H-1B Visa Public Health Jobs
Public health roles in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, and program management regularly qualify as H-1B specialty occupations when tied to a relevant graduate degree. Government agencies, academic medical centers, nonprofits, and consulting firms all sponsor H-1B petitions for these positions, making it a viable path for internationally trained professionals.
See All Public Health JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 1,015+ Public Health jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 1,015+ Public Health jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Health roles.
Get Access To All JobsDescription
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks candidates for the position of Public Health Specialist II for the Shared Services Coordinator (SSC) role for the North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative (NSPHC). The specialist will work with the NSPHC, which includes the Cities of Chelsea and Revere and the Town of Winthrop, on a regional basis to ensure coordination, support, and delivery of shared public health services for the participating health departments and to support the collaborative’s participation in the state Public Health Excellence (PHE) grant program. The specialist will also work in partnership with the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), the Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH) NSPHC, and MAPC to advance other shared public health projects and to secure resources for shared service initiatives.
The PHE program is part of the state’s implementation of the Massachusetts Special Commission’s Blueprint for Public Health Excellence recommendations. The NSPHC has been in operation for more than ten years, encompassing collaborative efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, engage in regional community health assessment and improvement planning, and other initiatives focused on improving community health and reducing health inequities.
About MAPC:
MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities are sustainable development and preservation, advancing equity in the region, collaboration across municipal lines, and developing a climate-friendly and resilient region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 120 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.
MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office.
MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.
This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org.
About the Department:
The MAPC Public Health department is a multi-disciplinary team of planners and public health staff who use a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach to increase health equity and justice in the Metro Boston region. Priorities for the public health team’s work include addressing environmental and climate change risks to community health, support for local and shared public health efforts, advancement of healthy community design changes, and innovations to alter the root causes of health inequities.
The Senior Public Health Specialist will be supervised by the MAPC Director of Public Health. The specialist will work closely with the other NSPHC shared service staff and be in regular communications with Public Health Directors and staff from the three local public health departments. The specialist will also work closely with OLRH staff to ensure NSPHC work aligns with the PHE grant program and related MDPH shared services initiatives.
Responsibilities (including but not limited to)
- Support coordination of shared services staff in the NSPHC to ensure work meets local and state priorities;
- Manage the NPSHC shared service framework, in cooperation with municipal public health department leads, to set priorities for the shared staff to meet local, regional, and state public health priorities;
- Assist municipal public health departments to assess and examine local public health systems (e.g., data collection methods, use of software), to determine areas for potential coordination, and recommend potential new systems (e.g., inspectional software);
- Assist local public health departments with information collection related to new or ongoing shared public health services, assessment of shared services impact, and opportunities to improve delivery of shared services;
- Convene regular check-in meetings with local public health department Directors and public health staff;
- Support management of the shared service grant, including preparing annual workplans and budgets, regular monitoring of expenses, and satisfaction of relevant grant reporting requirements;
- Develop, engage, and maintain strong relationships with key community stakeholders, healthcare, human service-based and community-based organizations;
- Support grant applications and fundraising activities that can provide resources to sustain the shared service positions and increase opportunities for the group to address upstream health factors;
- Work with shared service and local public health staff within the NSPHC to design and implement program initiatives and special projects to improve health outcomes, including, but not limited to: trainings, communication, education, community outreach strategies, research projects, advocacy efforts, and grant writing;
- Use independent judgment and discretion to make decisions affecting the NSPHC staff and resources as it relates to unit operations/services and the three participating municipalities; and
- Perform other duties as required.
Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are a responsibility for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account and BlueBikes membership.
Qualifications
Candidates for this position should have at least six years of relevant work experience in the public health, social work, or community health worker fields or a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant work experience in the identified fields or Master’s degree and two years of work experience in the identified fields.
Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:
- Demonstrated history in program management and administration, preferably in a public health or a related field, and experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, such as municipal and public health officials;
- Demonstrated cultural competency with experience working with diverse, multi-lingual individuals and communities;
- Knowledge of the public health landscape in Massachusetts;
- Grant writing and reporting experience;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of formats including verbal and written communication with diverse audiences, while managing multiple priorities and tasks;
- Proficiency in standard office software including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel;
- Commitment to the role of public health in promoting racial justice and health equity;
- Ability to understand and interpret quantitative and qualitative data; and
- Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and daily access to a car for travel to meetings.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of the organization and function of state and local public health departments, as well as Boards of Health, in Massachusetts; and
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary ranges from $74,000 - $84,000, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to continued professional development.
This is a grant-funded position through June 2027, with the possibility to extend based on state funding and future programmatic needs.
How to Apply:
Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States. MAPC may consider sponsorship on a case by case basis.
MAPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead.
