Branch Chief of Information and Technology (County Health)

SALARY
  $145,672.80 - $185,900.00 Annually

Join our team as the Branch Chief of Information and Technology – County Health and lead a talented team of professionals dedicated to delivering innovative technology solutions for the County Health Department. In this key leadership role, you will oversee complex IT operations and business systems that support essential health services, from cybersecurity and cloud services to enterprise applications, electronic health records management, and network infrastructure. This position requires a strategic leader with a proven ability to manage large-scale technology initiatives and to execute information technology strategies to improve efficiency and customer service.  If you are passionate about leveraging technology to enhance public service, we invite you to lead our efforts in this vital role!

The County Health Department is accepting applications to fill one (1) full-time Branch Chief of Information and Technology vacancy located in Santa Barbara. The County classification title is Information Technology & Business Systems Manager III. This position is "At-Will" and exempt from Civil Service protections.

THE DEPARTMENT: County of Santa Barbara Health Department: Our mission is to improve the health of our communities by preventing disease, promoting wellness, protecting the health of our environment, and ensuring access to needed health care at federally-qualified health centers.  Our vision is healthier communities through leadership, partnership and science. With a staff of 530 and a budget of approximately $109 million, County Health serves a population of about 440,000 residents in Santa Barbara County.

For more information, please visit: www.countyofsb.org/PHD.

Benefits Overview: 

• Vacation: 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
• Holidays: 12 days per year
• Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave per year. Unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement. 
• Health Plan: Choice of medical and dental plans (with vision care). County contributes toward the employee’s premium. 
• Life Insurance: $20,000 Term Life Insurance
• Retirement: The County offers a Defined Benefit Plan and eligibility to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. The County contributes 0.24% of base salary to a 401(a) Deferred Compensation Plan. 

For more information on benefits please click here.
 
In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate. 

Note: The County may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and at the discretion of the CEO, can provide cash incentives and/or time off advanced accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization.

THE POSITION:

Under direction, is responsible for leading a full-service technology services or business systems unit for a large County department  for areas such as: IT operations; IT enterprise security management; GIS operations; electronic health record management; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management; coordinates assigned activities with staff in other divisions and departments; provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance and administrative support to executive management staff; and performs other duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the highest manager level in the Information Technology & Business Systems Management job family and oversees a division, function, or multiple programs within a department. Incumbents oversee highly complex and strategic technology services and/or business systems functions and have responsibility for significant budget/funding levels. Decision-making includes establishing work unit objectives and goals, exercising considerable discretion in selecting the method to address a problem or issue, and fostering collaboration among and between the work units supervised as well as work units under the direction of others. Positions have significant impact on the specific work units or divisions, which may have department-wide effects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Reports to an executive. Oversees the work of a team (two or more individuals) or teams of individual contributors through subordinate managers. Exercises direct and indirect supervision over assigned management, professional, technical, and administrative staff.          

These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job, and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

1. Serves as a member of the County's management team by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the activities of one or more areas of technology services and/or business systems.
2. Establishes annual or mid-term priorities, goals, and operational plans for the division or programs. 
3. Recommends, establishes, and provides direction for new or revised services, programs, processes, policies, standards, or operational plans based on the department’s longer-term strategies.
4. Recommends division’s strategic plans within department strategic direction to next level manager or director.
5. Develops, administers, and evaluates technology services and/or business systems and programs to ensure compliance with strategies and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures and ensures compliance; researches trends and best practices; and recommends and implements changes.
6. Provides operational and technical management and direction to information technology staff including, but not limited, to one or more of the following areas: IT operations; IT enterprise security management; GIS operations; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management.
7. Oversees information technology programs and/or business systems for enterprise IT or County functions and departments; researches trends, industry best practices, legislation information, and IT solutions; develops, evaluates, and implements technology programs and services; updates department policies and procedures; plans and implements process improvements; makes recommendations; and serves as a technical subject matter expert to internal and external staff.
8. Oversees enterprise-level, new technology initiative projects or other ad-hoc projects; as assigned, serves as a project manager and/or allocates staff assignments; monitors staff and vendor operations; oversees the preparation and implementation of project plans; identifies and mitigates project risks; and ensures compliance with project budgetary and schedule requirements.
9. Develops and administers work unit budgets and procurement processes; reviews and approves budget requests and transactions; negotiates and manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions. 
10. Researches, analyzes, develops, and reviews original fiscal, compliance, and related reports, contracts, plans, grant proposals, materials, presentations, and other documents; and develops and makes recommendations to higher-level staff. 
11. Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs to ensure adherence to strategic and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices in the area of assignment; and recommends and implements operational and program changes.
12. Develops and administers budgetary and procurement processes; manages contracts; researches and analyzed financial information; make resource allocations recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions.
13. Troubleshoots and resolves program or work unit issues and informs higher-level management of issues/resolution.
14. Oversees the preparation of or prepares contracts, reports, records, plans, and other documents involved in managing the area of assignment; oversees and participates in the research and analysis of policy and related information; and makes recommendations to higher-level management staff.
15. Supervises management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff; conducts performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
16. Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, and external agencies; may represent the County on various professional committees; and prepares and makes presentations to the public, elected official, boards, and other stakeholders.
17. Performs other related duties as required. 

Education and Experience

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

• Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in computer science, information technology, or related field; AND,
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in information technology and systems including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager. 

Licenses and Certificates

For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs may be required as a condition of continued employment. 

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices and techniques of technology services and business systems in a public agency setting, including IT operations; IT enterprise security management; GIS operations; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management.
• Principles and practices of technology areas related, but not limited, to IT operations and electronic health records management.
• Principles and practices of IT enterprise security management, including e-discovery, patient privacy protection, cybersecurity, and cloud security management.
• Principles and practices of GIS operations.
• Principles and practices of database management, including, relational database development and management, and techniques of developing report/data warehouse structures, testing, and issue resolution.
• Principles and practices of application development and support.
• Principles and practices of service desk and end user support management.
• Principles and practices of operations system and information, including enterprise resource planning, system management.
• Principles and practices of network architecture planning and design.
• Principles and practices of network engineering, network infrastructure, and telecommunications management.
• Principles and practices of cloud services management, including usage and implementation of cloud-based architecture.
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Management principles, practices and techniques.
• Principles and practices of fiscal management and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation. 
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.

Ability to:

• Effectively administer IT operations; IT enterprise security management; GIS operations; electronic health records management; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management activities.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and measuring performance; and participating in the development of goals and strategic objectives.
• Manage assigned operations/programs and ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in developing goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning and monitoring work. 
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures. 
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies. 
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
• Oversee the implementation of and adherence to quality assurance and patient privacy activities and standards.
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment. 
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Create and provide informative presentations to stakeholder, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards. 
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
  
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

May be required to work a varied schedule of hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

The County Health Department (CHD) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the CHD Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations. A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time. 

Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. 

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Statement of Commitment
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization. 

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: 04/21/2025 at 4:59 PM PST.  Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Salary : $145,673 - $185,900