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Job Description
CAREER DESCRIPTION
Communicable Disease Controller and Deputy Health Officer
(Senior Medical Director)
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.
This recruitment is open to the public for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close at 11:59 p.m. (PST) on Friday, July 25, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.
This recruitment will establish an Open eligible list which will be used to fill current vacancies, and can be used to fill future Senior Medical Director positions within the Health Care Agency. This recruitment may also be used to fill positions in a similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.
HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the leadership of the Agency Director, a dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Public Health Services, and Specialized Medical Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.
THE DEPARTMENT
Public Health Services (PHS) is an interdisciplinary service area at the HCA which consists of approximately 700 public health professionals and support staff across six (6) synchronized departments-OC Public Health Laboratory, Environmental Health Services, Communicable Disease Control, Community & Nursing Services, Clinical Services, and Health Promotion-that integrate and collaborate in the pursuit of preventing disease and creating conditions that enhance the health of both individuals and communities.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Public Health Senior Medical Director (Sr. Medical Director) serves as the Communicable Disease (CD) Controller and Deputy Health Officer for Orange County, CA and is a key leadership role in supporting HCA’s mission by developing, implementing, evaluating, and promoting county-wide public health policies in the areas of infectious and communicable disease surveillance, prevention, education, and control of the spread of disease. The Sr. Medical Director, in collaboration with PHS leadership, provides general direction and input on surveillance and epidemiology for clinical and communicable disease programs through public health, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted diseases (STD), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS), vaccine preventable illness, disease outbreak response, emerging infections, food-borne illness, and infectious disease preparedness and response.
The incumbent reports to the County Health Officer (CHO) and works under the administrative direction of the Public Health Director. The Sr. Medical Director, as the Deputy Health Officer, assumes the duties of the CHO during their absence. The Sr. Medical Director will share 24/7 after-hours night and weekend calls with the other public health physicians for all public health related issues and may be required, on short notice, to work irregular, extended, and after-hours (e.g. holidays, weekends, evenings) during a public health emergency or as required to prevent health issues and ensure public safety.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:- Provide general direction and input on surveillance and epidemiology for all public health programs which includes developing, coordinating, interpreting, and executing policies and practices within Orange County on infectious and communicable disease-related health issues in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and guidelines
- Provide medical and public health practice expertise and epidemiological consultation, internally to HCA programs such as: Family Health, Health Disaster Management, Public Information Office, Public Health Community Nursing, Public Health Laboratory, Environmental Health, Employee Health, and Correctional Medical Services
- Ensure medical community compliance with infectious disease reporting requirements for Orange County and provide oversight to ensure patients with infectious disease have appropriate access to treatment and medical care
- Provide medical direction, consultation, and technical assistance for large contact investigations, hospitals, and worksite investigations; collaborates with stakeholders across various sectors in the planning, response, and management of public health-related disasters, crises, or emergencies
- Convene community groups as needed to partner and facilitate best practices related to infectious disease control and management in Orange County
- Educate staff and medical community about infectious and communicable disease trends, community-wide disease control strategies, and rationale for treatment protocols
- Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) during outbreaks and other public health emergency events and provide medical and epidemiologic expertise on health issues, in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and guidelines; may serve as key spokesperson during infectious disease response events speaking to public health impacts and recommendations for intervention strategies to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases
- Consult with department heads, city, state, and federal health department officials, and others in addressing disease control issues in the community; provide sound decisions and recommendations grounded in scientific evidence review and research
- Take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infectious and communicable disease or occurrence of additional cases, including enforcing all orders, rules, and regulations concerning quarantine and isolation
- Act as the principal advisor to the CHO, HCA Director, and Public Health Director on public health and infectious diseases
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess a valid Physician's and Surgeon's certificate issued by the Board of Medical Examiners of the State of California and will also have completed a formal medical training program for a particular specialty, as approved by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association, or certification of eligibility for certification by an American Specialty Board.
Board Certification in Infectious Diseases or Pulmonary Medicine and experience in a public health agency or healthcare setting focused on population health is highly desirable, but not required.
