Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for an Assistant Director who is experienced with fostering a collaborative work environment via strong communication, problem solving, and leadership skills.
Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of inclusion, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.
As the Assistant Director of Public Health & Social Services, you play a key role responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of department and divisional plans and goals. You will collaborate between divisions to develop and implement public health policies aimed at reducing health disparities and improving access to essential services. Emphasizing community service and using your strong communication skills, you will advocate for organizational improvement, advancement, productivity, and build partnerships that enhance health outcomes.
Some of the essential job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Act on behalf of the Department Director to manage and oversee operations, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
- Evaluate operational program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement and potential service overlap using sound judgement, problem-solving techniques, and project management principles
- Assist the director in implementing the strategic vision and policies, focusing on operational aspects and performance management leading toward objective accomplishment
- Participate in preparing the annual budget and monitor divisional expenses by estimating and analyzing costs and effectiveness of programs
- Collect, analyze, and develop reports on research and data related to public health initiatives and present to stakeholders to aid in decision-making
- Develop policies and procedures post analysis of complex problems
- Ensure that responsibilities, authority, and accountability of all direct and indirect subordinates are defined, understood, and achieved while also offering guidance and support in their professional development
- Foster partnerships with community organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders to promote public health initiatives
- Address and resolve sensitive inquiries, complaints, and issues from both internal and external sources and assist in matters regarding employee relations, labor relations, and risk management
- May act as representative for the department in collective bargaining negotiations, grievances, complaints, and other sensitive personnel matters
- Manage daily operations of divisional leadership and subject matter experts as well as special projects oversight
- May be asked to participate on committees, boards, councils, and/or other related groups, including representing the Department Director as required
- Ensure timely, accurate responses to email, research, reports, and data analysis and inquiries
- Respond to public health emergencies and coordinate resources during crises
- Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations
What we offer our employees:
- Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensuring that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individual’s lifestyle.
- Plan for Your Future: As a member of our team, you enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit our Thurston County Employee Benefit Planswebsite for more information.
- Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn a minimum of 12 paid vacation days per year in addition to 11 paid holidays and 2 floating holidays.
- Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County-paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
- Flexible Work Schedules: Some employees may take advantage of alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
Why you’ll love it here:
Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, social services, business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or related field. Additional related experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis, and
- Five (5) years of senior management-level experience in administrative and/or operations management with at least three (3) years of supervisory responsibilities.
- Ability to use a personal computer and applicable software to successfully perform the essential job functions of the position.
- Current Washington State driver’s license or have an appropriate accommodation.
DESIRED SKILLS
The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Respect and Organizational Culture:
- Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
- Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
- Thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing and dynamic environment, managing and coordinating projects while maintaining a positive work environment
Communication:
- Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
- Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
- Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
- Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors
Leadership:
- Supervise, motivate, and develop employees and team to become more productive and effective in achieving desired goals and career growth while encouraging employee critical reflection
- Show fairness and impartiality in interactions; is interested in employee welfare, elicits staff input where feasible; respond to staff suggestions and complaints in a sincere, sensitive, and timely manner; able to give direction without conflict
- Ability to utilize multiple leadership styles and apply appropriately to varying situations
Goal Setting and Accomplishment:
- Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
- Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
- Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
- Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
- Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change
Questions about this recruitment?
Contact the hiring team at:
PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2569
This At-Will position is:
- Not represented by a union
- Not eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Eligible for benefits
Items required for consideration:
PLEASE NOTE: The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:
- Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)
Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.
Thurston County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.
