CHIEF, PUBLIC HEALTH, ADMINISTRATION / EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT HOMELESSNESS

FILING DATE:
Friday, July 5, 2024 at 8:30 a.m., Pacific Time (PT)

 This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met and is subject to closure without prior notice.

The LA County Board of Supervisors recently declared a local state of emergency for homelessness, and the County is working to revise and expand our response to help all who are affected. We are looking for qualified and passionate individuals to help us in the mission of addressing issues like housing, mental health, and substance use. If you are looking for a new career that will directly benefit the population of LA County, this may be the opportunity for you.

The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health is seeking qualified candidates to fill emergency Chief Public Health, Administration vacancies related to the homelessness crisis.

Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.

Before the end of your initial work period, you will be assessed on your work performance. This assessment will be weighted 100%.

Those who successfully pass the assessment will be considered for permanent appointment to Chief Public Health, Administration.

CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:

The three positions allocable to this class will have responsibility for one of three administrative programs:

1) direction and coordination of department-wide strategic planning activities, including healthcare needs and protections of County residents, development of community-oriented planning in service planning areas, and bridging program activities to departmental goals and objectives;

2) direction of evaluation activities conducted to determine the effectiveness of programs and services conducted by the Department of Health Services and by providers through contractual and MOU agreements, including accessibility of medical and preventive health services, health status changes of County residents, and geographical comparisons of service utilization; or

3) coordination and direction of department-wide policy analysis and development, including assurance of consistency with the mission and goals of the department and Public Health Programs, and consultation with local, state and federal officials regarding healthcare trends and policy.

These positions will evaluate the quality and effectiveness of all programs, specifically including all personal health services, related to their functional areas.

The Chief, Public Health, Administration within the Office of the Health Officer serves as the Chief Advisor to the County Health Officer (Chief Advisor). The Chief Advisor is responsible for providing direct and high-level strategic, organizational, and operational assessments and advice to the County Health Officer (Health Officer), and as needed, to the Health Officer’s direct reports, other members of the Executive Office, and the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Leadership Team. Further, the Chief Advisor supports activities directly related to the Health Officer’s legal authorities outlined in local and state laws and regulations, including issuance and implementation of local Health Officer Orders, declarations of local health emergencies, and other efforts aimed at controlling the spread of communicable disease or associated with environmental health and sanitation services and incidents. The Chief Advisor is also charged with additional duties as assigned by the County Health Officer.   The Chief, Public Health, Administration reports to the County Health Officer within the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Executive Office. 

Strategy & Advisement 

•  Conduct research, anticipate needs, and provide high quality insight and advice to inform strategic decision-making by the Health Officer on a range of matters including strategic, organizational, programmatic, operational and other emerging critical issues and as needed, to the:  

• Health Officer’s direct report

• Other senior members of the Executive Office  

• Provide consultative services to the Director and Chief of Staff on administrative matters and special projects, including liaising with labor, academic, and other County partners, recruiting and onboarding key staff, and ensuring coordinated responses to inquiries and requests from external partners, as requested by the Director. 

• Build and sustain knowledge of Health Officer authorities to protect the public’s health and the key issues and programs that fall within the Health Officer’s portfolio, and provide support, advice, and early engagement with planning, policy development, service delivery, and evolving issues. 
  Keep up to date and ensure awareness of relevant issues and developments which may impact DPH, alerting and advising the Health Officer on how to respond and what and when to escalate issues to the Director and Leadership Team. 

• Gather information and maintain internal and external awareness regarding county and department-wide priorities and other key initiatives to ensure the Health Officer is up to date and engaged appropriately.  

• Research, analyze, and coordinate information, generate recommendations, and develop presentation and reports to brief the Health Officer and other partners. 

• Provide strategic guidance and coordination for launching and evaluating frameworks, policies, trainings, programs, services, metrics, reports, and grants specifically aimed at promoting equity and eliminating gaps in health outcomes. 

Direct Services & Project Management  

• Undertake projects as required, on behalf of the Health Officer. 

• Operationalize solutions to urgent or ongoing issues within the Office of the County Health Officer.  

• Provide direct support services for:  

• Compliance-related activities and other preventive measures taken by the Health Officer.   

• Compliance-related strategies led by enforcement sections of the department.  

• Disease control activities related to mitigation of transmission and outbreaks.   

• Key processes and functions of the overall Executive Office, including convening DPH leaders, employees, and partners and developing departmentwide priorities that address community needs and complement Chief Executive Office and Board of Supervisors initiatives.

• Support activities that maintain and improve the functioning of the overall Executive Office, including serving as back-up for key Executive Office leaders, with particular emphasis on the operations of the Office of the Health Officer and the Office of the Director. 

• Maintain confidentiality and assist with other sensitive assignments and projects as directed by the Health Officer or as needed, by the DPH Director.

Relationship Management, Communications, & Engagement  

• Positively communicate, lead, encourage, and model commitment to DPH’s strategic direction, vision, values, and principles of equity.  

• Build and maintain effective working relationship with DPH divisions and multi-sector partners to build effective networks, enhance understanding and cooperation to achieve desired results, and proactively identify and manage emerging issues.  Manage complex working relationships with partners at all levels, in a discreet and confidential manner.   

