Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Public health administrator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted experts

Patrick Lane,

Jessica Cataldo Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical public health administrator skills. We ranked the top skills for public health administrators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.0% of public health administrator resumes contained public health programs as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a public health administrator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 public health administrator skills for your resume and career

1. Public Health Programs

Here's how public health administrators use public health programs:

Liaised to the media regarding public health programs and campaigns.
Interpreted complex legislative policies for managing public health programs.

2. Health Promotion

Health promotion refers to programs aimed at engaging and empowering individuals to select healthy behaviors.

Here's how public health administrators use health promotion:

Conducted annual staff development seminars related to health promotion, professional communications and positive customer service skills.
Provided liaison between hospital and community resources for health education and health promotion.

3. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is the non-financial assistance provided by local or international specialists. The purpose of technical assistance is to maximize the project's implementation and quality of the final product. Technical assistance consists of sharing information, the transmission of working knowledge, and other transfer of technical data which would aid the administration, management team and help build the project. The technical assistance focuses on particular needs identified by the beneficiary country and is delivered in the form of missions.

Here's how public health administrators use technical assistance:

Provide technical assistance and education to VFC providers including training on basic reporting functions in the Washington Immunization Information System.
Provided technical assistance to major hospitals regarding diagnosis and treatment, and performed case management and community outreach counseling.

4. Infectious Disease

Infectious disease refers to an illness or disorder caused by a small organism. These organisms may be bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses and can cause a variety of symptoms in the exposed person. Some of these organisms can jump from one person to another, which spreads the infectious disease between individuals.

Here's how public health administrators use infectious disease:

Participate in the delivery and evaluation of public health intervention activities related to infectious diseases or emerging infectious diseases.
Conduct arriving international passengers with one to one public health assessment to minimize impact of infectious disease in the USA.

5. Provide Technical Assistance

Here's how public health administrators use provide technical assistance:

Participate in over 20 site visits to provide technical assistance on advancing health equity.
Provide technical assistance as needed.

6. Departmental Policies

Here's how public health administrators use departmental policies:

Directed the development of departmental policies, prepared productivity reports, employee evaluations, minutes and agendas.

7. TB

Here's how public health administrators use tb:

Performed medical record audits and other analysis at medical care facilities to determine quality of TB medical management.
Developed and maintained effective working relationship with all facilities involved in TB management and treatment.

8. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how public health administrators use data collection:

Handled operational aspects of the project including writing survey questions, interviewing community members and ensuring consistency of data collection.
Monitored the feasibility and sustainability of Program activities through self-reported data collections and statistical analysis.

9. Public Health

Here's how public health administrators use public health:

Facilitated community groups, academic and research professionals and student teams to achieve specific public health goals.
Managed all day-to-day aspects of the Public Health agency and the Home Health & Hospice portion.

10. Community Agencies

Community agencies stand for the organizations operated to provide human service in the community.

Here's how public health administrators use community agencies:

Promote cancer prevention, refer patients with social and emotional problems to other community agencies for assistance
Volunteered and collaborated with community agencies and leaders.

11. Community Organizations

Community organizations refers to a form of social or volunteer work that focuses on bettering a community. This may be a community defined by geographic boundaries or by a person's racial or sexual identity. These organizations are often nonprofits that help groups of people affected by natural disasters or hate crimes.

Here's how public health administrators use community organizations:

Interacted with community organization and established coalitions to bring tobacco control issues within their agenda and community.
Designed and implemented in collaboration with other community organizations, activities for World AIDS Day.

12. Immunization

Here's how public health administrators use immunization:

Design new survey tool using qualitative and quantitative methods to monitor and evaluate quality of immunization programs at county health departments.
Worked with Immunization Program staff and other community partners to increase access to immunizations to special populations through outreach clinics.

13. Local Agencies

Here's how public health administrators use local agencies:

Recruited local agencies and community leaders for participation.
Reviewed and assisted with processing of grant distributions to local agencies.

