Summary

Description

The Weld County department of Public Health and Environment is looking for a Public Health Communications Manager who will oversee and lend support to staff in multiple public health programs to include tobacco education, prevention, cessation, and enforcement; substance misuse including opioids, alcohol and marijuana; and child fatality prevention. The ideal candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, and a passion for working in a unique, diverse, and growing community with an understanding of the complexities and challenges within these program areas. The most successful candidate will have a track record of success in leading teams with respect to resolving complex problems, budgeting, program development, staff evaluation, and process improvement. The person filling this role will also be proficient at developing community partnerships, developing agendas for internal and external meetings, coordinating and facilitating meetings among a wide range of stakeholders, assigning and reviewing work, participating in the interview, selection process, and onboarding of new employees, making recommendations impacting salaries, job status, and disciplinary action, and facilitating career development independently or in conjunction the Division Director. The ideal candidate will be skilled in grant writing and management, policy development, writing and editing reports and media releases and public speaking.

$97,983.42 – $124,122.46 annually plus benefits (see benefits tab on the job posting) This position will normally start at $97,983.42 annually.

This position is exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

As an applicant for this position, you should be aware of Senate Bill 19-085, the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The act requires employers to announce the pay range for job openings. This range encompasses the nine pay steps available should you receive the position and demonstrate satisfactory performance over time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following job duties are established to outline the basic duties and responsibilities of the above captioned position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Budget and Staff Management, Organizational Responsibilities (75%)

• Coordinates the development, implementation, and evaluation of assigned health education programs.

• Assist with preparing and monitoring the health communication budget, grants, and contracts of directly supervised staff; assists in negotiating their budgets and contract requirements; identifies and assesses potential funding opportunities; assures proposals for funding are in alignment with program and department priorities; coordinates programs within budget constraints.

• Orient and initiate training for directly supervised staff; develop, communicate and monitor work assignments; monitor staff personnel issues; conduct performance appraisals; provide guidance and feedback to staff; support and coach professional development for staff.

• Foster an environment of teamwork, open communication, organization, creative thinking and innovation to maximize the contributions of directly supervised staff in accomplishing Division/Department goals; demonstrates critical thinking; responds with flexibility to changing needs; listens effectively to others in an unbiased manner; promotes the expression of diverse opinions and perspectives; promotes team and organizational learning; generates, shares, and accepts new ideas and incorporates them into the daily operations.

• Offers support and input into the department’s national public health accreditation process, annual report, and reaccreditation process with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). Supports and participates as needed in the department’s performance management workgroup and activities, such as Quality Improvement (QI).

• Attends continuing education courses, conferences, and other learning opportunities related to program responsibilities. Keep up-to-date technically and apply new knowledge to the job.

• Maintain sensitive and confidential records information. Follow the Weld County Code of Conduct and adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines, including HIPAA, and the appropriate non-disclosure and/or release of information.

• Use exceptional customer service skills to respond to community needs, enhance public relations, coordinate activities, and represent WCDPHE in order to promote and maintain a positive public health image and foster pride and professionalism in the workplace and community.

Maintain professional conduct and adhere to the Public Health Code of Ethics; comply with all Federal, State, and local regulations and employer policies and procedures.

• Conduct other duties as assigned.

Communication and Partnerships External to the Organization (25%)

• Act as the back-up Public Information Officer in collaboration with the Division Director/PIO and official liaison for communication with the public and the media regarding public health and emergency response information. Assures the use of media, advanced technologies, and community networks to communicate information.

• Present population health findings and recommendations at community meetings and partner meetings, explaining complex public health initiatives to the public; listens and understands community issues and builds relationships with community members, community groups and other partners on a variety of public health issues and concerns.

• Establish and maintain linkages and partnerships with key stakeholders; facilitate group interactions and decision making; oversee the facilitation of coalitions.

• Serve as an advocate on population-based health issues with local and state government agencies and health service providers/organizations. Acquires and retains knowledge of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD) population-health best practices and guidelines.

• Act as an advocate for health promotion/education programs and resources, both internally and externally. Collaborates on requests for health information and data from partner agencies, leadership, and the public.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health, Public Health Administration, or Health Education/Communication AND;

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in population-based public health, including a minimum of 2 years of experience in a management and leadership role.

• Experience with media and disseminating public health information, public health accreditation, and chronic disease prevention.

• Must have the ability to be reached via a mobile phone and work outside of normal business hours as necessary, especially during emergencies and as needed by the Health Department Executive Director and HECP Division Director.

• Have and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license and use of personal, insured vehicle is required to perform job duties. Dependable transportation and auto insurance, maintained at all times, as required by State law, is required.

• Must pass a criminal background check.

• Knowledge of principles and practices of population-based public health education, evidence-based prevention strategies, emerging disease trends, chronic disease prevention, and planning and evaluation.

• Knowledge of electronic communication, social media, including word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

• Ability to effectively present and communicate information, ideas, and data, verbally in one-on-one, small group situations, and public forums as well as in writing routine reports and correspondence and sharing information with data graphics or visualizations.

• Ability to supervise teams and coach staff as appropriate; ability to problem solve independently and conduct appropriate performance appraisals.

• Ability to collaborate, work well in a team environment, work with a diverse group of people, establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, professionals, other departments, agencies, and the public.

• Ability to adapt to an ever-changing work environment, use limited oversight with independent judgment, and respond to requests on tight timelines.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health, Public Health Administration, Health Education/Communication, or similar degree field.

Other Necessary Requirements

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, talk, and hear.

• The employee frequently is required to walk or sit for long periods of time; use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, controls, or equipment; and reach with hands and arms.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include visual acuity according to Colorado driver's license requirements, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus such as that utilized when using a computer or reading.

• The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, and crouch, ride or drive in vehicles for long periods of time on all types of maintained and unmaintained roads.

• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift or move 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions.

• This position may involve driving for extended distances and periods of time throughout Weld County in all weather conditions typical in Colorado throughout the year.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.