Public HealthMadison & Dane County

announces the opening for the position of

DIRECTOR

PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY

Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) is a local health department that seeks to promote wellness, prevent disease, and help ensure a healthy environment. PHMDC is a City-County health department that was created in 2008 through the merger of the Dane County Division of Public Health and City of Madison health departments. PHMDC serves almost 500,000 people who live in the 1,200 square miles of urban, suburban, small town, and rural environments in Dane County.

The decision to create a merged department was made to combine the public health functions of the County and City to avoid duplication of services, improve efficiency in operations, and expand the capacity of public health. PHMDC is accountable to both the County and City. Both legislative bodies must approve the annual operating budget, and the Director is appointed by both the County Executive and Mayor. Each entity appoints four members to the Board of Health.

The total 2011 operating budget is $15.5 million, with the County contributing about 55 percent and the City contributing about 45 percent, a formula which varies slightly from year to year depending upon the equalized valuation assessment done by the state. The department is staffed by about 145 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. It is the second largest health department in Wisconsin.

The work of PHMDC is divided into three divisions:

y The Environmental Health Division includes the licensed establishment program, the well and septic program, a household hazardous waste program, animal control services, emergency preparedness and tobacco, radon and lead poisoning prevention programs. The division has about 40 FTE employees.

y The Community Health Division includes immunizations, STI/HIV services, tuberculosis services, WIC, a chronic disease program, maternal child health, injury prevention, breast and cervical cancer screening, an oral health program, refugee services and a health equity team. The division has about 95 FTE employees.

y The Administration Division is responsible for payroll, accounting, purchasing, personnel, and budgeting. It oversees the clerical staff assigned to the other two divisions.

For more information about PHMDC, visit the website at: www.publichealthmdc.com.

CITY OF MADISON AND DANE COUNTY

Located in southern Wisconsin, Dane County is a fast growing and diverse community. It is the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin. The City of Madison is a vibrant and comfortable place to raise a family. Madison was rated by Money Magazine as the #1 best mid-sized city to live in America and Child Magazine rated Madison among the top ten cities in the U.S. for families.

Dane County has a current population of approximately 500,000 citizens in 61 unique cities, towns and villages. Dane County has high quality natural resources, including 67 lakes and 475 miles of streams and rivers, prime farmland, 150 miles of bike and pedestrian trails, nearly 50 miles of equestrian trails, more than 100 miles of hiking/cross country ski trails, and 32 county parks with more than 12,000 acres of county parklands.

A variety of exciting attractions await you in the City of Madison and Dane County, Wisconsin. On any given Saturday between May and November, shoppers can purchase reasonably priced, locally grown produce at the Wisconsin Farmers’ Market, the largest farmers’ market in the nation. People with an appreciation for fine visual art will be pleased with the numerous museums in Madison, ranging from historically focused ones such as the Veteran’s Museum to higher end art museums like the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Further, Art Fair on the Square, an annual event, features artists from all over the world. Those with an appreciation for the performing arts will be satisfied with the many theaters and arenas in Dane County such as the Overture Center and the Alliant Energy Center, which feature local, national and international talent appealing to many artistic tastes. In addition to enjoying the fine dining choices offered through the hundreds of restaurants in Madison, a love of culture and diversity in Dane County is apparent by the many ethnic and cultural festivals that are celebrated year round. Finally, sports fans will be thoroughly satisfied with Dane County and should take advantage of the many opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports such as hunting, camping and fishing. Likewise, as the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a major part of the Madison community, there are frequent opportunities to support the Badgers by attending Big Ten Men’s and Women’s sports events at the Kohl Center.

The community is home to a variety of health resources. In addition to the UW Hospital and Clinics, Dane County has three community hospitals, a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital, one federally qualified health center, and many medical clinics. These resources allow most Dane County residents access to high quality medical care, although approximately 13 percent of adults are uninsured and ready access to dental care and mental health services continue to be a challenge.

The community’s overall health profile mirrors the major health trends for the rest of the nation. The leading preventable causes of death are cancer, heart disease, stroke, unintentional injuries and chronic lung disease. For many health conditions, morbidity and mortality rates are lower, but health disparities are of concern. As elsewhere, obesity and Type 2 diabetes are on the rise. The new Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County will help the community address these and other challenges.

DIRECTOR

The Director of the Department of Public Health Madison & Dane County is responsible for leading and managing a progressive public health department. This innovative leader directs staff engaged in diverse programs such as: Environmental Health, Public Health Nursing, Community Health Education, Laboratory Services, and associated public health programs and services consistent with applicable state mandates under the policy direction of the joint Board of Health for Madison & Dane County (BOHMDC). This work is performed within policy parameters and under the general direction of the BOHMDC, the City of Madison Mayor, and the Dane County Executive.

Other management responsibilities include:

y Developing and implementing strategic plans for the department using a collaborative and interactive process.

y Establishing effective performance measurement criteria to plan for and evaluate public health services consistent with state mandates and public policy parameters.

y Meeting with individuals, groups and organizations interested in public health issues to foster community-wide support to address public health concerns.

y Providing leadership, guidance and direction for the delivery of public health programs and services for communicable disease control, health promotion and control and the prevention of environmental hazards.

y Providing leadership in the development and implementation of diverse public health promotion and education programs identified through the community health assessment and community health improvement plan.

y Developing and implementing effective collaborative efforts with academic, federal, state and local health related agencies and organizations to support and deliver public health services.

y Collaborating with various City, County and other municipal management teams and related interdepartmental and community-wide committees on community health initiatives.

y Providing high-level public health expertise and perspective regarding a wide range of public health and organizational issues.

y Providing advice in areas of public health to the Mayor, City Council, County Executive and Board of Supervisors for the purpose of establishing or evaluating the impact of specific public policy decisions.

y Hiring, managing and supervising a diverse staff of professional, paraprofessional and administrative personnel, including laboratory personnel, nurses, aides and clerical staff, either directly or through subordinate supervisors.

y Providing support, advice and information to the Board of Health for Madison & Dane County as well as developing budgets, reports, etc., at its direction.