14. Budget Revisions

Here's how public health administrators use budget revisions:

Draft contractual work statements and budgets including SAF's (Subsequently Available Funds), Budget Revisions and Budget Revision Rollovers.
Prepared documents for grant agreements, sole source agreements, budget revisions, and amendments to grant agreements and budgets.

15. Community Health Education

Here's how public health administrators use community health education:

Assessed individual and community health education needs based on demographic statistical data.
Assessed patient and community health education needs.

What skills help Public Health Administrators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on public health administrator resumes?

Patrick Lane

Vice President, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Everyone says they’re a good communicator and that they can analyze complex problems, but really being able to do this (and show evidence of it) sets applicants apart. This can be in the form of written reports, briefs, blogs, papers, etc., but being able to show that you can think about complex things and render them into easily communicable “bites” is a terrific skill.

What soft skills should all public health administrators possess?

Jessica Cataldo Ph.D.

Assistant Professor & Internship Coordinator, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Much of health administration requires strong, soft skills, such as communication and leadership; however, technical skills are also important. Financial management, such as budgeting and revenue cycle management, billing/coding; project management; and data analysis skills are important. Additionally, computer skills are critical in today's environment. Medical and administrative software, such as electronic health records, are integral parts of every healthcare organization, and data analysis programs, such as Microsoft Excel or Tableau, are used regularly by administrators. And of course, we cannot overlook the importance of a strong understanding of the healthcare environment, such as an understanding of state and federal regulations.

What public health administrator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

John Rivera Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Guam

Self-care is extremely important. We need to find ourselves now, more than ever, on the other side of this pandemic. What that means for each one of us and, where we end up, is all going to be the work of the journey ahead. This pandemic has impacted us all in many ways, some of which we may not fully understand till more time has passed. In the meantime, don’t feel guilty for taking the time to get yourself grounded again and reacquainted with the new normal. However, just don’t forget that while you are taking time away the world will still turn.

Remember, the real purpose in a gap year is to not just to lounge around and do nothing. It really is an opportunity, and that opportunity will be what you make it. Dare to take the risk to grow, mature, and engage the new world around you. Just do it at least six feet away (at least until social distancing guidelines subside – lol). Fun is not the enemy – complacency is. The longer you stay away the harder it is to get back on track. Live, experience, and then make it mean something by re-engaging your purpose. Gap years should be used to help find your way not lose your way.

It is also without a doubt that this pandemic has pushed the need, use, integration and adoption of technology. Job aspirants that have a more adept propensity for technology will be assets. This is obvious. However, on the other side of the spectrum there is going to be an increased need for people to grow their soft skills. People will need help with the people stuff.

What type of skills will young public health administrators need?

Kip Miller

Adjunct Professor, Bowling Green State University

There are a few skills that will be necessary in the future. One is the flexibility to adapt to an ever-changing work environment. If COVID has taught us anything, it is that regional preparation for unpredictable emergencies cannot withstand the something like a global health-crisis, such as we see today. No one was prepared for such an issue. However, even with media-hyped problems, the healthcare industry responded in not before-seen quickness to the pandemic that necessitated quick decision-making and cooperation between all the disciplines within healthcare. The second skill is the ability to think. There is a fine balance between data collection and decision-making in a timely manner. Issues that could affect one single patient or issues that affect an entire population will continue to face the healthcare industry. Those who are able to take the information at hand and make wise choices will do well in the industry.

Do you want to know more?

List of public health administrator skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a public health administrator resume and required skills for a public health administrator to have include:

Public Health Programs
Health Promotion
Technical Assistance
Infectious Disease
Provide Technical Assistance
Departmental Policies
TB
Data Collection

Public Health
Community Agencies
Community Organizations
Immunization
Local Agencies
Budget Revisions
Community Health Education
CDC

Human Resources
Community Outreach
WIC
Chronic Disease
Care Plan
Public Presentations
Occupational Health
Delivery Systems

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse executive management jobs