958$49.9839
    12Kaiser Permanente$101,899$48.99255
    13Curry College$101,360$48.73
    14CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield$99,590$47.884
    15Hoag$99,152$47.679
    16Cognizant$99,149$47.678
    17AccentCare$98,542$47.3819
    18L.A. Care Health Plan$98,044$47.141
    19Sutter Health$97,844$47.0489
    20Columbia College$97,782$47.013
  4. Writing a director of health services job description

    A director of health services job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a director of health services job description:

    Director of health services job description example

    1. Evaluate internal mechanisms for monitoring healthcare coordination within each program on an ongoing basis.

    2. Supervise a medical quality assurance process in all residential programs.

    3. Evaluate and revise forms for documenting medical information in EVOLV.

    4. Provide consultation to each residential program around training plans.

    5. Facilitate and assist teams in the process of resolving medical issues/crises through developing interim medical care plans and/or by attending medical appointments as needed.

    6. Complete the clinical reviews associated with the Health Risk Screening Tool for all residential placements.

    7. Represent the agency at county and state meetings regarding healthcare issues.

    8. Oversee the medication administration training and process outlined in regulation.

    Personnel Management and Staff Development:

    1. Oversee nursing staff and provide clinical supervision when applicable.

    2. Develop and conduct training for staff in residential programs around healthcare

    issues.

    3. Facilitate in-person medication training for staff.

    4. Enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature and meetings.

    Other:

    1. Represent the organization at external meetings involving health related topics.

    2. Operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner at all times as outlined in the Motor Vehicle Safety Program Policy.

    3. Maintain regular and predictable attendance, and work scheduled overtime, or be available for unplanned overtime as necessary, to meet program needs.

    Requirements

    Requirements and Qualifications

    Education: Bachelors degree or RN in nursing required.

    Certification: Current PA nursing licensure required.

    Experience: Five years of nursing experience required, preferably experience working with individuals with intellectual disability or in psychiatric care.

    Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Excellent organizational and written/oral communication skills. Ability to effectively interact with all levels of staff. Ability to handle multiple priorities. Ability to effectively interact as part of a team. Knowledge of county and state licensing regulations. Knowledge of psychiatric care and treatment models. Knowledge of managed care principles as they pertain to obtaining healthcare. Familiarity with creating and implementing care plans for individuals in our care. Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, Microsoft Office Suite including Word and Outlook and use of the Internet.

    Essential Working Conditions/Physical Demands: Work in program sites and the community routinely providing direct care and/or support with client(s). Stand, sit or run by self, or to provide proper care and supervision with a client. Able to move and stay with a client to keep him/her safe, both in home environment and community, even when client may be difficult or uncooperative, both at near and far distances. Able to assist a client who has fallen, regardless of weight or size. Walk, climb stairs by self, or to provide direct care and/or support. Work in a standard office environment. Utilize desktop computer equipment on a daily basis. Able to lift or move items associated with sedentary work and moderate work (exert up to 50 lbs.) Travel to offsite locations and regional office locations if

    Benefits

    Compensation for 2022: Starting at $55,000, anually

    Benefits:

    • All employees: Mileage reimbursement and paid travel time between worksites; Discounts on various services, gyms & retail shopping; Referral bonuses, Employee Assistance Program
    • 30+ hours/week: 20 days of PTO; 401K, Health/Vision/Dental insurance; Health Savings Account; Life/Disability insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Student Loan Assistance

    At Access Services, we encourage and support career development and there are opportunities for you to learn and grow within our organization. We look forward to hearing from you!

    Access Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

    The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be constructed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required and do not restrict managements rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

    #TR123

  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right director of health services for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your director of health services job on Zippia to find and recruit director of health services candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit directors of health services, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of health services

    Once you've found the director of health services candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new director of health services first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a director of health services?

Recruiting directors of health services involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $80,298 per year for a director of health services, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for directors of health services in the US typically range between $25 and $57 an hour.

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