Deputy Health Officer

• Leadership: Takes responsibility and action for the Health Officer when needed. Manage the departments that need assistance. Assist in expanding and growing new or existing programs within the Vanderburgh County Health Department. Provide a positive work environment that is inclusive for all staff. Help in training and managing staff when needed.
• Policy: Coordinates the periodic review of local, state, and federal legislation and ordinances to ensure the compliance of current departmental policies.
• Spokesperson/Community Partner Outreach: Attends meetings of public health and other relevant professional associations to consider threats to public health and ways to meet those threats as well as to consider how to deal with managerial, budgetary, legal, and other administrative matters of public health importance. Represents the Health Department as needed at city, public, professional, and civic meetings as assigned by the Administrator and Health Officer.
• Fiscal Leadership: Assist with day-to-day financial operations. In conjunction with authorities and the leadership team, and the health department financial planning team, directs and coordinates the annual budget process. With the Health Department’s financial staff and the accounting and financial planning team, ensures that the accounting system is capable of providing the organization with quick access to financial information to facilitate program planning and enable the strategic use of government and grant resources. Makes recommendations to foster improved efficiency across the Health Department. Performs a variety of strategic planning and analytical duties assessing the Health Department’s present and future financial needs to sustain operations including the collection of miscellaneous revenue and fees.
• Human Resources: Provides guidance with recruitment, retention, and restructuring within divisions and Health Department. Manages human resource functions for the administration division: training, employee relations, recruitment, hiring and retention strategies, and performance reviews. Performs functions both directly and indirectly through leaders and supervisors. Oversight of employee relations, pay equity, promotions, termination, and grievances. Models commitment to and fosters departmental values of professionalism and excellence, innovation, collaboration, and social justice and equity. Cultivates the values of the Health Department and instills a human capital development and coaching culture. Promotes and demonstrates a positive, healthy working environment that fosters constructive employee engagement, creativity, productivity, job satisfaction, and motivation to deliver high-quality performance.
• Management/Supervision: Meets with leaders and supervisors of the operating divisions, sections, or projects of the Health Department to provide direction to their respective programs and to consider changes in plans or operations that may reflect changes in public health needs, budget, staff, or other changes. Supervises division-level executive and management-level positions. Supports and motivates staff in identifying and completing professional development goals. Provides direct supervision and support to the office manager/administrative support staff. Provides a strong day-to-day leadership presence and support to Health Department staff by maintaining an open-door policy.
• Systems Improvement: Oversees the performance management process to promote the Health Department’s reputation for best practices and resource optimization. Along with commissioner and appropriate staff, manages and reports on key impact measures.
• Development: Along with and leadership and staff teams, identifies growth opportunities and priorities. Works in collaboration with the senior leadership to increase fee-for-service revenues and ensure compliance once grants/contracts are received.
• Technology: Manages the current technology infrastructure and leads the planning for the next level of information technology that supports the growth of specific programs and the organization overall.

• Qualifications: Licensed physician in Indiana with an unlimited license to practice in Indiana.  Masters Public Health is preferred, Five (5) years’ experience in a professional medical capacity, One (1) year administrative management experience in a health program. Must maintain malpractice insurance coverage to the current level required by the Indiana Patients’ Compensation Fund. Board Certified by the applicable American Board of Medical Specialties (or qualified for such application).
• Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of public health administration, policies, and practice and understanding of state public health laws and regulations and their application at the local level. Knowledge of epidemiology and statistics and experience in health research. Understanding of health prevention and risk reduction. Experience leading collaborations with a broad range of partners, including community leaders, community-based organizations, and state or federal partners. Thorough understanding of finance systems. Broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, budgeting, business analysis, information systems, human resources, and marketing. Knowledge of principles and processes of personnel management, including leadership, coaching, evaluation, development, and counseling. Familiarity with medical terminology and documentation. Knowledge of local and regional health systems, agencies, community resources, and patterns of referral. Theories, principles, practices, procedures, and applications of epidemiological research and methodologies including survey design, data management, and statistical analysis. Disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Program evaluation methodologies and management analysis. Functions and operations of related agencies and community organizations. Current principles, best practices, and trends in a service delivery system, and Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Improvement (QI). Disparities in health outcomes for vulnerable populations including socio-economic and environmental facts that affect health outcomes and cause disparities.
• Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills and computer proficiency. Successful at seeking out additional funding sources that help promulgate our charter and coordinate with partners. Outstanding public speaking skills. Demonstrated group facilitation skills.
• Abilities: Ability to provide oversight and assistance in development of programs to meet the needs of diverse populations. Demonstrated experience in or with diverse communities or underserved populations and commitment to improving health equity. Ability to analyze, interpret, and explain proposed legislation and programs in terms of their implications and impacts on Health Department programs, operations, and sources of revenue. Ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; high level of business acumen including successful budget management; the ability to balance the delivery of programs against the realities of a budget; and problem solving, project management, and creative resourcefulness. Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan. Ability to effectively build organizational and staff capacity, developing a top-notch workforce and processes that ensure the organization runs smoothly. Exceptional capacity for managing and leading people; a team builder who has experience in scaling up organizations; ability to connect to staff both on an individual level and in large groups; capacity to enforce accountability, develop, and empower leaders from the bottom up, lead from the top down, cultivate entrepreneurship, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of the team so as to put people in a position to succeed. Proven track record of exceeding goals and a bottom-line orientation. Able to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available; not afraid to take charge of a situation; can overcome resistance to leadership and take unpopular stands when necessary. Ensure the establishment of division infrastructure to address the social determinants of health in programs and services. Facilitate and ensure effective communication, verbally and in writing, with attention to linguistic preference and cultural proficiency. Exercise interpersonal sensitivity, political astuteness, and group interaction skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships. Continuously improve the services and activities of the Health Department. Prepare, analyze, and monitor budgets. Manage, and adapt to, multiple and frequent changes in priorities, standards, regulations, and requirements; operate flexibly within shifting political and operational constraints. Effectively promote health across the lifespan. Interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Collaborate with other departments, agencies, government entities and local communities to achieve division and organizational goals, while leveraging resources.
• Licenses/Certifications: Licensure: Valid Indiana Nursing License. Certifications: Field-related certifications desirable.
• Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary role, with most of the duties performed on a computer and phone. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Desk and workspaces are able to accommodate a wheelchair. Potential travel.

Our benefits make Vanderburgh County Health Department an exceptional place to work. We offer:

• Starting salary: negotiable
• Comprehensive benefits package, including: 5 vacation days after the first 6 months and 10 per year with expanded vacation after 5 years and 15 paid holidays annually; medical, dental, and vision coverage; disability insurance; life insurance.
• Flexible work hours; 40-hour work week with very occasional weekend assignments. Full Time, usual hours 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., M-F, with lunch breaks.
• A guaranteed pension plan after meeting pension benefit requirements, Public Employee Retirement Fund (PERF).
• Opportunities for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program for eligible workers.
• Employees receive fully funded trainings and certifications throughout their onboarding process and workforce development during their employment. 
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and welcoming environment. Affirmative action commitment. 
• Vanderburgh County Health Department is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, Vanderburgh County Health Department will take the steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Vanderburgh County Health Department at 812-435-2400.