Public Health Section Chief

 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), is seeking a Public Health Section Chief in the Environmental Health Section. The Public Health Section Chief ensures the integration and continuity of environmental public health priorities and activities into those of the other sections within the Department, while maintaining good working relationships with outside state and federal environmental agencies and other stakeholder groups who play a role in environmental health in our state.  The Section Chief is responsible for the establishment of public health priorities for the section and ensuring the execution and evaluation of activities related to those priorities.  The Section Chief also works closely with other state agencies to eliminate redundancy of efforts and to develop and revise regulatory priorities and standards based on the most current available science and standards of practice in environmental health. 

The Environmental Health Section Chief is responsible for frequent high-pressure communication activities, including testifying at public hearings and court proceedings, defending regulatory actions against individuals or corporate entities, fielding media inquiries related to local, state, and national environmental health news and events, and speaking at public meetings after environmental incidents that may impact health. The Public Health Section Chief is responsible for the overall administrative and scientific management oversight of 50+ staff in the Environmental Health Section across eight programs, which include the following:  Food Protection; Environmental Public Health Tracking; Environmental Health Assessment; Occupational Health; Private Wells and Environmental Laboratory Certification; Environmental Engineering; Lead, Radon and Healthy Homes; and the Asbestos Program.

Should you have questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Sue Ciccaglione at sue.ciccaglione@ct.gov or (860) 509-7183.

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee of the Department of Public Health, who has permanent state status*, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application. 

*For employees in the classified service, permanent status is obtained after successful completion of a working test period.  For employees in the unclassified service, permanent status is obtained after serving in a position for at least six months (full-time or full-time equivalent).

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for directing the design, development and implementation of multi-faceted health services programs of an assigned section.

Directs the staff and operations of large, multi-faceted health services programs at the section level; develops, implements, communicates and evaluates section policies, procedures, goals and activities; coordinates, plans and manages section programs and activities; interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations; determines appropriate staffing levels; determines quality assurance and performance standards for staff; directs the preparation of section budget; obtains state and federal funds to maintain and implement programs; maintains contacts with individuals both within and outside of section who might impact on policy, program or regulatory activities; develops and recommends changes to statutes and regulations; reviews and evaluates legislative proposals and reports on health issues; directs preparation of statistical studies and required federal reports; provides testimony at legislative hearings, the courts and public hearings; addresses professional and lay groups and prepares articles for publication on public health issues; performs related duties as required.

Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and techniques; considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public health with emphasis on public health administration of programs; considerable interpersonal skills; considerable oral and written communication skills; considerable ability to interpret laws, regulations and statistical reporting data; ability to develop health policies.

Three (3) years experience in a supervisory capacity in an organization with programmatic and/or regulatory responsibilities for promoting or protecting public health.

Note: For State employees this is at the level of Health Program Supervisor, Supervising Nurse Consultant, Child Care Licensing Supervisor Epidemiologist 4, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Supervising Sanitary Engineer or Supervising Environmental Sanitarian.

One (1) year as a Public Health Services Manager may be substituted for the General Experience.

• Ten (10) years of experience supervising environmental health programs in a state, federal, or private public health organization.

• Significant experience working with public and private environmental health organizations at the state and national level, including the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), the Connecticut Siting Council, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), other state public health departments, university-based environmental health practitioners, faculty and staff, and/or other similar state, federal, and private organizations.

• Experience reviewing legislation related to environmental health, writing testimony in support or opposition to legislative proposals, and testifying in-person at legislative hearings.

• Experience utilizing knowledge of historical, current, and emerging environmental exposures of concern throughout the state, nationally and internationally.

• Experience utilizing knowledge of human toxicological principles and experience applying those principles to the development of health-protective exposure standards and regulatory limits.

• Experience utilizing excellent oral and written communication skills with agency officials, the media and the general public both during and after significant environmental health events.

1. Incumbents in this class may be required to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable or infectious diseases.
2. Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.
3. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Department of Public Health aims to provide equal opportunity in all aspects of employment and advancement, fostering an environment committed to supporting individuals in all protected classes.  If you require an aid/accommodation to participate fully and fairly, please contact the Human Resources Office at (860) 509-7177.