Deputy County Health Officer

The County of San Luis Obispo is seeking a dynamic, energetic and experienced physician to help lead change and improve community health.

Under direction of the Health Officer, the Deputy Health Officer will provide medical oversight for Departmental services. The Deputy Health Officer will also play a key role in overall leadership including policy development, public engagement, disaster preparedness, and strategic planning.

Click here for the full job description. 

Essential Duties

• With a team of top-notch staff, manage communicable disease inquiries, outbreaks, investigations and responses
• Oversee clinical care quality assurance
• May provide medical care at Public Health Department clinics, in alignment with specialty and interest 
•  Plan, facilitate and coordinate implementation of special projects
• Respond to media requests for interviews
• Engage in presentations and collaborations with public officials, community groups and professional associations
• Lead development and implementation of policies, protocols and standardized procedures
• Assist with planning, coordinating and supervising disaster preparedness activities, and respond to public health emergencies 
• Act for the Health Officer in his/her absence

About the Public Health Department

It's an exciting time to join the Public Health Department! We are currently developing our strategic plan and performance management system, and we are working with external stakeholders to develop our first community-driven health improvement plan. The Department is also expanding our tobacco control and oral health programs, preparing for public health accreditation, and we recently completed the transition to electronic health records. 

The Public Health Department is a division within the Health Agency, along with the Behavioral Health Department, Animal Services, and the Office of the Public Guardian. The Health Agency is the largest department in the County government with over 550 employees, of which about 215 work in the Public Health Department.  Divisions include: Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Services, Family Health, Health Care Access, Health Promotion, Laboratory, and Policy/Evaluation/Planning.

• Strong clinical infectious disease experience
• Excellent communicator, both orally and written, and able to present clear and persuasive messages
• Proven leader who develops interdisciplinary partnerships and collaborates with public and private stakeholders
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Outstanding manager of performance, taking responsibility for improving the effectiveness of programs, services and workforce
• Motivated leader who inspires staff and the community into action
• Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with multiple priorities

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of medicine. One (1) year of graduate study in an accredited School of Public Health, OR one (1) year of full-time experience in a Public Health Department highly desirable.

• Either A: Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in California; OR B: Possession of a valid license to practice medicine in another State in U.S. with pending application to obtain license to practice medicine in California. Valid license to practice medicine in California must be obtained within three (3) months of appointment.
• A valid driver's license is required at the time of application. A valid CALIFORNIA driver's license is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Certification or eligibility for certification by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internal Medicine or other recognized medical specialty board.

Other Conditions of Employment

Must be available for on-call coverage as Health Officer backup at various times as determined by department.  This may include weekends, holidays, evenings or night work.

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date.  To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed. For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Federal and State laws require employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.