I.             POSITION IDENTIFICATION

Work Unit:    Health Department

Supervisor:    Park County Commission, Board of Health

Current Classification:

Pay Grade:   22 salary scale $37.00 - $65.00            

Title:   Health Officer - – must be a licensed physician OR hold a MA in Public Health per Title 50, MCA

Non Exempt part-time occasional hours for Health issues approx. 4 per week standard

  Subordinates: Health department staff and any new positions assigned.

II.      ASSIGNED DUTIES & TASKS:

Position overview:

This position is responsible for Park County’s compliance of Title 50 Health and Safety rules and regulations.  They work with the Health Department Director to ensure excellent Health and Safety conditions to the residents and visitors of Park County including its Environmental Health and Human Services arenas. The nature of the work performed requires that an employee in this class establish and maintain close cooperative working relationships with the Board of Health, the Health Department Director, health department team, public officials, collaborating organizations and agencies, compliance agencies, other county employees and the general public.

All duties below are essential functions unless otherwise indicated. Duties of the position are not all inclusive and subject to change. See addendum for examples of essential duties.

P UBLIC HEALTH DUTIES:

• To implement and administer policies developed by the Park County Board of Health along with the Health Department Director.
• To function as the lead public health official for Park County, with the powers and duties as outlined in MCA Title 50;
• To make inspections for conditions of public health importance and issue written orders for compliance or for correction, destruction or removal of the condition.
• To take steps to limit contact between people in order to protect the public health from imminent threats, including but not limited to ordering the closure of buildings or facilities where people congregate and canceling events.
• To report communicable diseases as required by the rule.
• To establish and maintain quarantine and isolation measures as adopted by the local board of Health.
• To pursue action with the appropriate court of this chapter or rules adopted by the local Board of Health under this chapter are violate.
• To lead program development and strategic planning;
• To lead development and implementation of operations plan and quality improvement program;
• To direct the Health Department Director who supervises and evaluates Public Health department team;
• To ensure that the fiscal integrity of the Public Health department is maintained, that adequate funds are available to support the mission and that the funds are properly allocated;
• To prepare and monitor implementation of annual budget;
• To assure adherence to Federal and State laws and rules; assures adherence to County administrative policies in accordance with agreement between Public Health’s Governing Board and County;
• To participate in partnerships with local health community and local governments to identify public health delivery issues;
• To develop and maintain working relationships with elected officials from local, state and federal governments;
• To represent Public Health to the community through media and public and private contacts; attends conferences and meetings;
• To prepare and deliver presentations; prepares and implements contracts, reports, grants and written communications;
• To provide support, direction and information to the Park County Public Health Board;
• To advocate with other community and government organization on public health issues;

O THER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED:

Performs other duties as assigned by the Board of Health and County Commission. This includes special projects and a variety of other functions as determined.

III.     KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge of public health and/or human services program principals/standards; knowledge of budget development and management; knowledge of clinic health and safety regulations and procedures; knowledge of grants administration; knowledge of long and short-range program development; knowledge of local government policy and decision-making process; knowledge of project management and community health and human services resources principles and practices; knowledge of team leadership motivation; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.  Knowledge of HIPAA regulations and practices. Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively among diverse interests and groups. Comfortable with public speaking. Ability to work after hours and on-call, longer shifts, weekends, etc. to meet the operational needs of the department. Computer skills such as; email, word processing, excel, power point – to establish databases, spreadsheets, presentations and to complete research of health related issues.

EEducation Education and Experience

A currently licensed Physician or has a Master’s Degree in Public Health or education and experience as determined to be equal. Minimum of three years of professional level experience in leading community initiatives and/or facilitating teams focused on public health issues, strongly desired.  Experience in performance management, public health accreditation, quality improvement, strategic planning, community health improvement planning, communicable disease follow-up, health hazard and food/water-borne outbreak investigation is preferred. Effective public speaking skills, highly proficient personal computer software applications skills, willingness and ability to attend evening meetings, travel out of town and attend workshops, conference and meetings during work and non-work hours.

