Public Health Officer

Are you a dedicated public health professional with a passion for leadership and community well-being? We are seeking a highly skilled Public Health Officer to oversee and administer the County's medical Public Health Program. Under policy direction and in compliance with legal responsibilities, you will play a key role in planning, organizing, and administering the program while providing oversight of divisions within the Health Care Services Agency. If you're ready to make a difference, we want you on our team!

Under policy direction and in accordance with legal authorities and responsibilities, plans, organizes, and administers the County medical Public Health Program and provides oversight of selected division or divisions within Health Care Services Agency; provides leadership and participates in the design, development, evaluation, and implementation of departmental goals and strategies for care; develops, implements and monitors policies, procedures, systems and standards for county operated and contracted medical services to ensure effective delivery of services and compliance with local, state and federal laws pertaining to the practice of medicine within the county setting; enforces Local, State and Federal public health laws; serves as the local Registrar of Vital Records for the County; provides highly complex assistance to the Director of the Health or designee; represents the Agency before boards, committees, Local, State and Federal health agencies, community organizations, and the general public on medical issues, and does related work as required.

APPLICATION REVIEW
The first review of applications will be completed on 04/16/2026. Applications submitted after this date will be screened as received.

SIGN ON BONUS

This position may qualify for a Sign-On incentive. The appropriate Department Head with the County of Lake can request a Sign-On Incentive payment of 10% of the annual rate of pay to a newly appointed employee not to exceed $10,000.00, if the position meets qualifications. The hiring incentive will be made in two (2) payments (the total amount to be split in half). The first payment will be made to an employee within the next available pay period following the initial, first-time hire of the employee with the County of Lake. The second payment will be made upon successful completion of employment probation.

Employee must remain employed with the County for two (2) years or repay the hiring incentive; the employee shall authorize such repayment as a payroll deduction from the final paycheck, and/or repay any shortage not covered in the final paycheck with a personal check payable to the County of Lake within 15 days of termination.

RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT
To assist in attracting qualified candidates for hard to fill positions the County of Lake may reimburse a new employee for expenses incurred in relocating to Lake County. The County Administrative Officer and Human Resources Director are authorized to determine whether a new employee is eligible to receive such reimbursement and the amount of reimbursement up to a maximum of $3,500 per employee.

An employee who does not complete one (1) year of service with the County shall return the relocation reimbursement to the County and authorize such repayment as a payroll deduction from their final paycheck. Any shortage not covered in the final paycheck shall be repaid with a personal check payable to the County of Lake within 15 days of termination.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER

DEFINITION

Under policy direction and in accordance with legal authorities and responsibilities, plans, organizes, and administers the County medical Public Health Program and provides oversight of selected division or divisions within Health Care Services Agency; provides leadership and participates in the design, development, evaluation, and implementation of departmental goals and strategies for care; develops, implements and monitors policies, procedures, systems and standards for county operated and contracted medical services to ensure effective delivery of services and compliance with local, state and federal laws pertaining to the practice of medicine within the county setting; enforces Local, State and Federal public health laws; serves as the local Registrar of Vital Records for the County; provides highly complex assistance to the Director of the Health or designee; represents the Agency before boards, committees, Local, State and Federal health agencies, community organizations, and the general public on medical issues, and does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This single-position class which serves as the local medical / public health authority to issue and/or enforce local health orders, ordinances and statutes to assure the effectiveness of mandated health protection functions, to assess the health status of the community and to provide related medical direction to the Public Health Division of the Health Services Department. The incumbent also has the responsibility to enforce rules, regulations, orders, and ordinances related to public health. The Public Health Officer is appointed by the County Board of Supervisors, advises on health-related aspects of policies for the County, and possesses the powers, duties, and responsibilities relating to the preservation and protection of public health.

This class is distinguished from the Health Services Director in that the latter has overall administrative and operational responsibility for the Public Health Department.

This is a discrete classification. The incumbent in this management position serves at the pleasure of his/her appointing authority, which means the employment relationship is at-will, and that the County of Lake or the employee may terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Reports to the Board of Supervisors.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the scope of duties performed by employees in this class and are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

· Develops and maintains awareness of ordinances, laws, rules, and regulations related to public health issues.

· Assesses and reports on the health status of the community, using accepted epidemiological methods.

· Acts as a medical consultant to the Board of Supervisors and the Health Services Department, helping to set priorities and establish policies on health-related matters.

· Provides leadership in public health matters for the community, assessing health risks and communicating those risks responsibly and effectively to the community.

· Ensures the effectiveness of mandated health protection functions of County government, including services related to communicable disease control, maternal and child health, emergency services and disaster preparedness, sudden infant death, family planning, environmental health, vital statistics registrar for births and deaths, public health nursing, nutrition, and chronic diseases.

· Ensures a working relationship with a public health laboratory for services.

· Provides public health and medical expertise, a community perspective, leadership, and facilitation to public agencies and community-based organizations that impact public health and public policy.

· Develops and maintains an effective and cooperative working relationship with the Health Services Director in support of service delivery.

· Advises the Health Services Director about administrative medical issues.

