This position functions as a member of the leadership team and works collaboratively to advise on and carry out the mission and strategic plan of the Public Health Department. Provides a broad view and technical understanding of the fields of communicable disease and epidemiology for planning, organizing, directing and administering the operations of the Communicable Disease Division. Oversees the coordination of and development of plans and systems that includes all partners in the County, the planning region, and the State. Results of work are considered to be technically authoritative and provide Director and Board of Health with technical information that reflects best practices. Provides technical assistance and consultation to providers in current public health principles and practices with particular expertise in infectious disease. Shares with the Health Officer, responsibility for enforcement of the communicable disease laws, regulations and codes of Washington State and Skagit County. The Communicable Disease Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating and directing staff and operations to effectively implement local and state mandated programs. Responsible for development and implementation of investigation, surveillance and outbreak response planning for public health response to large outbreaks of communicable disease, bioterrorism or other large public health threats in Skagit County. Evaluates programs and oversees the coordination of community planning and the development of plans and systems between County, local municipalities, state and federal agencies. The incumbent provides a broad view and understanding of the field of communicable disease as it relates to public health concepts and practices. Works closely with community leaders and stakeholders to improve population health through policy, systems, program development, and environmental change. Activities are fully integrated with community partners including schools, hospitals, clinics, long term care facilities, emergency medical services, law enforcement and emergency management. In the event of an emergency, the incumbent will serve as a member of the Incident Command Team.

Participates in the department’s leadership team, creating and supporting a transformational culture that supports growth and development through vision, inspiration, and enthusiasm. Serves to enhance the motivation, morale, and job performance of staff and department through support, coaching, mentoring and open dialogue.
Guides and leads through empowerment to grow and develop staff and programs to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Stimulates staff to take greater ownership in the department beyond their workgroup by aligning their work with the objectives and goals of the department and division. Leads through encouragement, support and recognition.

Seeks opportunities for collective impact across systems to achieve outcomes by coordinating work with the efforts of the Population Health Trust and the community health improvement plan. Seeks opportunities for collective impact across systems to achieve outcomes by coordinating efforts with primary care to create and maintain an integrated system.
Manages and directs the daily operations of the Communicable Disease Division in compliance with all State, Federal and local laws, codes and regulations, supporting a population health service model to achieve outcomes through assessment, policy development and assurance.