In addition, the ideal candidate will possess management level experience that demonstrates strong knowledge and expertise in the following core competencies:
Public Health Knowledge | Technical Experience- Understanding and applying modern medicine, including preventive medicine and population health, public health laws and regulations, and the essential public health services
- Understanding a broad range of public health management, including data analysis, supervision, and program planning and evaluation
- Understanding of communicable disease surveillance systems and control for mandated reportable diseases
- Measuring the effectiveness of interventions and communicating this to staff, colleagues, superiors, and funders, and modifying plans as needed to ensure successful outcomes
Leadership | Managerial Skills- Leading and managing staff and forward focused teams by inspiring, motivating, and empowering them to achieve agency goals
- Promoting teamwork, creativity, and innovation to enhance and build a collaborative work environment within PHS
- Supporting PHS Leadership to ensure programs are administered within regulatory and budgetary guidelines
- Maintaining and enhancing quality patient care and holding clinical staff accountable for quality of services within clinical programs
- Identifying disease trends and community needs and responding quickly, effectively, and with a calm and collected demeanor
- Reviewing, updating, and implementing policies and procedures consistently; delegating appropriately, and using accountability measures fairly
- Administering disciplinary actions in a fair and consistent manner as required in consultation with Human Resources
Relationship Building- Working with local hospitals, health system executive leadership, clinical leadership, and physician and health professions groups and ensuring coordination among various agencies to garner adequate resources and/or compliance with health and safety codes and public health orders
- Ability to partner with local law enforcement and navigate the legal system when appropriate to properly control the spread of communicable diseases, including tuberculosis
- Incorporating cultural sensitivity and equity in developing and providing effective care for diverse populations
- Strong political acumen and experience working with elected and appointed public officials, department directors, and community leaders
- Ability to foster collaborative and trusting relationships with internal staff across multidisciplinary teams to promote open communication, support staff development, and ensure alignment with department and agency goals
Judgment | Decision Making- Ability to navigate politically sensitive and controversial issues, mediating, and/or negotiating where needed
- Capable of working within high levels of uncertainty and making decisions based on incomplete data, while balancing multiple interests
- Identifying issues and the full range of impacts and solutions, and communicating these clearly to supervisors, colleagues, and support staff
- Using initiative and sound judgment in performing response activities
- Being alert and aware of personal safety and security while conducting response activities and program work in community or with patients
- Prioritizing a broad range of duties and supervisory responsibilities while meeting established deadlines
Communication- Communicating clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing
- Creating rapport and communicating expectations to staff clearly
- Promoting information sharing across the division, and encouraging integration of service delivery
- Building consensus among diverse groups for the purpose of meeting business objectives
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Senior Medical Director classification as well as the physical & mental requirements and the environmental conditions.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified candidates. After screening, qualified candidates will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.
Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here (Download PDF reader) to review the policy.
Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.
Application Review - Training and Experience | HR Review Rating (Weighted 100%)
An Application Appraisal conducted by HRS will thoroughly screen and evaluate all application materials for job knowledge, competencies, and related experience described above. Only the most qualified applicants will be placed on the eligible list.
Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.
Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.
Please note: The information you provide on your application and/or response to the supplemental questions may be used as a scoring device, so please be thorough and complete in your response. "See Resume" is not a qualifying response and will not be scored in lieu of the required information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Email Notification
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.
NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.
For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Rosemary Donisat (714) 834-6761 or RosemaryDonis@ochca.com.
EEO INFORMATION
EEO INFORMATION:
Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer,
encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
Employer
County of Orange
Address
400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
Santa Ana, California, 92701
Phone
714-834-2555
Website
https://hrs.ocgov.com
Administrative Management *
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits -- such as a variety of health plan options, sick and vacation time and paid holidays -- we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as:- Retirement: Benefits are provided through the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information. - Paid Leave: Twelve holidays per year plus sick and vacation time
- Health & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
- Dental Insurance: County pays 100% of employee and dependent premiums
- Paid Life Insurance: $100,000 life insurance policy
- Paid Accidental & Death and Dismemberment Insurance: $100,000 AD&D insurance policy
- Paid Short & Long Term Disability insurance programs
- 457 Defined Contribution Program
*Effective 07/01/20, management employees who are sworn Public Safety Managers receive health insurance benefits through the AOCDS Medical Benefit Plans.
Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.
Closing Date/Time: 7/25/2025 11:59 PM Pacific -
ABOUT THE COMPANY
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County of Orange
Show moreDiscover a Fulfilling Career at the County of Orange
With a population of over 3 million residents and 34 cities, Orange County is a thriving community known for its beautiful beaches, diverse culture, and strong economy. As the third-largest employer in the county, the County of Orange offers over 18,000 employees the opportunity to make a difference in their community and build a fulfilling career in public service.
As a County of Orange employee, you will have the chance to work in a variety of departments, each providing vital services to our community. From law enforcement and healthcare to public works and environmental protection, there is a wide range of career paths to explore. And with opportunities for advancement and professional growth, you can build a long and rewarding career with us.
As a top employer in the region, the County of Orange is committed to providing our employees with excellent benefits, including a competitive salary, flexible work schedules, and outstanding healthcare coverage. We also offer opportunities for career development and training, ensuring that our employees have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
Whether you're just starting your career or looking for a new challenge, the County of Orange is a great place to work. With a supportive and collaborative work environment, a commitment to excellence, and opportunities for growth and advancement, we invite you to join our team and make a difference in your community.
Community Impact:
Working for the County of Orange means you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community. Whether you're providing critical services to residents, protecting the environment, or maintaining public safety, your work will make a difference in the lives of those around you.
Employee Wellness:
At the County of Orange, we prioritize our employees' well-being. We offer telecommuting options, generous health benefits, and wellness programs to promote work-life balance. We believe that by taking care of our employee’s health and well-being, we can help them excel in their careers while still enjoying their personal lives and taking care of their families.
Innovation:
The County of Orange is committed to embracing new technologies and innovative approaches to service delivery. We encourage our employees to think creatively and find ways to improve our processes and systems. If you're someone who loves to problem-solve and think outside the box, you'll find a supportive and dynamic environment here.
Collaboration:
Collaboration is key to our success at the County of Orange. We value teamwork, communication, and mutual support, and we work together across departments and functions to achieve our goals. If you're someone who enjoys collaborating with others and building strong relationships, you'll find a welcoming and inclusive community here.
Equality:
At the County of Orange, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected. Our Equity Policy reflects this commitment and guides our efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do.
Career Advancement:
The County of Orange is dedicated to helping our employees grow and advance in their careers. We offer a variety of training and development opportunities to help our employees reach their full potential. If you're looking for a place to build a long and fulfilling career, the County of Orange is an excellent choice.
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