· Works in partnership with the Health Services Director regarding the development of the department’s budget and effectively sets and follows a budget, particularly in relation to determining priorities and resource allocations for public health programs.

· Advises the California Department of Public Health via the California Conference of Local Health Officers on the development of public health-related standards, rules, and regulations, as required by statute.

· Provides for the clinical oversight of mid-level practitioners, public health nursing staff, and vital statistic support staff via medical and public health protocol development.

· Performs related duties as assigned.

· Regularly travels to off-site locations to conduct Public Health information outreach.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

· Clinical medicine and public health, including biostatistics, environmental health, maternal and child health, sudden infant death, family planning, public health laboratory services, vital statistics, public health nursing, nutrition, and chronic diseases.

· Epidemiology and disease transmission.

· Principles, practices, and methods of public health emergency preparedness.

· Principles, methods, practices, and current trends in general and public health programs.

· Community aspects of public health, including community resources and demography and their relationship to the development and operation of public programs and services.

· Federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing communicable diseases, public health, and disabling conditions.

· Environmental, sociological, and psychological problems related to public health programs.

· Child growth and development.

· Program development, monitoring, and evaluation.

· Principles, practices, and techniques of public health administration.

· Budget development and fiscal controls.

· Unique psycho, social, and cultural issues encountered in a rural health program.

· Customer service principles and techniques.

· Written and oral communications skills.

· Proper English spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

· Computers and software programs (e.g., Microsoft software applications) to conduct research, assess information, and/or prepare documentation.

· Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction.

Ability to:

· Plan, organize, manage, and administer Public Health programs and services.

· Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.

· Develop, organize, analyze, and interpret statistical data.

· Assist with the development and administration of budget and control expenditures.

· Develop and maintain effective public relations with clients, staff, community groups, and other government organizations.

· Develop, maintain, and prepare public health statistics, records, and required reports.

· Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

· Effectively represent the Public Health Department in contacts with the public, community organizations, and other government agencies.

· Convert complex and technical medical terminology and concepts into easily understood written documents and forms that are accessible and useful for both professional staff and laypersons.

· Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with community organizations, other County departments, and other government agencies to accomplish goals through others.

· Regularly work well under pressure, meeting critical deadlines.

· Utilize a computer, relevant software applications, and/or other equipment as assigned to perform a variety of work tasks.

· Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Licensing and Certifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate valid California Driver’s License.

Possession of a valid unrestricted Physician’s and Surgeon’s license issued by the California Medical Board.

OR

Possession of a valid, unrestricted Doctor of Osteopathy license issued by Osteopathic Medical Board of California.

Must be eligible for State Skilled Professional Medical Personnel (SPMP) classification as defined by 42 CFR PART 432.

Applicants who are eligible for a license to practice medicine and surgery in the State of California, but who do not currently have a California license may be considered, however, must obtain the license before the date of hire.

Education and Experience:

Graduation from a medical college of good standing and repute, per California Health and Safety Code Section 101005.

Three (3) years of full-time experience as a licensed physician.

OR

Two (2) years of full-time experience as a licensed physician in a public health agency.

A graduate degree in public health is preferred.

Certification or eligibility for certification in any of the following medical specialties, such as preventive medicine/public health, family practice, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, or internal medicine is preferred.

General Recruitment Information:
This is not exhaustive of all job responsibilities. For more details, please refer to the link provided below.

To view the complete job description please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers

The information presented in job postings, job descriptions, or recruitment materials does not form a legally binding contract, either explicit or implicit. Benefits may differ among different employee groups. The details provided in these materials are subject to change or cancellation without prior notification. Prospective employees of the County of Lake must undergo the County's pre-employment medical review program upon receiving a conditional job offer before assuming their position with the County.

Applicants may substitute relevant experience and/or education at a 2 to 1 ratio to fulfill minimum qualifications. For further details, individuals should reach out to the Human Resources department.

ADA Accommodations

Individuals in need of accommodation during the application and/or selection process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should reach out to County of Lake Human Resources at (707) 263-2213.

The County is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer

Veteran's Preference

WORKING CONDITIONS, ADA, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
The County of Lake is an equal opportunity employer and will comply with its obligations under the law to provide equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Incumbents generally work partially in an office environment with moderate noise levels and controlled temperature conditions and partially in the field. As such, incumbents may have occasional exposure to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, and direct exposure to hazardous physical conditions. Incumbents may also be subject to clients or members of the public afflicted with behavioral disorders or who are under emotionally stressful conditions.

Positions in this class typically require: sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

A successful candidate will be required to submit to and pass a background check prior to the appointment. Depending upon the position and/or assigned department, the background check may include but is not limited to civil and criminal history check, reference check, Live Scan, and/or credit check (as allowed under state law).

Disaster Service Workers: As members of the County of Lake Emergency Services Organization, all Lake County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to perform certain emergency services at the direction of the department and / or County.

The contents of this class specification shall not be construed to constitute any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee, nor shall it constitute a contract of employment. The County of Lake assumes no responsibility beyond the general accuracy of the document, nor does it assume responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained herein. The contents of this specification may be modified or revoked without notice. Terms and conditions of employment are determined through a “meet and confer” process and are subject to the Memorandum of Understanding currently in effect.