• Identifies emerging medical and environmental issues and confers with and makes recommendations to appropriate staff on health-related issues. Participates in assessing the health status of the community. Provides oversight of potentially systemic threats to public health. Evaluates the causes of infectious diseases. Determines appropriate evaluation and intervention strategies.
• Serves as technical expert to community health care and health systems, local and state government, and school districts.
• Takes actions as necessary to educate the community on public issues to control and prevent the spread of dangerous, contagious or infectious diseases.
• Sets strategic priorities for division in alignment with the department and Population Health Trust priorities.
• Prioritizes and establishes work group goals and objectives to assure the alignment of health care in the development of policy and the implementation of health care services.
• Develops recommendations for programs that enhance support of department’s strategic plan and role of assurance. Implements strategic short- and long-range plans, programs, goals and objectives for assigned areas. Reviews and updates planning recommendations.
• Creates and monitors operational systems, policies and procedures to assure laws and requirements are met. Recommends and implements changes to improve division operations, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develops and implements public health policy, quality assurance, continuous quality improvement to coordinate and strengthen the continuum of care. Interprets policy and makes recommendations for program, policy and procedure changes. Develops and implements quality standards for each program. Interprets and applies policies, procedures, and regulations equitably.
• Utilizes a data driven approach to target outreach, education, and programming based on population and community needs. Reviews and analyzes data to assess performance of County funded programs and their alignment with identified outcomes and makes recommendations about programs and projects.
• Oversees and manages special projects. Participates in or leads the development of new programming. Plans, designs, develops, implements and evaluates assigned projects and programs in assigned areas. Communicates changes and progress and completes projects on time and within budget. Identifies problems and develops and implements alternative approaches to ensure resolution. Evaluates program effectiveness and formulates recommendations anticipating possible ramifications and appropriately communicates significance of findings.
• Facilitates and coordinates cooperative planning in conjunction with other divisions, departments, systems, providers, community groups, boards and entities to address community needs and gaps. Identifies trends and problems hindering progress. Develops and implements recommendations for problem resolution with staff and higher-level management.
• Manages the ongoing development of information systems and the collection and use of demographic, financial, health and performance data. Performs analysis to inform program and policy recommendations. Prepares program evaluations and issue papers using the collected data.
• Responsible for contract development and management, fiscal compliance, data collection and management, grant application and administration, and report writing. Conducts or directs Request for Proposal (RFP) processes as needed, negotiates contracts and subcontracts. Conducts on-site monitoring of contract compliance both legally and programmatically and conducts on-going program evaluation as needed. Determines and establishes terms for corrective actions and enforces sanctions as necessary.
• Directs the activities of Communicable Disease programs, including disease surveillance and investigation, specimen collection and testing, immunization, STI testing and treatment, Active Tuberculosis treatment, chronic disease prevention and management and general health promotion activities.
• Directly supervises division staff. Directs and coaches assigned staff and assigns work consistent with assigned job classification. Manages and supervises within union contract guidelines, interprets contract language and advises staff accordingly. Interprets and advises staff of county personnel policies and procedures. Coaches program coordinators and staff regarding methods to be used to enhance program management to achieve designated outcomes that align with needs identified by data and community assessment.
• Analyzes and problem solves staffing and programmatic issues, identifying and implementing necessary actions for change. Provides support and guidance; analyzes and evaluates issues and proposals; identifies knowledge and performance gaps, and counsels, trains and coaches staff to meet performance goals and quality standards.
• Recruits, trains, disciplines and conducts performance evaluations of program staff. Participates in the selection of new employees. Provides training and support and evaluates the performance of staff to guide the development of employees and performance. Reconciles personnel issues, makes recommendations regarding employment actions, initiates documents, and implements disciplinary actions as approved.
• Seeks opportunities for collective impact across systems to achieve outcomes by coordinating work to integrate public health and primary care and public health in order to create and maintain an integrated system.
• Prepares and sends “Health Alerts” to providers, pharmacies, nursing homes, schools, and media as appropriate. Responds to media regarding all areas of Communicable Disease and Epidemiology management.
• Develops and monitors budgets and program expenditures as needed.
• Prioritizes public health programs within mandated and local priority, budgetary constraints and staff availability. Utilizes a data driven approach to planning and decision making. Reviews and assesses data to assess performance of County funded programs and their alignment with identified outcomes and make recommendations about programs and projects.
• Makes recommendations for local program, policy and procedure changes, and assures that appropriate policies and procedures are created and updated. Develops and implements quality standards for each program. Interprets and applies policies, procedures, and regulations equitably.
• Represents the County at community groups, government agencies, educational institutions, task forces and advisory committees on program decisions, as directed. Works with cities and other public and private entities on implementation measures including public information and education programs and achieving program goals. Makes contacts and public presentations to increase public awareness of community health needs.
• Responds to community concerns and complaints; assures program activities are in compliance with laws, policies, regulations, and goals. Identifies and addresses customer needs. Emphasizes public accountability and a positive public service approach with assigned staff.
• Exercises independent judgment in analyzing problems, issues and situations, and develops and implements recommendations.
• Assesses and assures compliance, interprets and applies regulations equitably, explains services, identifies customer needs and maintains effective relationships.
• Develops and recommends modification of local regulations to be consistent with state and federal rules. Submits these proposals to the Board of Health for approval.
• Assists with investigation of any outbreak of disease related to environmental exposures (infectious or otherwise) or other unusual increases in illness.

• Applies public health sciences (biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, social and behavioral sciences, and public health informatics) in the delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.
• Ensures clinical and laboratory services quality assurance and ensures programs are implemented with fidelity to appropriate public health standards.
  
• Assures compliance with the laws relating to Nursing Care and Regulation of Health Professions; assures compliance with scope of and standards of nursing practice.
  
• Assures compliance with clinical documentation and data collection for clinical services.
  
• Applies knowledge of current literature, trends, best practices, and developments in administration, public health, organizational theory and management of community mobilization.
  
• Contributes to the public health evidence base by participating in practice-based research networks, community-based participatory research, and authoring articles.
• Implements epidemiological data and the ecological perspective to identify health risks for a population.
  
• Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, Emergency Preparedness and Environmental Health research and practice expert.
  
