Health Officer/Public Health Supervisor

Buffalo County is hiring a full-time Health Officer/Public Health Supervisor for our Health and Human Services department located in Alma, WI.

Purpose of Position:
The purpose of this position is to serve as Buffalo County Health Officer according to Wisconsin Statute 251.06 and to serve as the Public Health Supervisor by planning, directing, performing, and supervising all public health programs as delegated by the Department Director, under the direction of the Buffalo County Health and Human Services and Veterans Services Committee (herein referred to as BCHHSB), also referred to as the local board of health. The goal is to provide leadership in Buffalo County to maintain and improve the health of residents.

Essential Duties – Health Officer:
Acts as local health officer in enforcing public health laws as defined by statute and ordinance.
Communicates to the medical community the importance of reporting communicable disease.
Consults with Regional Office and Division of Public Health staff regarding outbreak activities.
Informs the BCHHSB of communicable disease activity.
Coordinates agency response to communicable disease outbreaks, public health emergencies, and disasters.
Schedules impromptu immunization or dispensation clinics in response to outbreaks/public health emergencies as appropriate.
Analyzes communicable disease data as part of the community health needs assessment process.
Collects, assembles, analyzes, and makes available information on the health of the community including statistics on health status, community health needs and epidemiologic, and other health problems.
Conducts or delegates/supervises all aspects of human health hazard complaints including inspections and follow-up.
Participates in local preparedness planning activities with Emergency Management, LEPC, local medical clinics, law enforcement, and other partners.
Submits reports to the State Division of Health as required.

Essential Duties – Health Services Supervisor:
This list of duties is not to be construed as all-inclusive and may be modified as department programs change and as department need requires.

Monitors the health status of individuals, families, and the community
through review of health data. This includes coordinating the community health needs assessment process.
Investigates and diagnoses health problems and health hazards in the
community. This includes Health Officer functions as described in the previous section.
Informs, educates, and empowers people regarding health issues. This includes communicating critical public health priorities and concerns to the department Director and the BCHHSB for action and policy development.
Mobilizes community partnerships to identify and solve health problems. This includes promoting the collaboration of public health with the total health care system and the community as well as educating the community and board of health on the role of public health.
Develops policies and plans that support community and individual health efforts. This includes responsibility for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs, justification of the annual public health budget, develop and implement policies and procedures for public health programs/services, and explore outside funding sources for priority health problems.
Monitors compliance with laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety including Health Officer functions described in the previous section. Maintain knowledge of current ordinances, statutes, laws, and rules and regulations regarding Department programs and activities.
Links people to needed personal health services and assures the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable. This includes receiving, screening, and accepting referrals for health services in conformance with agency policy, arrangement for the provision of services to meet identified needs, providing public health services to individuals, families, and the community as needed including covering the caseloads of public
health staff in their absence, as time allows.
Administers federal, state, and local grant monies to meet health needs, monitors budget, authorizes and tracks expenses, seeks out and applies for new revenue sources.
Develops and mentors a competent public health workforce. This includes participating in the selection of new public health employees, supervising all public health personnel, developing and implementing plans for orientation, professional guidance, in-service education for public health personnel and other community professionals, performance evaluations, goal setting and monitoring and job description updates.
Evaluates the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of public health services. This includes: evaluation of and recommendation regarding the kind and amount of service and the type and number of personnel required for health programs; utilizing available staff in the most efficient and effective manner possible; preparing reports and records according to department policy and mandated regulations; assuring the provision of the three core functions of public health – assessment, policy development and assurance; and the health priorities as identified in the most updated Community Health Needs Assessment.
Researches for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems.
Demonstrates a commitment to quality improvement and promotion of adherence to the national public health standards.
Fosters the understanding and promotion of social and economic conditions that support good health.

Minimum Training, Experience, and Qualifications Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:
Per Wisconsin Statute 251.06(1)(b), “A local health officer of a Level II health department shall have at least 3 years of experience in a full-time position with a public health agency (or at least 2 years or State approved supervision plan with at least 2 years’ experience), including responsibility for a communicable disease prevention and control program, preferably in a supervisory or other administrative position, and at least one of the following:
1. A bachelor’s degree from a nursing program accredited by the national professional nursing education accrediting organization or from a nursing program accredited by the board of nursing, either of which shall include preparation in public health nursing.

2. A bachelor’s degree in public health, environmental health, the physical or biological sciences or a similar field.

Current Wisconsin license to practice profession.
A valid driver’s license and access to an insured vehicle.
Knowledge of the theory, principles, practices, and techniques of Public Health, Public Health Nursing, epidemiology, and communicable disease control.
Knowledge of medical and social resources available for treatment.
Knowledge and ability in the area of personnel management, staff development, and supervision and budget development/maintenance.
Knowledge of standard for quality assurance and the ability to monitor compliance with the standards.
Ability to perform the following functions: plan and conduct public health nursing programs, in-service training for nurses, organize and conduct health education projects, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with other members of the staff, community partners and the public.

Physical Requirements:
Ability to operate a variety of office equipment and machinery with some requiring complex and rapid adjustments including computer terminal, telephone, fax machine, calculator, photocopier, and TV/VCR.
Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing slightly skilled movements.
Ability to exert very moderate physical effort from sedentary to light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling up to 20 pounds.
Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of shapes, sounds, and objects associated with job related objects, materials, and tasks.
Ability to sustain prolonged visual and mental concentration.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing with others.

Environmental Adaptability:
Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as hazardous conditions or exposure to disease may cause discomfort, but poses little risk of injury, and is present only in unusual situations.

The hourly pay range for is $31.90 to $33.30 per hour, depending on qualifications.

Full Benefits package is available including health, dental, vision, life, disability, accident, and critical illness insurance as well as Wisconsin Retirement System enrollment, 453(b) Savings Plan, supplemental Health Reimbursement Account, Flex Spending Account, paid time off, and more.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For additional information, contact the Buffalo County Administration Office at 608-685-6208. Candidates should apply directly through the posting.

https://www.buffalocountywi.gov/jobs.aspx

Deadline Note: