Environmental/Deputy Health Director

Summary Description:

This is a senior leadership position responsible for supporting the Health Administrator in developing and providing vision for the ongoing efforts of the Health District, for building partnerships across the community to improve the public’s health, and mobilizing the passions and expertise of the health districts staff and volunteers to accomplish its mission.

The Deputy Health Director works with the Health Administrator, the Health District team, and other community partnerships to plan, implement, and evaluate Health District initiatives and services. The Deputy Health Director will oversee the operations of the Health District and perform complex professional and administrative work. This includes supervising more than 40 Health District team members, with the help of four senior Health District leaders.

To ensure the highest level of services are provided, additional duties and responsibilities may be

assigned as needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

PROGRAMMATIC DUTIES

• Provides administrative support to the Health Administrator and the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health so that they can effectively fulfill their responsibilities.

• Informs the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health and the Health Administrator about financial status, service delivery, program developments and circumstances/factors that may influence the capability of the Health District.
• Prepares the monthly Board of Health meeting agenda and both written and oral reports to support the Board of Health’s decision-making processes.
• Acts as Liaison between the Health Administrator, and the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health and technical advisory committees.
• Assures that the Board of Health and the Health Administrator are fully informed as to current public health issues active or anticipated in the District, the implications of them and proposed options for action to deal with them, by the Health District or its partners.
• Leads the Chelan-Douglas Health District team in implementing the direction of the Health Administrator, and the Board of Health and ensures compliance with statutes and regulations pertaining to public health.

• • Coordinates with the Fiscal Director to oversee budget and financial management and maintains financial reporting systems that provide an accurate depiction of the financial status of the Health District.
  • Builds organizational capabilities to provide foundational public health services.
  • Ensures accountability and compliance with grants and contracts.
  • Coordinates with the Communicable Disease and Epidemiology team and reviews information about the health needs of all segments of Chelan and Douglas Counties.
  • Coordinates with the Health Administrator and the District Health Officer as that person carries out their responsibilities as authorized by Washington State law and the Chelan-Douglas Health District Code.

• Responsible for supporting the Regional Emergency Response Coordinator (RERC) and Local Emergency Response Coordinator (LERC) in response to public health emergencies. This includes public health impacts of all-hazards emergencies, as well as institutionalizing and maintaining the capability for applying the incident command structure with other emergency response partners.
  • Provides leadership to the multi-county Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) region that includes Grant and Okanogan counties.
  • Provides for on-call response to public health emergencies.
  • Ensures the Health District has up to date emergency response plans and Continuity of Operations Plans, in coordination with the Regional Emergency Response Coordinator (RERC).

• Regularly communicates information regarding public health and the mission of the health district to the public through publications, meetings and the media.
  • Coordinates with the Communication and Language Access Director and team to facilitate the comprehensive public relations and marketing plan that includes the use of the media, website, promotional materials, etc. in order to inform the community about Health Department services and public health issues.
  • Represents public health needs to state agencies/organizations, State legislators and National organizations.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

• Develops an annual balanced budget and works with the Health Administrator, and the Chelan-Douglas Board of Health to finalize and publish the budget.
  • Develops fee schedules, billing and collection practices within Board policy.
  • Maintains a clear and transparent audit trail.
• Seeks and secures funding, strategically, from diversified sources including but not limited to Federal and State grants, local government appropriations and private sector partnerships.
  • Ensures proper administration and coordination of grant funded programs and activities.
  • Ensures grant reports are accurate, completed and submitted according to funder requirements.

MANAGERIAL, PROFESSIONAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• Creates and maintains an organizations climate of trust, respect, mutual accountability, teamwork, communication and professionalism that honors the skills that the health district team commits to the organization each day.
  • Models a growth mindset and leadership skills for both the health district’s team members and community partners.
  • Strives to be a leader among local, state and national public health organizations, seeking opportunities to share lessons learned and insights in publications and at conferences and meetings.
  • Actively engages team members in problem solving, planning and policy development in order to create a resilient organization.
• Provides administrative oversight with the Health Administrator, and the Chelan-Douglas Health District.
  • Establishes the District’s administrative policies and procedures in collaboration with the Management Team.
  • Develops and implements succession plans and professional development strategies for all team members.
• Maintains reliable systems for all aspects of employee supervision to include hiring, development, evaluation, disciplinary action and termination.
  • Coordinates with the local labor union as a partner in creating an organizational climate of mutual trust and accountability.
  • Coordinates with Human Resources.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

• Work with the Health Administrator, Operations and Communications teams to responsibly manage the information created, accessed, collected and shared by the Chelan-Douglas Health District.
  • Oversee district compliance with all HIPAA laws, rules and standards.
  • Maintain systems for retaining and releasing District information in compliance with all state and federal laws, rules and requirements.
  • Works with contracts staff and operations teams to regularly evaluate District information systems and data sharing agreements.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to independently manage work assignments to insure timely work products.
• Ability to use standard PC applications and other technology as applicable.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in a wide variety of circumstances and to people of differing levels of understanding.
• Excels at working in a team. Is patient and objective in difficult situations and with different types of people.
• Strong analytical skills, with an ability to troubleshoot, problem-solve and effectively and efficiently make decisions.
• Improves the CDHD overall effectiveness by developing and implementing solutions and applying continuous improvement practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Strong communication skills with external and internal personnel to include:
  • Active listening skills.
  • Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in English.
  • Ability to clearly explain technical subjects to internal and external personnel
  • Alleviate tension when the need arises.
  • Strong business management and people relationship skills used to make decisions on what and when to communicate with others.
• Become and remain knowledgeable of company policies and procedures; Implement new policies, procedures and company initiatives as assigned.
• Identify concerns immediately and determine ways to resolve them quickly.

Required Qualifications (Minimum):

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Public Health, Biological Sciences or related health field.**
• An equivalent combination of experience, education and training, which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities, may be accepted.
• Five (5) years progressively more complex experience in public administration, health care administration or administering public health programs and/or policies.

Desired Qualifications:

• Background in Operations, Fiscal, Environmental Health or Communicable Disease/Epidemiology is preferred.
• The ideal candidate will be capable of functioning and excelling in a bicultural environment and in a culturally competent manner for the communities in the District.
• Demonstrated ability of communicating effectively in both English and Spanish (reading, writing, speaking and understanding).
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing health equity and willingness to help address the health needs of historically underserved populations.
• A working knowledge of computer software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, medical records, etc.
• A working knowledge of Grant application and Grant management.

**A combination of education, training, and experience which has provided theoretical and practical knowledge will be evaluated for equivalency.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess distance, color and depth, required to regularly communicate with others and exchange accurate information.
• Able to operate a computer and other office productivity equipment, able to remain stationary at a computer for extended periods and move around their assigned workspace.
• Frequently move up to 25 pounds and occasionally move up to 50 pounds.
• Required PPE, facial mask.