Public Health Administrator

Summary:  Position performs highly responsible administrative work in directing all activities of a local health department. The Administrator ensures successful accomplishment of the agency’s mission including fiscal, personnel and public health programming, grants management and the development of the agency’s strategic plan.  Serves as Vital Records Registrar for the County.

Duties and Responsibilities:  

1.  Assumes responsibility for overall management of the county health department; directs and coordinates administrative, fiscal, personnel and programmatic operations including the development and implementation of an agency strategic plan.
2. Advocates for the health of the community, public health, and the department with elected officials, media, other organizations, and the public at large.
3. Coordinates department actions with other agencies and government units; functions within a broad framework of existing laws and policies with independent decision-making ability.
4. Monitors and assesses health needs of the county and develops plans for meeting these health needs; evaluates the department’s success in reaching pre-determined goals.
5. Works with other agencies regarding access to care and priority health issues in the community.
6. Hires, trains and supervises activities of the division directors, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration. Focuses on ensuring programming is evidence based and monitored through a performance management system.
7. Ability to apply principles and practices of effective supervision to a professional staff of 40 - 60 employees, with up to 10 direct reports.
8. Assists in departmental policy development; provides comments on revision of state level rules and regulations, recommends county ordinances related to public health.
9. Secures contractual support for agency, including grants, medical director, and maintenance services.
10. Provides leadership on public health emergency risk reduction, preparedness and response.
11. Reports progress on a regular basis to the Board of Health; carries out the directives of the Board of Health as provided for in the Bylaws of the Board of Health and delineated in the Administrator’s Employment Contract.
12. Keeps abreast of innovative practices, current trends, and regulatory changes effecting programming. Recommends application, adaptation or modification of such practices to meet the needs of JCHD and the populace served.
13. Negotiates contract with bargaining unit and presents draft to Board of Health for approval.
14. Effectively works with internal committees through committee chairs, providing them with strategic direction.
15. Adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations and OSHA safety standards pertaining to exposure to toxic substances or other hazards.
16. Incorporate ethical standards of practice into all interactions, including the use of data and information.
17. Handle conflict and confrontation in a firm, professional manner
18. Interact effectively and professionally with all persons regardless of age, cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial or ethnic background, sexual orientation, lifestyle and physical ability. And respect the cultural, language and religious practices of others.
19. Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development by pursuing education, participating in professional committees and work groups and contributing to a work environment where continual improvements in practice are pursued.
20. Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience -  Requires one of the following:

• A Master's degree from an accredited university in public health, public administration, nursing, environmental health, community health, health education, or other related field and two years of full-time administrative experience in public health; or
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited university and four years of full-time administrative experience, of which at least two years must be in public health.

Physical - May be required to stoop and lift, move or carry up to 25 pounds;

Requires both state-wide and regional travel by automobile regularly. Valid driver’s license, proof of minimum insurance and vehicle required.

Computer Skills - Requires competency in basic computer skills. Experience using spreadsheets, data base and word processing software is also required. Experience maneuvering internet and social media platforms is preferred.

Skills and Characteristics:

• Requires strong public health background with detailed knowledge of principles and modern practices of public health and public administration.
• Requires detailed knowledge of management principles in fiscal control, office management, personnel, purchasing, and budgetary and fiscal practices, including developing budget and funding proposals.
• Requires a high degree of initiative in planning and coordinating activities of multi-disciplinary staff.
• Requires ability to utilize and interpret state laws, county and municipal ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures as related to a local health department.
• Requires an aptitude for identifying and analyzing barriers that affect program continuity, monitoring trends, developing and implementing strategies for continuous improvement.
• Requires excellent communication skills, leadership and motivational capabilities
• Requires ability to assess community health, social and educational needs and formulate plans to meet needs.

 Work Environment: 

• Position requires evening and weekend work.
• Frequent interruptions and distractions with multiple concurrent tasks.

 Specialized Training Requirements (post-hire):

• Incident Command IS 100, 200, 700, 800 and ICS 300 & 400, minimally
• Illinois Open Meetings Act
• Illinois Freedom of Information Act
• (IDPH) Data Security & Confidentiality
• CMS Medicare/Medicaid Provider training
• Illinois Vital Records Registrar training
• Trainings required under employment law

Disclaimer

The above information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Jackson County Health Department reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary. Physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that will be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.