Description
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) seeks candidates for the position of Public Health Specialist II for the Shared Services Coordinator (SSC) role for the North Suffolk Public Health Collaborative (NSPHC). The specialist will work with the NSPHC, which includes the Cities of Chelsea and Revere and the Town of Winthrop, on a regional basis to ensure coordination, support, and delivery of shared public health services for the participating health departments and to support the collaborative’s participation in the state Public Health Excellence (PHE) grant program. The specialist will also work in partnership with the MA Department of Public Health (DPH), the Office of Local and Regional Health (OLRH) NSPHC, and MAPC to advance other shared public health projects and to secure resources for shared service initiatives.
The PHE program is part of the state’s implementation of the Massachusetts Special Commission’s Blueprint for Public Health Excellence recommendations. The NSPHC has been in operation for more than ten years, encompassing collaborative efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, engage in regional community health assessment and improvement planning, and other initiatives focused on improving community health and reducing health inequities.
About MAPC:
MAPC is the Regional Planning Agency (RPA) serving the people who live and work in metropolitan Boston. Our strategic priorities are sustainable development and preservation, advancing equity in the region, collaboration across municipal lines, and developing a climate-friendly and resilient region. We are guided by our regional plan, MetroCommon2050: Shaping the Region Together. MAPC’s staff includes approximately 120 full-time employees located in downtown Boston in a transit-accessible and bike-friendly office.
MAPC has a hybrid schedule, combining time in the office with remote work. Employees must reside within a commutable distance from MAPC’s Boston office.
MAPC strongly supports the professional development of each staff person, believing their growth to be consistent with the best interests of MAPC and the region. We encourage all our staff to develop new ideas to make MAPC’s planning and policy work more relevant and impactful, and to adapt to changing times.
This is an opportunity to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary, and innovative environment with professionals who are committed to building a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone who lives and works in Greater Boston. For more information about MAPC or MetroCommon2050, please visit www.mapc.org.
About the Department:
The MAPC Public Health department is a multi-disciplinary team of planners and public health staff who use a Health in All Policies (HiAP) approach to increase health equity and justice in the Metro Boston region. Priorities for the public health team’s work include addressing environmental and climate change risks to community health, support for local and shared public health efforts, advancement of healthy community design changes, and innovations to alter the root causes of health inequities.
The Senior Public Health Specialist will be supervised by the MAPC Director of Public Health. The specialist will work closely with the other NSPHC shared service staff and be in regular communications with Public Health Directors and staff from the three local public health departments. The specialist will also work closely with OLRH staff to ensure NSPHC work aligns with the PHE grant program and related MDPH shared services initiatives.
Responsibilities (including but not limited to)
- Support coordination of shared services staff in the NSPHC to ensure work meets local and state priorities;
- Manage the NPSHC shared service framework, in cooperation with municipal public health department leads, to set priorities for the shared staff to meet local, regional, and state public health priorities;
- Assist municipal public health departments to assess and examine local public health systems (e.g., data collection methods, use of software), to determine areas for potential coordination, and recommend potential new systems (e.g., inspectional software);
- Assist local public health departments with information collection related to new or ongoing shared public health services, assessment of shared services impact, and opportunities to improve delivery of shared services;
- Convene regular check-in meetings with local public health department Directors and public health staff;
- Support management of the shared service grant, including preparing annual workplans and budgets, regular monitoring of expenses, and satisfaction of relevant grant reporting requirements;
- Develop, engage, and maintain strong relationships with key community stakeholders, healthcare, human service-based and community-based organizations;
- Support grant applications and fundraising activities that can provide resources to sustain the shared service positions and increase opportunities for the group to address upstream health factors;
- Work with shared service and local public health staff within the NSPHC to design and implement program initiatives and special projects to improve health outcomes, including, but not limited to: trainings, communication, education, community outreach strategies, research projects, advocacy efforts, and grant writing;
- Use independent judgment and discretion to make decisions affecting the NSPHC staff and resources as it relates to unit operations/services and the three participating municipalities; and
- Perform other duties as required.
Evening events, occasional weekend events, and local travel are a responsibility for this position. MAPC does not require that you have a vehicle; however, you must have a valid driver’s license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC provides support for travel, including MBTA passes, a Zipcar account and BlueBikes membership.
Qualifications
Candidates for this position should have at least six years of relevant work experience in the public health, social work, or community health worker fields or a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant work experience in the identified fields or Master’s degree and two years of work experience in the identified fields.