• Assures division is in compliance with HIPAA regulation.
  
• Serves as member of the incident command team.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• A master’s degree in epidemiology or closely related field is required.
• A minimum of five years’ professional experience in public health, infectious disease or epidemiology.
• A minimum of three years’ program design, development, and oversight.
• A minimum of three years’ experience with personnel supervision and management.
• Experience in financial practices and procedures and knowledge of grant administration is required.
• Previous experience working in public health, human services, healthcare, or behavioral health fields is required.
• Highly developed and effective interpersonal communication and relationship skills.
• Ability to pass a County background check.

• The field of assignment sufficient to perform completely and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by example in this position description.
• Community-based disease surveillance, principles of outbreak investigation and control, and disease and outbreak reporting.
• Foundational Public Health concepts and priorities
• Transformational leadership and change management.
• Principles and practices of public health administration.
• Core competencies for public health Professionals, Tier 2.
• Public health principles, including population-based health practices, understanding and analyzing complex scientific and interpersonal issues.
• Health care system and other service systems associated with public health
• Social determinants of health and concepts of health equity.
• Knowledge of available resources and community groups within Skagit County, as well as regionally and statewide.
• Management and supervisory principles and practices.
• Working knowledge of labor relations and unionized staff.
• Public health regulatory framework at the national, state, and local level
• Applicable local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations, policies and procedures related to the area of assignment.
• Principles of time management, planning, program and process evaluation.
• Principles of grant writing, contract writing, contract monitoring, and reporting.
• Principles of strategic planning and outcome based logic models.
• Data analysis and comprehension.
• Successfully reconciling workplace conflicts.
• Safety and security hazards, precautions, standards, policies and procedures pertinent to the area of assignment.
• Clinical quality assurance in a public health setting.
• English grammar, spelling, report preparation and letter writing.
• Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Operation of standard office equipment including laser printers, fax machine, copy machine, calculator, computer and scanner.

• Meet standards for core competencies of public health professionals, Tier 2.
• Monitor current and projected trends representing health of a community.
• Incorporate ethical standards of practice.
• Use assessment information for policy and program development.
• Assure that absolute confidentiality is maintained as required and sensitive information is handled appropriately; ability to follow HIPAA and PHI guidelines.
• Effectively manage the various activities and components associated with a multi-agency, countywide response.
• Serve as a quality assurance manager for communicable disease clinical activities and assure that standing orders and clinical policies and procedures are accurate and current for the services offered.
• Apply basic human relations skills to internal collaborations, motivation of colleagues, and resolution of conflicts.
• Promote mentoring, peer advising, coaching or other personal development opportunities.
• Use group process to advance community involvement.
• Apply communication and group dynamic strategies in interactions with individuals and groups.
• Facilitate meetings and to work cooperatively with public groups and contract agency personnel.
• Critique methods and instruments for collecting valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative data/
• Integrate the findings from quantitative and qualitative data into organizational operations.
• Integrate the emerging trends of fiscal, social and political environment into public health strategic planning.
• Evaluate effectiveness of community engagement strategies.
• Demonstrate the capacity to think and problem solve in an innovative manner.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with community entities and the press, even under stressful and demanding circumstances.
• Manage staff, delegate tasks and authority, and coach to improve staff performance.
• Act as a strong advocate for efficient and effective services.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Delegate responsibility.
• Exercise initiative, tact, discretion and judgment in carrying out Division responsibilities.
• Utilize office equipment, including computer.
• Read, understand and interpret technical literature.
• Represent Skagit County by maintaining a professional approach and demeanor in all activities.
• Ensure compliance with County policies and procedures, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Comprehend, gather, process and analyze detailed information effectively.
• Be attentive to detail, maintain a high degree of accuracy, recognize, resolve and correct discrepancies in data or information.
• Assure that absolute confidentiality is maintained as required and sensitive information is handled appropriately.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Following review of applications and resumes, the highest qualified applicants will be interviewed and may be tested. After a selection is made, all applicants not selected will be notified in writing. Skagit County reserves the right to use applications received for this posting to fill any other positions within this classification which may open within six months following the closing of this position.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination in its employment practices. American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: Individuals, who need an ADA accommodation to complete the application, test or interview process, please call: (360) 416-1380. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Changes to the position description may be made at the discretion of the employer.