03/16/2001 34635

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER

DEFINITION: This is professional managerial work in the field of public health.

An employee in this class functions as the manager of a section within a division. Employees are responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating, and implementing public health programs involving the provision of public health care services, detection of disease conditions, and/or the prevention of various diseases to targeted populations through contracted providers or district staff. The work involves supervising the development of program proposals, specifications, and grant applications, the preparation of contracts, and monitoring of contractor performance; reviewing contract work plans and budgets for multiple public health programs for compliance with federal and/or state requirements, ensuring that contract deliverables meet expected program goals and objectives and conform to block grant mandates; providing direction to Public Health Program Administrators in the interpretation of policies governing public health programs and in determining the impact of new state and federal policies on the clients served by their public health programs; and determining the need for data collection and reporting systems used in program planning and development. Supervision is exercised over professional and clerical personnel engaged in the management of public health programs. Work is assigned in the form of specific program goals and objectives. Supervision is received from a higher-level health professional, who reviews work at its conclusion for the accomplishment of goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Manages, as a section chief, multiple public health programs through supervision of Public Health Program Administrators responsible for the development of program proposals, specifications, and grant applications, the preparation of contracts, and monitoring of contractor performance.

Manages public health programs involving the provision of public health care services, the detection of disease conditions, and/or the prevention of various diseases to targeted population groups through contracted providers or district staff.

Supervises staff in the development of data collection instruments to identify and implement a variety of public health services to targeted populations.

Develops data collection, strategic program and fiscal plans for public health programs, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation methods.

Provides technical assistance to public health professional staff from various professional disciplines in developing requests for proposals, applications, and/or invitations to bid; negotiating and writing contracts; monitoring contractor performance; and analyzing reports submitted.

Responds to inquiries from legislators, local government officials, health providers, professional organizations, and the general public in the interpretation of policies and procedures related to public health programs.

Reviews contract work plans and budgets for compliance with federal and/or state requirements to ensure that contract deliverables meet expected program goals and objectives and conform to block grant mandates.

Oversees the development of memoranda of understanding, inter-agency agreements, and/or cooperative agreements to achieve improved coordination and delivery between health-related service systems.

Modifies public health programs to conform to federal grant requirements, recommends new policies and procedures when necessary, and creates appropriate data reporting, collection, and fiscal management systems.

Assigns work to professional staff including Public Health Program Administrators and supervises activities to ensure that public health Program goals and objectives are established and executed according to current scientific practices that have been accepted and approved by the Department of Health.

Oversees the preparation of grant applications for state and federal funds which contain statistical and/or epidemiological data, personnel and fiscal requirements, budget information, project narrative, work plans, quantitative and qualitative outcomes, and ensures that goals and objectives conform to departmental policies.

Represents the Department on boards, task forces, committees, and commissions to respond to changes in state and federal legislation, to address current health, social, and economic problems, to recommend the formulation of policies and the development of new programs, and address specific issues impacting on public health programs.

Manages the creation and implementation of multiple public health program initiatives.

Establishes performance standards for subordinate employees, reviews and evaluates employee's performance, and recommends corrective action as appropriate.

Receives grievances and complaints, investigates employee complaints, and resolves or recommends resolution to grievances or complaints.

Interviews candidates for positions and recommends employee selection.

Trains staff to familiarize them with Commonwealth contract procedures and to further their knowledge of the detection or prevention of various diseases.

Supervises the review of proposed changes to state legislation at the request of the legislative office; recommends revisions to legislation to enhance the utilization of public health program resources and provides comments concerning its impact on public health programs.

Conducts population-based needs assessments, collects, analyzes and interprets data for state and federal reporting and public health program planning, implementation, and contractor monitoring and evaluation.

Recommends modifications to public health program services to ensure they meet the needs of a targeted population and ensures changes are in accordance with existing federal, state, and departmental policies.

Supports the offices of the Secretary of Health, the Deputy Secretary, the Governor and the First Lady on program related public health issues.

An employee in this class may participate in the performance of their subordinates' work consistent with operational and organizational requirements.

Performs related duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of federal and state legislation as it impacts on health delivery systems.

Knowledge of the application of information technology as it relates to the development of data collection, reporting, and financial systems.

Knowledge of budgeting, contract development and contract monitoring principles.

Knowledge of the methods and techniques used in negotiating and writing contracts.

Knowledge of the principles and methods associated with epidemiological and statistical data collection, synthesis analysis and interpretation.

Knowledge of current health, social, and economic problems and resources of client populations.

Knowledge of public health theories that apply to disease prevention, detection, control and treatment.

Knowledge of how to research and acquire funds from federal, state and private entities appropriate for public health services.

Knowledge of management and leadership principles, models, concepts, theories and practices.

Knowledge of marketing, advertising and media principles.

Ability to assess the effectiveness of public health programs and evaluate performance of contracted providers for compliance with contract provisions in the delivery of established public health programs.

Ability to interpret policies, legislation, rules and regulations affecting public health programs.

Ability to analyze the impact of legislation on public health programs and recommends changes to departmental policies and legislation.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret public health program statistical and narrative data.

Ability to assess, plan, create, develop, coordinate, implement, manage and evaluate public health population-based programs and activities.

Ability to interpret the provisions of collective bargaining agreements.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with representatives of local, state, and federal agencies; health organizations and institutions; and the general public.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: One year as a Public Health Program Administrator;

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A bachelor's degree and three years of professional public health, health, allied health sciences, drug and alcohol or related experience, which includes one year of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

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A bachelor's degree and three years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health, or health related services, which includes one year of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

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An associate's degree in allied health sciences or nursing and five years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health, or health related services, which includes one year of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

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Seven years of professional experience in development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment , environmental health or health related services, which includes one year of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

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A master's degree in public health, health services administration, health care administration, health education, public health administration, public administration, nursing, epidemiology, social work, nutrition, hospital administration, physical therapy, occupational therapy, business administration, or education and two years of professional experience in the development or evaluation of grants, contracts or programs for the provision of social, employment, environmental health or health related services, which includes one year of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience.