Deputy Health Officer

Job Summary The Deputy Health Officer participates in and provides leadership across a wide range of public health activities through the regional health officer program. The primary purpose of the position is to provide consultation, public health and clinical leadership and technical direction to Clark County Public Health and as needed, several other regional local health departments in Washington State. This is an appointed position with major responsibility for control and prevention of communicable disease, chronic disease and environmental exposures, planning for and response to public health emergencies; and providing oversight in the development of all clinical policies, procedures, and standing orders. The Deputy Health Officer serves the Clark County Public Health Department, and as needed, the Health Departments for Pacific County, Skamania County and Wahkiakum County, as needed, as a member of the Pacific, Skamania and Wahkiakum County Public Health Departments’ senior management teams. The Deputy Health Officer plays a critical role in department activities through relationships with key entities within the region, particularly the local medical communities; local Boards of Health; local, state and federal public health partners; the media; and the public. Additionally, the Deputy Health Officer is required to help identify priorities and emerging trends and communicate health data and information in a variety of settings. The Deputy Health Officer will also interact with clinical staff, providing clinical consultation and direction for Infectious Disease Program case management and/or investigations; ongoing clinical mentorship to TB case managers; and clear direction to TB case managers when developing plans of care.

Our department values our community’s diversity and seeks ways to promote equity and inclusion within the organization and with the public. Our department also encourages applications from candidates with knowledge, ability and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities with diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

This is a full-time non-represented exempt position.

This position has the option of a remote/hybrid work schedule possibility. However, the candidate selected must reside in OR or WA. No Exceptions.

Education and Experience:

The position requires the possession of or ability to obtain a license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state of Washington plus a Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent degree, and three years of increasingly responsible experience in public health, epidemiology, preventive medicine, or a related area. The degree must have been conferred by an institution of higher education and have National Recognition of Accrediting Agencies by the U.S. Secretary of Education, and official transcripts will be required at the time of hire. Persons with three years of experience who do not possess a Master of Public Health or equivalent can qualify for a provisional term, subject to public health in-service orientation and periodic personal review by the Secretary of Health or his or her designee. Any satisfactory equivalent combination of experience and training which ensures the ability to perform the work may be substituted for up to one year of the required experience. Course work and training in public health administration, public administration or a related field is desirable, but not required.

A valid driver’s license is required. Finalists for the position must submit a current Abstract of Driving Record and submit to a criminal background check as required by RCW 43.43.830.

The ideal candidate will have the following strengths:

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and delegate responsibility
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders and policymakers
• Ability to understand, interpret and apply public health law and regulations

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as a member of the regional counties’ health department senior management teams and participates in planning, goal setting, problem solving, policy formulation and review, and budget preparation.
• Under direction of the Health Officer, acts as spokesperson for public health in the contracted counties
• Guides community health assessments.
• Provides up-to-date public health alerts, information, training and leadership to the medical community.
• Provides medical/clinical oversight in the investigation of reported or suspected cases or perceived clusters of diseases or conditions considered a threat to public health.

• Determines appropriate action including initiating disease prevention and infection control.
• Provides technical assistance and direction in surveillance activities and on unusual or particularly sensitive cases.
• Designs and performs studies of potential threats to public health and presents findings and recommendations to the Department Directors and Boards of Health.
• Writes, reviews, and/or revises standing orders and protocols for Departments’ nursing staff.
• Provides clinical advice to department nursing staff.
• Encourages department staff professional development, technical competence, high morale and good public relations.
• Enforces public health statutes, rules and regulations of the State Board of Health and State Department of Health and local health rules, regulations and ordinances. Emphasis is on communicable disease control and environmental health.
• Participates in the development of policies and programs to implement community health promotion and prevention priorities.
• Plans for and provides in-service training and evaluates continuing education needs of Department professional staff.
• In consultation with the Health Officer, provides medical direction during public health emergencies; assures public is protected from diseases; assures isolation, quarantine and other control measures are ordered and implemented in accordance with statutes and administrative code.
• Participates in the Infectious Disease Advisory Committee for community physicians, nurses, infection control practitioners, Health Department staff and other providers for the purpose of enhancing surveillance of communicable disease and optimizing timely response.
• Coordinates debriefing of communicable disease response between environmental health specialists and communicable disease/epidemiology team.

• Makes presentations to professional, civic and lay groups to promote community awareness of public health issues, such as emerging infectious diseases and emergency preparedness.
• Provides advice to schools and state and local agencies in developing public health policies.

• Works with staff in responding to medical questions concerning outbreaks of communicable disease.