Beaverhead County is an equal opportunity employer. The County shall, upon request, provide reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities.

This job description is intended to reflect core areas of responsibility and an incumbent employees’ knowledge and skill set needed to complete those functions. This document is not intended to catalog each individual duty; employees are routinely called upon to address emerging employer requirements in alignment with individual work units and assignments of jobs. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer change.

Job Title: Public Health Director
Department: Public Health Department
Location: Health Clinic
Reports to: Board of Commissioners

Work Unit Overview: The Beaverhead County Health Department protects and promotes the health of county citizens and the environment through the efforts of dedicated and skilled employees and application of sound public health principle. The department’s role is to identify community health problems; diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community; and enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety.

The mission of the department is to strengthen our community by assessing community needs, promoting physical and mental health, preventing disease, and preparedness planning through community collaboration.

The vision is fostering healthy generations…Healthy you, Healthy me, Healthy us.

Job Summary: The Public Health Director coordinates several health programs and staff to ensure program compliance with applicable public health statutes, laws, and other associated regulations. Duties include planning, organizing, managing, and directing program operations which include professional, fiscal, and personnel management functions and performing in-depth analyses of complex problems affecting program efficiency. Duties also include establishing program goals and objectives and evaluating performance; supervises a staff of professional, technical, and clerical personnel in an assigned program; and performs related duties as required. If applicable, the Director will provide nursing duties as needed. The Director is required to work at the public health office. This is not a “work at home” position.

Occasionally, the Director will be required to work during nontraditional work hours such as during a public health emergency or other situations that demand attention.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These duties are the essential functions and are not all-inclusive of all duties that the incumbent performs.

• Plan and administer health service and community outreach programs within assigned area, including establishing priorities, goals and objectives; monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness, and efficiency of programs; and developing and implementing plans to improve services designed to prevent disease and illness, promote healthy choices and deliver quality health care.

• Coordinate designated public health staff, including training, overseeing work, and establishing and evaluating appropriate performance standards in accordance with Health Department and County objectives.

• Supervise and participate in analytical studies of organization, budgetary and administrative problems, and recommend improvement in methods and procedures to maximize efficiency and quality of County health programs and services.

• Evaluate health service programs and services for compliance with existing federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, and standards. Analyze other public health programs and national health care standards and guidelines to determine appropriate strategies, tools and systems to employ and to evaluate quality and performance of programs in the interest of continuous improvement.

• Supervise and participate in the preparation of program(s) budget(s) by reviewing and analyzing service levels, revenue projections, operating costs and projected improvements for conformity with the overall departmental program. Monitor revenues and expenditures in assigned areas to assure sound fiscal control and prepare annual budget requests. Ensure effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, facilities, and time.

• Participate in and/or report to a variety of meetings, committees, professional associations, Boards, and/or other related groups. Coordinate ongoing program cooperators, managers, and staff of Environmental and Health departments, and others to ensure effective exchange of information, promote resource sharing, and avoid redundancies in program delivery. Participate in Board of Health meetings through public health reports and provide technical assistance regarding Board of Health discussions and decision-making.

• Coordinate with human resources to ensure qualified staffing for operations in compliance with employment regulations and law. This includes hiring, performance management and appraisal, training, overseeing staff, terminating employment, and conducting disciplinary grievance hearings.

• Draft and negotiate contracts and grant applications and monitor contracts for compliance with financial and performance standards. Approve solutions to contractual problems. Assist with researching, writing, and coordinating grants, including monitoring grant expenditures and preparing grant reports.

• Perform public speaking by discussing and explaining department plans and programs at public and community meetings, legislative and administrative hearings, and appropriate forums. Receive community input and review, evaluate, modify, and propose programs to meet community needs.

• Plan community wide education and information programs and participates in advisory boards to promote public health goals and empower county citizens to make healthy choices. Coordinate outreach, training, and related functions to support ongoing operations, develop and disseminate outreach materials, and respond to programmatic inquiries and informational requests.

• Coordinate the various programs and services related to prevention services to prevent disease and injury in the community. Respond to public health emergencies, investigate disease outbreaks, and provide quality health information. Services and information include but are not limited to Immunizations, Communicable Disease, Family Planning, Women, Infant, and Child (WIC), and Emergency Preparedness, Cancer Control (including Tobacco and Breast and Cervical Health), Health Promotion and Wellness.

• Monitor and maintain appropriate levels of resources, supplies, and materials in support of unit operations and activities.

• Evaluate potential client eligibility for participation in applicable health program(s) and make determinations on program acceptance including performing client assessments to determine specialized needs. Monitor program caseload and client participation to ensure program maintains fiscal soundness; make adjustments as appropriate based on caseload and participation analysis results.

Non-Essential Functions:

• Answer complex inquiries and complaints within area of expertise from the public, community groups, private and public agencies, and others to promote grogram objectives and provide transparency in operations.

