Deputy Director of Health & Community Services at San Juan County (WA), WA

About the Department

Under the general direction of the Health & Community Services Director, the Deputy Director provides general administration and oversight of at least one of the department’s operational divisions. The Deputy Director exercises considerable independent judgement and discretion in carrying out their duties and may serve as the Health & Community Services Director upon delegation. The Deputy Director is part of the department’s management team will advise and implement department policies in consultation with the Health & Community Services Director and the County Manager.

Position Duties

1. Department Management Team: Serves as a member of the department’s management team and advises the Health & Community Services Director regarding implementation of strategic objectives and policies. Develops policies and procedures for internal workflow and departmental program initiatives. Support grant seeking and grant writing initiatives. 
2. Personnel Manager: Screens new applicants, interviews and effectively recommends employee selection to department director. Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel. Advises the Health & Community Services Director on the department’s organizational structure, considering the resources and priorities of the department. Leads, manages, mentors and coaches staff for leadership. Models and supports respect for diversity and multi-cultural work skills. Delegates authority to staff.
3. Division Manager: Manages at least one division in Health & Community Services. Supervises, trains and evaluates division staff, oversees program activities for the division to ensure alignment with the department’s mission and vision. Prepares and oversees division budgets, works with division staff to identify resource, mentorship and training needs.  Develops, recommends, and reviews policies and procedures for division(s) and other administrative operations. When necessary, recruits, contracts with and oversees professional consultants to achieve division department goals and meet project timelines.  
4. Budget Administration: Supports the Director in preparing and administrating departmental budgets and ensures that the department’s financial procedures and policies are in accordance with state law. Responsible for the application for and administration of all grant programs and functions as authorized by the County Council.
5. Community Engagement, Legislative & Policy Matters: Represents the department at community convenings, government and partner agencies, educational institutions, task forces and advisory committees on community health initiatives. Participates in and leads community initiatives to increase public awareness of and improve community health needs. In coordination with the Health & Community Services Director, advises the County Council on matters pertaining to the department’s programs. 
6. Public Relations & Communication: Responds to the most sensitive or complex public inquiries with timely professionalism. Assures that citizen complaints are investigated and resolved at the request of the Health & Community Services Director. Guides the development of the department’s strategic communications planning and oversees the department’s Communications Program Coordinator. 
7. Emergency Coordinator: Oversees and implements the department’s emergency response plans and may include supervising the Public Health Emergency Response Program Coordinator. Responds to and calls out personnel in emergencies.
8. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in in public health, public administration, environmental health, nursing or social work, or approved equivalent
• A combined total of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public health administration or project management and at least five years of supervisory experience.
• Washington State driver’s license.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in public health, public administration, environmental health, nursing, social work or allied field.
• Ten years progressively more responsible management and leadership experience.
• Community organizing skills.

Other Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent professional judgment
• Excellent leadership skills 
• Knowledge of epidemiology, research protocols, qualitative and quantitative data collection, methodology and analysis 
• Knowledge of community organizing and public health communications strategies 
• Knowledge of relevant Federal, State and Local regulations

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS: Requires frequent sitting with occasional walking, sometimes on uneven terrain. Requires bending, stooping and the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. Requires the ability to see and hear with sufficient acuity for good communication.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Approximately 90% of work is performed in an office environment and the remainder is performed in the field.  Some travel is required and is typically local or regional, to meet with clients, conduct business, or attend or provide training. Work includes being on the On Call leadership team, with availability to take calls 24/7 when call duty is assigned. When public health responds to an emergency, you may be assigned duties that are outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department. All work is subject to frequent interruption and changes of priority. Work is performed both independently and within a collaborative, team-oriented environment.