Successful candidates for this position will demonstrate all or most of the following:
- Demonstrated history in program management and administration, preferably in a public health or a related field, and experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, such as municipal and public health officials;
- Demonstrated cultural competency with experience working with diverse, multi-lingual individuals and communities;
- Knowledge of the public health landscape in Massachusetts;
- Grant writing and reporting experience;
- Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a variety of formats including verbal and written communication with diverse audiences, while managing multiple priorities and tasks;
- Proficiency in standard office software including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel;
- Commitment to the role of public health in promoting racial justice and health equity;
- Ability to understand and interpret quantitative and qualitative data; and
- Valid Massachusetts driver’s license and daily access to a car for travel to meetings.
Preferred:
- Knowledge of the organization and function of state and local public health departments, as well as Boards of Health, in Massachusetts; and
- Multi-lingual and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience.
Compensation and Benefits:
The salary ranges from $74,000 - $84,000, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a full-time exempt position. MAPC offers excellent Massachusetts state employee benefits as well as a flexible, supportive, and family-friendly work environment and a commitment to continued professional development.
This is a grant-funded position through June 2027, with the possibility to extend based on state funding and future programmatic needs.
How to Apply:
Apply online at www.mapc.org/jobs. The position is open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume. Candidates selected to interview will be asked to submit three (3) references plus a sample of relevant writing or work product. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the USA and a valid driver's license and/or the ability to arrange transportation to meetings in different parts of the region. MAPC participates in E-Verify, which is a federal program that helps us to determine work eligibility in the United States. MAPC may consider sponsorship on a case by case basis.
MAPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a staff with a range of perspectives, experiences, and skillsets strengthens our work. We are committed to building a more equitable workplace that allows staff with diverse backgrounds and identities to thrive, grow, and lead.
See all 1,015+ Public Health jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Public Health roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Public Health
Verify your degree supports specialty occupation
H-1B approval for public health roles depends on proving your specific degree directly relates to the job duties. A general bachelor's won't always suffice. Cross-reference your credential against the O*NET profile for your target occupation before applying.
Target government contractors and academic medical centers
Federal contractors and academic medical centers file H-1B petitions more consistently than local health departments, which often lack in-house immigration counsel. Prioritize employers with existing USCIS filing history in public health or epidemiology roles.
Search verified H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Filter your job search on Migrate Mate to surface public health employers with confirmed H-1B LCA filing history. This cuts time spent approaching organizations that won't sponsor, letting you focus on genuinely viable opportunities.
Confirm prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your job title and location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to check the applicable wage level before entering salary discussions so there are no surprises during filing.
Request premium processing for time-sensitive positions
Public health roles tied to grant-funded projects or outbreak response have hard start dates. Ask your employer to file Form I-907 for premium processing, which gives USCIS a 15-business-day adjudication window instead of the standard multi-month timeline.
Clarify cap-exempt status if joining a university or nonprofit
Universities, affiliated research institutions, and qualifying nonprofits are cap-exempt employers. If you're joining one, your H-1B petition can be filed at any time of year, bypassing the April lottery entirely. Confirm cap-exempt status with your employer's HR team before your start date.
Public Health jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Public Health JobsPublic Health H-1B Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Do public health jobs qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Most do, but the qualifier is the degree requirement attached to the specific role. Epidemiologist, biostatistician, health policy analyst, and public health program manager positions typically qualify because they require at minimum a relevant bachelor's degree, and more commonly a master's in public health, epidemiology, or a related field. Generalist community health worker roles without a degree requirement usually don't qualify.
Which types of employers sponsor H-1B visas for public health roles?
Federal contractors, academic medical centers, schools of public health, state health department research arms, and global health consulting firms are the most active sponsors. Local health departments and smaller nonprofits sponsor less frequently due to limited immigration infrastructure. Use Migrate Mate to browse public health roles filtered specifically by employers with verified H-1B filing history.
Can I work for a public health agency on an H-1B?
Yes, federal and state government agencies can sponsor H-1B petitions, though the process differs slightly from private employers. Some agencies use third-party staffing arrangements. Tribal organizations and certain public health authorities affiliated with universities may qualify as cap-exempt, which means petitions can be filed year-round without waiting for the annual lottery.
How does the H-1B lottery affect public health job seekers?
The annual H-1B cap applies to most private-sector employers. USCIS accepts registrations in March and selects petitions by lottery for the 85,000 available slots, with a 20,000 subset reserved for U.S. master's degree holders. Public health professionals with a U.S. master's or doctoral degree get entered in both pools, improving selection odds. Cap-exempt employers like universities avoid the lottery entirely.
What happens to my H-1B status if my public health grant funding ends?
Your H-1B status is tied to your employer, not your funding source. If your position ends because a grant expires, you enter a 60-day grace period during which you can look for a new sponsoring employer. A new employer can file an H-1B transfer petition during this window. Acting quickly matters because the grace period doesn't extend, and working after it lapses violates your status.
See which Public Health employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Public Health Jobs