CCertification, Licenses, etc.

Valid Driver’s license. 

Complete emergency preparedness training and provide certification of completion within 120 days of hire.

IV.        ACCOUNTABILITY

This position makes complex decisions regarding the public health team goals and objectives. Oversees the Health Department Director to ensure efficient and effective performance of the administrative and technical operations of the department ranging in skill level from clerical to professionals. Work in conformance with generally prescribed policies, plans and approved budgets. The Department is also frequently asked to undertake, manage and complete a variety of special projects. While work is sometimes covered by established guidelines and policy manuals, more frequently this position is expected to provide leadership and accountability in projects of first impression and tasks for which there are no well-defined precedents and that require a high level of independent judgment and integrity. 

V.      CONFIDENTIALITY

The position requires handling non-public confidential information. The person in the position acknowledges the confidential nature of non-public information. Consistent with applicable policy and guidelines, this position will respect and safeguard privacy and the confidential nature of information in accordance with Montana state law, without limiting the general nature of this commitment. The person in the position hereby acknowledges that the person understands that in this context, confidential information is considered all non-public information that can be personally associated with an individual.

If in the course of executing job responsibilities, the person in the position accidentally accesses information that others might consider inappropriate for this position to access, the person in the position will notify the person’s supervisors of the date and time of the access. If a question arises at a later time, it will be understood that the access was accidental. The person in the position will not disseminate any such information.

By signing this Position Description, the undersigned hereby acknowledges reading and understanding this section regarding confidentiality and agrees to abide by the terms and conditions set forth herein. Violation of confidentiality may warrant disciplinary action, up to and including, suspension, demotion or termination of employment.

VI.     INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION

This position plans and carries out assignments independently, and uses judgment and initiative
to solve problems. Operates with appreciable latitude for independent action and decisions commensurate with demonstrated ability, scope of authority in matters requiring deviation from established policies and in matters having major impact or long-range effects on the department. Work objectives and priorities are defined along with the supervision of the Board of Health and the County Commission but extensive leeway is granted for the exercise of independent judgment and initiative.

VII.   PERSONAL CONTACTS:

This position has contacts with the public, county and city personnel, elected officials, department heads, State, Federal and City Officials, Law Enforcement Agencies and various community organizations. The person in this position interprets, clarifies or explains departmental information in order to be responsive to questions and inquiries.

VIII. WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work is generally conducted in both an office and field environment. Due to the need for all Health Department personnel to respond to public health emergencies, the employee must be assessed for their ability to meet the physical demands of performing the following activities:

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to be fitted and wear a NIOSH 95 mask.
• Engage in the following movements: sitting, standing, often times for long periods, walking on all types of terrain, maintaining balance, climbing stairs and inclines, kneeling, bending, stooping, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, grasping, feeling, writing, repetitive motions, twisting, requires a sense of touch, finger dexterity, ability to grip with hands and fingers, to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.

• Exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Hearing ability sufficient enough to communicate with others effectively in person and over the phone.
• Visual ability must be sufficient enough to accurately read typewritten documents and computer screens and safely drive a vehicle.

Work environment:

• General office setting in the department facility, as well as various community sites.
• Work performed in the community is sometimes subject to conditions that range from inclement weather to dangerous conditions, such as snow/ice, cold, heat, noise, wetness/humidity, vibration, sudden temperature changes, and poor illumination at the job site or due to travel on the job. Travel to and from field locations may subject worker to increased risk of driving hazards. Community locations may subject worker to communicable diseases, insects and other disease vectors, toxins, hazardous materials, chemicals and animals.
• In all settings, the employee may occasionally need to relate to members of the public who exhibit challenging, atypical or hostile behaviors and/or communication.

• May be required to wear and/or use personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks, eye protection, etc. and other work activities.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   

  1. I.             POSITION IDENTIFICATION

   

  Work Unit:    Health Department

  Supervisor:    Park County Commission, Board of Health