• Work with Commissioners, Disaster Emergency Coordinator (DES) Coordinator, Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC,) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Director, the Sheriff and other county staff, city law enforcement, city government, schools, and community agencies to plan, prepare, and oversee response during disaster or emergency situations and ensures that applicable health and safety procedures are followed including the Montana Safety Culture Act.

• Administer various departmental programs for training purposes with the oversight of the County Commissioners.

• Perform the duties outlined in the Department’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in the event of a disaster or public health emergency, and ensure coordination with the local hospital, county EOP, and others.

• Perform other duties as assigned including but not limited to managing special projects, attending meetings and conferences, providing backup for other staff, participating in on-going training, etc.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

The physical demands 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.

• Employee must bend, stoop, and kneel for setting up various clinics and providing various program services.

• May be required to lift up to 30 pounds.

• Work is conducted in an office and in many varied settings while inspecting. During all types of weather conditions.

• Position occasionally works in an outdoor environment with exposure to weather-related heat and cold, rain, wind, and related elements.

• May risk exposure to various environmental hazards, and hazardous materials, and communicable diseases during the course of investigations or public health emergencies; occasionally required to utilize protective equipment.

• Requires travel to several facilities throughout the County.

• Occasionally works with hostile individuals during the course of investigative/enforcement functions of the Environmental Health Department.

Supervision Exercised:

Directly supervises four employees (Public Health Nurse, Public Health Assistant, Public Health Interventionist, and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor). Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems; and assuring work is completed within timeframes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The job requires knowledge of principles and practices relating to the management of public health which includes methods to conduct analytical studies related to program improvements; the principles and practices of disease and injury prevention; acceptable cost projection methods; acceptable revenue assumptions procedures and accepted customer survey methods; current issues and trends affecting the program(s) under management control and budget and financial administration and management practices and procedures.

Requires knowledge of the principles, methods, and protocols of public health or behavioral health; legislation and laws that regulate the assigned division and that regulate health services departments in general; principles of public policy, planning, and health services administration; health services department operations; principles and practices of providing community health services; community social, economic, and health related issues that call for the use of public and private county services.

The job also requires knowledge of the principles and practices of federal, state public health regulations and enforcement procedures; investigation techniques and the Departmental EOP.

The job requires skill in researching and resolving problems in order to ensure compliance, the operation of databases and standard office software, and public relations. Also requires the skill to produce acceptable revenue assumptions and the skill to develop, conduct and analyze customer surveys; establish program goals and measurable objectives and perform acceptable data collection, interpretation and evaluation to assess program performance.

The job requires the ability to interpret and explain policies, processes, regulations, and applicable laws in layman’s terms; facilitate meetings effectively and efficiently; plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs; accurately and maintain paper documents and electronic; maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries; and use county resources effectively and efficiently. Also required is the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in occasionally confrontational, adversarial situations; provide guidance to the general public, businesses and other governmental units regarding hazards to the environment and human health;

Other Skills and Abilities:

• organizational

• multitasking

• communications

• teamwork

• critical thinking

• adaptability

• problem solving

• flexibility

• fairness and impartiality

Education and Experience:

The job requires education and experience equivalent to bachelor’s degree in health services or related field and two (2) years of public health management (preferably local public health). A bachelor’s degree in nursing or master’s degree in public health is desirable.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Current Montana Driver’s License

• Current certification with American Heart Association Basic Life Support

• Current nursing registration in the State of Montana (if applicable)

Click here for an application and deliver to:

Beaverhead County Public Health
327 E Helena St
Dillon, MT 59725
(406) 683-4771
shansen@beaverheadcountymt.gov

or:

Beaverhead County Finance
2 S Pacific St
Dillon, MT 59725
406-683-3734
ssetzer@beaverheadcountymt.gov

 

Beaverhead County Weed District is accepting applications for Seasonal Weed Crew positions! This position involves managing noxious weeds through various integrated weed management practices, such as mixing and applying herbicides, operating a variety of equipment, including ATV/UTVs and trucks pulling trailers, adherence to safety standards, and working outdoors. Applicant must be:

• 18 years of age as of June 3rd, 2024.
• Hold a valid driver’s license.
• Be able to carry 25 pounds over rough terrain.

On the job training will be provided to successful applicants hired for the position. Training will include: noxious weed identification, safety procedures including handling, mixing, and application of herbicides, atv/utv driver certification, first aid, and the opportunity to acquire a governmental applicators license. Beaverhead County is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay starts at $14.20-$15.44 dependent on ability to obtain governmental applicators license.

To apply: Submit a generic county application to the Beaverhead County Weed Office. The county application will be provided through the job service, can be picked up at the weed district office or found online at the bottom of the Human Resource page at beaverheadcountymt.gov.

Applications may be emailed to aburch@beaverheadcountymt.gov or dropped off at the Weed District Office: 2 S. Pacific St., Dillon, MT 59725.

For more information, contact Amber Burch, Beaverhead County Weed Coordinator at 406-683-3790.