• Maintain effective working relationships to bolster community engagement and coordinate equity efforts. 

• Ensure a highly collaborative approach in dealings across the department and provide ‘tough advice’ where required.  

• Contribute to building the strong reputation of the Executive Office across DPH. 

• Support efforts and convenings of federal, state, and local jurisdictions (e.g., U.S. Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, city health departments, state department of public health) and other stakeholders (e.g., business sector partners, faith based groups) to inform development and coordinated implementation of public health initiatives and legally enforceable mandates aimed at protecting and promoting the public’s health and eliminating disparities in health outcomes; resulting outcomes includes shared plans and mandates such as Health Officer Orders (HOOs), local ordinances, and emergency declarations.  

• Develop materials (e.g., talking points, presentations) for use by the Health Officer, ensuring adherence to preferred voice, style, and design.   

• Review, edit, and draft content that supports other DPH leaders (e.g., Director, Chief Deputy Director) during speaking engagements, executive-level meetings, and community events. 

• Write or edit progress reports and other communications for entities including the Chief Executive Office, Board Offices, and other external entities.  

• Inform community communications and engagement strategies for the DPH workforce and external partners.  

• Support development of communications-related plans and activities that have department-wide impact (e.g., grant writing, vendor solicitations, programmatic consultation). 

• Communicate implementation of local policies to Public Health and County staff, the public, and community and media partners, in both English and Spanish.  

Quality Improvement  

• Support quality improvement activities, including but not limited to Results Based Accountability (RBA), to foster collective responsibility for  and improvement of DPH’s performance.

• Ensure consistency and alignment between groups and promote solution seeking where there are legitimate differences.  

• Develop and report on performance measures to monitor overtime.  

• Write reports and make presentations to share resulting data with internal and external partners at various levels within the organization.   Develop and implement strategies to improve resulting data.  

Special Projects and Ad Hoc Matters   

• Convene, provide technical assistance, and lead or support special projects for key departmental leaders, including efforts related to strategic planning? coordination of services? multi-sector collaboration? community engagement? public health infrastructure and funding? public health advocacy? employee engagement? and other administrative functions (e.g., hiring, staff onboarding, annual performance evaluations for departmental executives, grant writing, policy review).  

Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of a Chief, Public Health, Administration. 

OPTION I —  Planning

A Master's degree* from an accredited college or university in Business, Public Health, Public Health Administration, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Urban Planning or a closely related field - AND - Five (5) years of experience directing/conducting strategic planning activities for a large health department** or other health care organization.

A Master's degree* from an accredited college or university in Business, Public Health, Public Health Administration, Sociology, Economics, Psychology or a closely related field - AND - Five (5) years of experience in directing large scale***, comprehensive****, formative*****, process, cost and impact evaluations of health services and/or public health interventions, or five (5) years of experience conducting public health or health care services evaluations in a large**, diverse public health or health care organization.

OPTION III — Policy Analysis and Development

A Master's degree* from an accredited college or university in Business, Public Health, Public Health Administration, Public Policy or a related field - AND - Five (5) years of experience in a large health department** or health care organization developing and implementing policy activities for a diverse population.

*****Formative is defined as an evaluation gathering and analyzing feedback during the development or implementation of a health service and/or public health program. 

 

PHYSICAL CLASS:

• Foreign degrees must be evaluated for equivalency to United States accredited institutions standards by an academic credential evaluation agency recognized by The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or The Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). See Employment Information under Accreditation Information. 
• Official Transcripts is defined as a transcript that bears the college seal and states "official and/or copy" issued by the school's registrar office.  A printout of the courses from the school's website is NOT considered official transcripts and will not be accepted and may result in your application being incomplete and rejected.

Desirable Qualifications

• Extensive senior leadership experience in the public sector or in large service/community organizations, including analyzing and interpreting public policy and legislation.

• Demonstrated understanding of the strategic issues facing DPH and the County. 

• Proven record of delivering quality work, including under tight time constraints. 

• Ability to self-manage, use initiative, and have a proven record of effectively working both independently and in a team environment.  

• Proven ability to work collaboratively and responsively in both government and non-government settings.  

• Sound knowledge of the DPH and Los Angeles County’s direction, policy priorities, planning and budgeting processes.  

• Expertise in leading senior management teams in a complex and demanding environment.  Ability to identify risks and problems and work through solutions. 

• Proven leadership and decision-making skills. 

• Ability to work directly with senior managers, including on issues that require high levels of discretion.  

• Ability to think at high strategic level and manage through conflict. 

• Excellent communication skills – both written and oral – and ability to listen to instruction and follow-through correctly, including the ability to pass the intent of the instruction onto others in a context appropriate manner. 

• Successfully negotiate and influence; facilitate positive outcomes from complex situations 

• Ability to generate confidence when dealing with the Health Officer, senior managers, staff, clients, and other partners. 

EXAMINATION CONTENT:Under the emergency order, applicants who meet the requirements may be hired for an initial period of up to 90 days, with an opportunity for permanent County employment.Before the end of your initial work assignment, the appointing department will evaluate your performance. Those who achieve a passing score on this evaluation will be considered for permanent appointment. 

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FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYER:ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI):The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. The Department of Human Resources is committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the in equalities and disparities amongst race. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices. 

Salary : $132,009 - $205,302