Public health organizations often need part-time or temporary support to meet changing demands. In some cases, filling a permanent position takes longer than expected; in others, a short-term project requires specialized expertise that is not available in-house. The Public Health Professional Services (PHPS) program is designed to meet these unique workforce needs by connecting organizations with qualified public health professionals when and where support is needed most.

PHPS serves a wide range of organizations, including local health departments, professional associations, community action organizations, state agencies, healthcare providers, and other organizations that require staff with public health experience.

Assignments available through PHPS vary widely. If your organization has a need—even one that is unique or highly specialized—we encourage you to reach out. PHPS maintains a diverse roster of public health professionals with a broad range of skill sets.

PHPS commonly supports organizations by filling professional vacancies, including:

• Time-limited vacancies: Coverage for employees on maternity, paternity, or family/medical leave

• Transitions: Temporary staffing support when an employee retires, resigns, or is reassigned

• Start-up vacancies: Interim professionals who help launch programs or projects while a permanent hire is being recruited

Examples of assignments previously filled through PHPS include:

• Contact tracing
• Accreditation specialists
• Epidemiologists
• Community health specialists
• Grant managers
• Health communication specialists
• Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS)
• Public health nurses
• Registered dietitians
• Strategic planners
• Billing specialists
• Laboratory technicians
• Project managers
• Subject matter experts

Assignments may vary in length from a few hours, to a week, to several months. PHPS will match consultants with assignments based on the consultants availability. Contracts can be renewed if needed.

Some assignments may require work in the field, others may take place in the organization’s office space, and others might be completed virtually by a contractor working from home.

No, OPHA membership is not required to register as a consultant or to be considered for a PHPS assignment. That said, we would love to have you join OPHA to advocate, educate, and engage in public health across Ohio. Visit our membership page to learn more about the benefits of joining.

Organizations are also not required to be OPHA members to utilize PHPS contractors. However, administration fees are waived or reduced for organizations that are OPHA members.

Assignments through PHPS are classified into two types of contracts:

Type A – Independent Contractor:

• Contractors are classified as independent contractors with OPHA.

• The client organization pays a fee to OPHA, which covers the contractor’s payment, recruitment, management, and contract logistics.

• Contractors sign a contract with OPHA and receive payment directly from OPHA, not from the client organization.

• Independent contractors are not eligible for fringe benefits such as pension (including OPERS), health insurance, life insurance, retirement, unemployment insurance, or workers’ compensation.

Type B – OPHA Employee Contracted to an Agency:

• Contractors are classified as employees of OPHA and assigned to the client organization.

• OPHA employees are not eligible for fringe benefits such as pension (including OPERS), health insurance, life insurance, or retirement.

• OPHA does provide workers’ compensation and unemployment coverage as required by law.

Type A Contract- As independent contractors, contractors are responsible for any and all income taxes. OPHA will not withhold any taxes from paid wages. If the contractor’s pay exceeds $600 in a calendar year, OPHA will provide tax form 1099 at the end of the year.

Type B Contract- Contractors listed as OPHA employees will receive a W2 and have taxes withheld.

Payment details for each assignment are outlined in the contract and may vary depending on the nature of the work. Examples include:

• An hourly wage paid on a monthly basis
• A lump sum paid upon completion of agreed-upon deliverables

OPHA handles all payroll and payment processing, including setting up contractors in ADP for direct deposit. This relieves the client organization of payroll responsibilities.

For hourly assignments, OPHA will issue a monthly invoice to the agency covering the contractor’s time and associated fees.

Contractors are paid monthly via direct deposit through ADP. The PHPS manager will set up each contractor in ADP at the start of the contract.

When a public health agency has staffing or project needs, they contact PHPS. The PHPS manager works with the organization to clearly define the skills, experience, and other requirements needed for the assignment.

Next, the PHPS manager reviews the PHPS roster and identifies potential contractor matches. The client organization can then interview the selected candidates or request a candidate sight unseen.

Once a candidate is chosen, PHPS coordinates with both the client organization and the contractor to finalize contract logistics and the terms of a mutually agreed-upon contract.

We will make our best effort to match contractors with appropriate positions.  Unfortunately, however, we cannot guarantee that you will be offered an assignment.  The number of assignments available or likelihood of assignments a position will depend on how closely your skills and qualifications match the submitted needs.

PHPS is primarily designed to support short-term, temporary, or part-time staffing needs. However, if an organization requests assistance in filling a full-time position, PHPS can help identify qualified candidates.

If you are seeking a permanent position, we also recommend regularly checking the OPHA Job Mart page for the latest opportunities.

Your registration status and all personal information with PHPS are kept private. In the selection process, a redacted resume may be shared with client organizations. Your full information will only be shared once you have indicated interest in a specific assignment.

We recommend reviewing your current employer’s policies to ensure that taking on outside work does not create a conflict of interest or violate any employment agreements.

PHPS is committed to ensuring that each assignment is a positive and mutually beneficial experience for both the client organization and the contractor. The PHPS manager checks in monthly during assignments to address any issues and collect feedback.

At the conclusion of each assignment, PHPS solicits feedback from both the client and the contractor. This information is used to assess outcomes and make improvements to the program as needed.

No. We hate spam as much as you do!  We pledge to keep all communication limited and will not share your contact information outside of OPHA.

We will contact you if we have determined that there is a potential assignment for you, and to provide periodic news or changes regarding the PHPS program.  We will not send daily or weekly communications to list-serves.

It is not our intent to replace, displace, or conflict with employee unions. PHPS is designed to fill temporary and/or short-term contracting needs rather than full-time union-filled positions.  In fact, temporary PHPS contractors can keep work moving forward while your agency seeks to fill the position with a long-term union employee.

No. Participating in an OPHA assignment does not impact your OPERS status.

OPHA serves as a staffing and administrative organization that hires employees and independent contractors to complete work on behalf of other agencies. This arrangement does not change OPERS eligibility because OPERS participation is based on the employer of record, not the location of the work or the agency being supported.