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

The Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County will be expected to manage and lead the department through the following challenges and opportunities:

y Maintaining and improving public health services within fiscal constraints.

y Preparing the department for potential accreditation and a comprehensive community health assessment.

y Evaluating programs, services, and service delivery models using best practices and evidence based management.

y Working with human resources staff to improve labor relations.

y Balancing and coordinating public health services in urban and rural communities.

y Addressing chronic disease and health equity concerns.

y Building community partnerships with academic institutions, service providers and other local governments.

y Continuing to build a cohesive and positive work environment and an identity for merged agency.

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP STYLE

Successful candidates for the position will possess the following management style and leadership qualities:

y Conveys a creative and proactive vision for the department.

y Communicates openly with honesty, integrity, respect and transparency.

y Maintains positive relationships with appointed and elected officials.

y Appropriately delegates responsibility to managers while maintaining accountability for results.

y Uses collaboration and partnerships to advance the goals of the department.

y Interacts with staff at all levels of the organization and is accessible and approachable.

y Addresses large and small audiences comfortably and adapts communication styles to most effectively communicate with the appropriate audience.

y Maintains objectivity and fairness.

y Maintains a positive and engaging attitude and enthusiasm about public health and the department’s programs.

y Manages change by facilitating compromise and consensus.

y Possess cultural competency and is aware of the populations the department serves.

y Displays flexibility and adaptability to change.

y Is sensitive to political concerns and comfortable working in a political environment while maintaining objectivity.

DANE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OPERATING UNDER A CIVIL SERVICE MERIT SYSTEM.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

The position requires a minimum of three years of management experience leading a comprehensive public health agency with complex program and funding considerations. Such experience would normally be gained after graduation from an accredited college or university, followed by attainment of a master’s degree in public health, public administration or related health field. Other combinations of training and/or experience that can be demonstrated to result in the possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position will also be considered. Successful candidates must have the ability to meet the statutory requirements applicable to a local Health Officer of a Level III level health department, including ability to attain licensure or certification as indicated in Wisconsin.

Candidates who reach the final selection stage will also be required to pass a thorough background investigation, employment reference and driving record check.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate should have extensive knowledge of public health principles, assessment, surveillance, strategies, techniques, and evaluation tools and techniques as they apply to public health practice. The individual should also have knowledge/skills in:

y Current principles and practices of public health administration, incorporating knowledge of community health, chronic disease, sanitation, environmental hazards, communicable disease control, emergency preparedness and laboratory operations.

y Applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

y The principles and practices of public administration relevant to the management of a large Health Department, incorporating complex budgeting considerations and multiple funding sources.

y The full range of supervisory principles and practices, labor relations and personnel management.

y Effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to speak before groups.

y Effective performance measurement criteria to plan for and evaluate public health services.

y The programs of a multi-faceted public health department.

y Effective collaborative efforts to support and deliver public health services.

y Managing a diverse professional, technical and administrative staff.

y Planning, organizing, coordinating and directing complex programs and budgets.

y Providing related advice and consultation to elected officials, staff, public policy boards and commissions.

y Establishing and maintaining effective working relations with the medical community, the media, and a diverse clientele.

y Attending meetings and other functions during the evening and/or on weekends.

y Serving during emergencies and disasters.

COMPENSATION

Annual salary of $90,000 to $120,000 depending on qualifications and experience, along with an excellent benefits package. Employment terms are under a multi-year contract of up to five years.

HOW TO APPLY

Recruitment ends 4:30 p.m., Friday, August 19,

2011. To be considered for this position,

applicants must file a completed Dane County

employment application, current cover letter,

detailed resume and responses to the questions

above. For application materials, contact: Dane

County Employee Relations, Room 418 City-

County Building, Madison Wisconsin 53703, (608)

266-4123 or for those with TDD equipment only,

(608) 266-4125, or through the Dane County

website at: http://jobs.countyofdane.com.

Application materials must be returned by the

closing date above. An application postmarked by

the closing date but not received in the Employee

Relations Division will not be considered as being

filed in a timely manner. Should you have any

questions pertaining to this recruitment please

contact: Sylvia Thornton at: (608) 266-4649 or

email: thornton.sylvia@countyofdane.com.

ACHIEVEMENT HISTORY QUESTIONNAIRE

To be considered for this position, with 2 pages per question using Times New Roman 11 as the font type and size, please describe your education, training and experience in the following areas:

1. Please describe your leadership style and successful strategies you have employed to resolve conflict and build consensus.

2. Describe your experience working with and reporting to elected officials and policymaking boards, emphasizing any experience in simultaneously working with or reporting to elected officials of different jurisdictions.

3. Describe your knowledge and experience developing, enhancing and sustaining population-based public health programs and services in a diverse and growing community. Discuss your strategies and successful experiences in collaborating with partners to garner community support and resources for population-based health promotion initiatives. Please include specific examples of working with communities of color to develop culturally sensitive public health strategies. Your answer should include specific examples and the results.