EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

OVERVIEW OF MESA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH

Mesa County Public Health was formed in 1948 as a political subdivision of the State. We provide a wide range of public and environmental health services to Mesa County residents and, in some programs, the region.

Mesa County Public Health is a leader in our community, our region, and throughout Colorado. We are committed to upholding standards that align our actions with our mission, vision, and values. We are an efficient and innovative organization and we are very proud of the work we do. We have high expectations of our leaders, our peers, and ourselves. We believe in the power of community partnerships to develop sustainable solutions for our residents. Mesa County Public Health employees believe in the principles of Epidemiology, support evidence-based interventions, and advocate for healthy lifestyles at the personal and community levels.

Our Vision: 

Mesa County is a supportive community that promotes a healthy environment where everyone can flourish.

Our Mission: 

Understanding, promoting, and protecting the health of the community.

Our Values:
●Respect: We treat our staff, community, and partners with dignity, respect, and empathy.
●Collaboration: We work collectively for the mutual benefit of the community through sharing information, responsibility, and resources.
●Innovation: We empower staff to creatively approach and solve health problems facing our community.
●Accountability: We are reliable and transparent with our community and partners.

JOB SUMMARY:

Under direction from the Board of Health, the Executive Director is responsible for strategic planning and administration of the Health Department including staff and department operations, financial management, legislative, local and regional affairs. Serves in the statutory role of ‘Public Health Director,’ administers and enforces compliance with public health laws in the State of Colorado and public health orders, standards, regulations and rules of the County and the State Board of Health.

Salary of position has a range of $180,000 - $222,096. Physician applicants may be considered to fill the role of Medical/Physician Director and therefore, the salary may start around $240,000 and increase accordingly.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

(The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. Mesa County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.)

In conjunction with the Board of Health:

Prepares, implements, manages and articulates the strategic plan, policies and procedures for the department.

Prepares the annual budget according to any required state or county financial management requirements and governmental standards for approval from the Board of Health. Responsible for ensuring cost effectiveness through oversight of program revenues and expenditures. Presents fiscal reports to the Board of Health.

Receives policy direction from the Mesa County Board of Health; receives general guidance from the Mesa County Board of Commissioners and County Administrator.

Confers with the County Administrator to inform on key issues and progress toward objectives and to gain their support and approval on issues.

Creates and sustains a high-performance management system and culture that promotes excellence, continuous quality improvement, shared leadership and is highly participative at all levels of the organization.

Responsible for the maintenance and security of all patient records in accordance with HIPAA, which includes keeping updated with current computer and software technology and legislative requirements.

Lead and participate in community wide and departmental projects, initiatives and task forces. Cultivates cooperative partnerships with outside public and private organizations to access and maximize resources and improve the efficiency of service delivery.

Oversees the investigation and inspection into matters affecting public health; oversees the management of epidemics, infectious, communicable and other diseases and conditions affecting public health.

Represents the Health Department and Mesa County through participation, coordination, and collaboration in various local, state and national boards, commissioners, committees, and community service groups related to program activities, responsibilities and funding.

Under direction of the Board of Health, establishes and develops mechanisms to ensure collection of fees established by state and local boards of health and other fees authorized for the issuance of licenses and permits.

Ensures the Health Department conducts appropriate assessments to measure and monitor the health status of Mesa County.

Assures that information is provided to the pubic regarding the causes, nature and prevention of dangers or communicable diseases; provides education on the preservation, promotion and improvement of population and environmental health.

Serves as the official registrar for all vital records, as required by Colorado law.

Serves as an advisor to make recommendations that shape policies that have significant long-term impacts on Mesa County’s resources, priorities and direction.

Researches and analyzes sensitive, controversial, and/or highly visible policy issues, defines/frames issues, determines appropriate methods of approach, and conducts or facilitates analysis of relevant data including best practices.

Develops proposals, recommendations regarding short- and long-term policy options, devises implementation strategies and their impact including developing internal and external involvement strategies, and discusses with appointing authorities/executives’ recommendations, options, alternatives and courses of action that most effectively achieve the overall goals of Mesa County.

Participates in the analysis of proposed legislation, regulation, and/or significant issues related to Mesa County’s priorities, goals and services and represents Mesa County at meetings and intergovernmental activities to influence legislative and/or regulatory change, garner support, shape opinions, and advocate controversial positions in order to achieve Mesa County’s goals, interests and needs.

Acts as a technical expert in Public Health and provides leadership, focus and direction to cross functional, departmental and/or jurisdictional teams in order to achieve important Mesa County objectives related to Mesa County’s priorities.

Cultivates, fosters and maintains positive working relationships with representatives from Mesa County, outside agencies, departments, community and business groups, legislative officials, and other stakeholders to gain their cooperation and support to further organizational interests and objectives.

By position, performs lead work or supervises employees, provides guidance and technical support and assists employees with difficult and/or unusual assignments.

Oral and written communications must be clear and effective.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education and Experience:

Section 6 CCR 1014-6-1.2

25-1-508(5)(c)(I) The public health director shall possess such minimum qualifications as may be prescribed by the state board. A public health director may be a physician, a public health nurse, or other qualified public health professional. A public health director may practice medicine or nursing within his or her license and scope of practice, as necessary, to carry out the functions of the office of the public health director. The qualifications shall reflect the resources and needs of the county or counties covered by the agency. If the public health director is not a physician, the county or district board shall employ or contract with at least one medical officer to advise the public health director on medical decisions.

Except as provided in section 1.3 of these rules, a public health director shall have the minimum experience and training standards set forth in subsections (2) or (3) of this section.

A Physician Director candidate shall:(a) Be licensed to practice medicine in the state of Colorado within six months of hire;(b) Have graduated from an approved medical school (MD or DO) and preferably be certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine or American Board of Osteopathic Preventive Medicine; and(c) Have five years within the past ten years of successful and responsible administrative experience in public health or a closely related field, including at least two years’ experience in supervising public health professionals.(d) A candidate with one year of graduate study in a recognized school of public health is preferred.

A Non-Physician Director candidate shall:(a) Have a master's degree in a public health discipline such as environmental health, health education, epidemiology, health administration/policy, biostatistics, etc; nursing, public administration, health administration or a closely related discipline; and(b) Have five years within the past ten years of successful and responsible administrative experience in public health or a closely related field, including at least two years’ experience in supervising public health professionals.(c) A nurse candidate shall be licensed to practice in the state of Colorado within six months of hire.(d) Medical Officer: If the public health director is not a licensed physician, a designated medical officer (advisor) shall be employed or contracted (paid or volunteer) by the district or county board of health to advise the public health director on medical decisions and be available at all times to the public health director. The medical officer must be a graduate from an approved medical school (MD or DO) and licensed to practice medicine in the state of Colorado.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This position requires standing, stooping, sitting, bending, twisting, and lifting up to 20 pounds. Work is generally confined to a standard office environment.

May be exposed to communicable diseases, infections, blood and bodily fluids.

A seniority system that rewards employees based on length of employment and relevant experience with prior agencies.

A merit system that rewards or penalizes employees for exceptional or below standard job performance.

Education, training, or experience to the extent that they are reasonably related to or impact the efficiency of the work in question.

This position is eligible for the Mesa County benefit package which includes the following:

• Medical

• Dental

• Vision

• Retirement

• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave

• Life insurance

• Long term disability