Public Health Expertise Guiding Every Search
The Public Health Network was created to help public health organizations recruit the talent they need to build strong teams, sustain mission-critical work, and navigate an evolving workforce.
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We are a specialized recruitment and executive search firm focused exclusively on public health. Our work is grounded in applied public health experience, workforce development insight, and a deep understanding of the organizations, roles, and candidates that shape this field.
When Hiring Requires More Than a General Approach to Recruitment
Public health roles are often complex, multidisciplinary, and deeply connected to community impact. The right candidate may need technical expertise, operational judgment, relationship-building skills, funding awareness, and the ability to work across systems and communities.
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General recruiting approaches can miss that nuance.
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The Public Health Network exists because public health organizations deserve a search partner who understands the field — not just the job title. We help organizations clarify what the role requires, reach candidates who may not be actively applying, and make thoughtful hiring decisions that support both the work and the team.
Meet Brooke Mootry, MSW, CHES
Brooke Mootry, Founder/CEO
Brooke Mootry is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Network, a national recruitment and executive search firm dedicated exclusively to public health.
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With more than 20 years of experience across public health, workforce development, and talent acquisition, Brooke understands public health professionals and the organizations that hire them. Her background includes work in local and state public health, nonprofit settings, program leadership, workforce initiatives, grants management, and recruitment strategy.
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Through The Public Health Network, Brooke partners with health departments, public health institutes, associations, foundations, and mission-driven organizations to recruit executives, senior professionals, and specialized talent who can strengthen teams and advance public health outcomes.
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Brooke brings a practical, thoughtful, and field-informed perspective to every search. She understands that hiring is not just about qualifications on paper. It is about the role, the organization, the timing, the team, and the conditions needed for someone to succeed.
Where Context Improves the Search
Our public health background shapes how we approach recruitment.
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We understand that roles in this field often sit at the intersection of programs, funding, partnerships, policy, data, operations, and community trust. We also understand that hiring decisions may involve CEOs, HR teams, boards, search committees, funders, public-sector partners, or staff who know the work from the inside.
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That perspective helps us ask sharper questions, develop stronger candidate profiles, and guide clients through a more informed search process.
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Our approach helps clients:
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Clarify the scope, priorities, and expectations of the role.
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Identify the experience and qualities needed for success in the organization.
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Position the opportunity clearly and credibly for the right audience.
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Reach public health professionals beyond the active applicant pool.
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Evaluate candidates with structure, consistency, and care.
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Support decision-makers through an organized and transparent process.
Specialized, Principal-Led, and Public Health Focused
Public Health Specialization
We focus exclusively on public health and mission-driven organizations whose work improves the health of communities and populations.
Applied Experience
Our work is informed by firsthand experience in public health practice, program management, workforce development, and recruitment.
Principal-Led Partnership
Clients have direct access to experienced search leadership throughout the engagement, from discovery through selection.
Strategic Sourcing
We go beyond posting and waiting. We conduct direct outreach to active and passive candidates across public health and adjacent fields.
Comprehensive Candidate Assessment
We evaluate more than credentials. We consider experience, motivation, communication, judgment, alignment, and readiness for the role.
Clear Communication
Our clients stay organized, informed, and aligned throughout the search.
Supporting Organizations across Public Health
The Public Health Network works with organizations advancing public health through practice, policy, research, advocacy, and systems change.
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We support:
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Health departments
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Public Health Institutes
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Associations and Membership Organizations
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Foundations and Philanthropic Organizations
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National and Community-Based Nonprofits
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Research, Policy, and Evaluation Organizations
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Public Health Networks and Coalitions
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Mission-Driven Organizations with Public Health Initiatives
A Focused Search Partner With Extended Capacity
The Public Health Network uses a principal-led model supported by recruitment, research, project coordination, and candidate-management capacity as needed.
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This allows clients to receive direct strategic guidance while also benefiting from the structure and follow-through needed to manage a search well.
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Every engagement is shaped around the organization’s needs, timeline, decision-making process, and desired outcomes.