03/16/2001 34640

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR

DEFINITION: This is professional work as a division chief managing multiple public health programs or as the Assistant Director, Bureau of Community Health Systems.

An employee in this class functions as the chief of a division managing multiple public health programs with overall responsibility for planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, and implementing public health programs which involve the provision of public health care services, the detection of disease conditions, and/or the prevention of various diseases to targeted populations through contracted providers or district staff or as the Assistant Director plans, organizes and directs the implementation of multiple public health programs for the Bureau of Community Health Systems to ensure programmatic consistency across health district lines. The work involves approving funding and overseeing the development of new initiatives consistent with state and federal guidelines or mandates; developing and interpreting policies to conform with new health care developments and shifts in department focus and to determine the impact of new state and federal guidelines on providers and clients served by the division; interacting with constituent groups and serves on boards, task forces, committees, and commissions to address strategic issues impacting a division or bureau; and defining the need and establishing the specifications for the development of information technology impacting a division, including data collection, reporting, and payment systems. Supervision is exercised over Public Health Program Managers and/or Public Health Administrators, technical, and clerical personnel engaged in a variety of specialized public health programs. Work is assigned in the form of broad program goals and objectives, however, employees are responsible for establishing the manner in which objectives are accomplished. Results are reviewed by the Bureau Director for effectiveness and consistency with goals and objectives.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Manages, as division chief, multiple public health programs for 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.

Manages, as the Assistant Director, the integration of multiple public health programs for the Bureau of Community Health Systems, including those in school health, communicable disease, immunizations, chronic disease intervention, tuberculosis control, sexually transmitted disease, HIV/AIDS, health risk reduction, environmental health and maternal and child health, for consistency across and between health districts.

Manages the work of Public Health Program Managers and/or Public Health Program Administrators and directs their activities in the functioning of a division's programs.

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

Manages staff and contractors in the development of information technology plans and specifications, data collection plans, strategic program plans and fiscal plans for all public health programs managed, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation plans.

Interacts with and responds to inquiries from legislators, local government officials, health providers, professional organizations, and the general public involving the interpretation of policies and procedures related to public health programs.

Approves the division's budgets in accordance with federal and/or state fiscal requirements, including block grant mandates and long term health goals.

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

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; and to formulate policies, develop new programs, and to address specific issues impacting the division.

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

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

Oversees the modification of public health programs to conform to federal grant requirements; approves new policies and procedures when necessary; manages the creation of appropriate data reporting, collection, and fiscal management systems.

Assigns work to professional staff, including public health program managers, and administrators, and directs 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.

Manages 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.

Reviews progress being made in the development of requests for proposals, applications, or invitations to bid; in the processing and approval of contracts,
and for adherence to contract terms and conditions.

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 revision to legislation to enhance the utilization of public health program resources.

Oversees the conduct of population-based needs assessments, the development of data collection methods, analysis and interpretation of data to ensure that
contracted providers are meeting contractual requirements for public health programs.

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

Employees in the class may participate in the performance of their subordinates' work consistent with organizational or operational requirements.

Performs related duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 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 applied to collecting, reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data.

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

Knowledge of the prevention, detection, or treatment of disease conditions.

Knowledge of available funding sources in the federal, state, and private sectors.

Knowledge of modern management principles and practices.

Knowledge of marketing, advertising, and media principles.

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

Ability to oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of contracted providers to determine compliance with contract provisions for the delivery of a public health program.

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

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

Ability to plan, coordinate, and manage the activities of multiple public health programs.

Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.

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

Ability to assess the effectiveness of multiple public health programs and recommend changes to insure compliance with departmental policies.

Ability to interpret the provisions of collective bargaining agreements.

Ability to oversee the review of contracted providers through on-site visits to determine compliance with public health program contract specifications.

Ability to plan and direct the work of professional, technical, and clerical employees in the operation of a division's programs.

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

Two years as a Public Health Program Administrator;

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

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

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

A bachelor's degree and four 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 two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

An associate's degree in allied health sciences or nursing and six 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 two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

Eight 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 two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience;

                                                                                                                                                                                                 or

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 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 two years of administrative, supervisory or consultative experience.