Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR

Req-152268; Salary Range: $6,901 – $10,674 Application Deadline: April 14, 2024

Job Description:

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Health Security, Preparedness & Response Program in Portland, Oregon has a career opportunity for a Health Security, Preparedness & Response  (HSPR) Planning Chief (Public Health Manager 2) to manage the Portland-based HSPR Planning. 

The mission of Oregon’s Health Security, Preparedness and Response (HSPR) Program is to develop public health systems to prepare for and respond to major, acute threats and emergencies that impact the health of people in Oregon. We collaborate with Oregon Emergency Management (OEM) and our local, regional, and national emergency management partners. Click here to learn more about the HSPR Program.

This is a full-time, permanent position and is not represented by a union. This recruitment may be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill current or future vacancies.

What will you do?
In this role, you will plan, direct, and coordinate all aspects of the state-level activities in the Health Security, Preparedness and Response (HSPR) Program relating to public health and health care systems supported by the federal Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and Public Health Emergency Preparedness grants. You will integrate activities related to hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness planning, disaster response and recovery, including hospitals and health care systems in Oregon, epidemiological, laboratory, environmental health, immunization, local health departments, and activities with other state agencies. In addition, you will manage and coach the Portland-based Planning Team and assist the Director of Emergency Operations in public health emergency management policy development, inter-agency committees, legislative committees, the Conference of Local of Health Officials, and other policy-setting organizations.

Responsibilities may include:

  • Assist the Director of Emergency Operations (DEO) and State Public Health Director/ Health Officer in state public health policy development.
  • Provide management provision in emergency preparedness planning activities among all public health, hospitals, and health care systems.
  • Acts as Incident Manager or Deputy Incident Manager during exercises and responses.
  • Manage the Public Health Duty Officer program which includes training and coordination with other sections while ensuring continuous quality improvement of the program.
  • Manage grants which include grant reporting and overseeing grant application processes.
  • Develop and make recommendations to the DEO for the deployment or reassignment of resources.

The Oregon Health Authority is committed to:

  • Eliminating health inequities in Oregon by 2030
  • Becoming an anti-racist organization
  • Developing and promoting culturally and linguistically appropriate programs, and
  • Developing and retaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce that represents the diversity, cultures, strengths, and values of the people of Oregon.

What’s in it for you? The public health division is a team of passionate individuals working to promote health across the lifespan of individuals, families, and communities. We value and support unique perspectives using a trauma-informed approach and aim to reflect these values in our hiring practices, professional development, and workplace. We are committed to racial equity as a driving factor to improve health outcomes for all communities that experience inequities.

  • We offer exceptional medical, vision and dental benefit packages for you and your qualified family members with minimal out-of-pocket costs (member cost share is as low as 1% – 5%). Try this free virtual benefits counselor by clicking here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/pebb/pages/alex.aspx 
  • Paid Leave Days:
    • 11 paid holidays each year.
    • 3 additional paid personal business days each year.
    • 8 hours of paid sick leave accrued each month.
    • 10 hours of vacation leave accrued each month with increases every 5 years.
  • Pension and Retirement plans. After six months of service, you may qualify for the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). New employees may be enrolled in the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
  • Student Loan Forgiveness; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity. The PSLF program may forgive student loan balances after you’ve made the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments. 
  • Optional benefits include short-term disability, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses.
  • Continuous growth and development opportunities.
  • Click here to learn more and access a summary of State of Oregon benefits.

Minimum Qualifications:

A master’s degree in public health, public administration, or a closely related field and two years of public health supervisory, management experience; planning, organizing, and managing the operations of a public health security, preparedness and response program or closely related field;

OR, a bachelor’s degree in public health, public administration, or closely related field and three years of public health supervisory, management experience; planning, organizing, and managing the operations of public health security, preparedness and response program or closely related field;

OR, six years of public health supervisory, management experience; planning, organizing, and managing the operations of a public health security, preparedness and response program or closely related field.

Desired Attributes:

  • Leadership and management experience managing programs, staff, and resources in a public health setting.
  • Experience in quality improvement methodologies and project management techniques.
  • Experience with emergency management planning concepts and public health systems.
  • Familiarity with the Modernization of the Public Health System.
  • Experience communicating effectively with federal, regional, local, state, and non-governmental public health and public safety staff, including management and policy-level officials.
  • Experience writing grants, reports, and interagency agreements.
  • Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and consistently meet tight deadlines.
  • Experience preparing creating and delivering documents for release to the public, including development or revision of documents to formats for electronic transmission, (Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, Adobe Acrobat, html, etc.).
  • Ability to the following Incident Command System (ICS) courses within 180-days of hire and be willing to attend other ICS courses as directed: ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, and ICS-400.
  • Experience in Internet connectivity and associated software, hardware, and communication components is desired.
  • Experience in distance-learning technology, broadcast fax, paging systems, and cellular phones is also desired.
  • Experience creating, promoting, welcoming, and maintaining a culturally competent and diverse work environment.

Working Conditions:

The work of this role is full-time in person on-site at 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon. There may be occasional times when the work can be conducted remotely within one-hour driving distance of the primary work location.

Travel, including in-state and out-of-state travel with overnight stays, and driving in all weather conditions may be required. Occasional weekend and evening work hours may be required during normal conditions. Frequent weekend and evening work hours can be required when public health emergencies occur.  

Directions to Apply:

Please fill out the online application and submit a resume and cover letter telling us about yourself and how your personal (lived), educational, and/or professional experience qualifies you for this position.

  • External Applicants: Click the “Apply” button and submit your application. Click this link for the External Candidate job aid, and view this video for additional information.
  • Current State of Oregon employees: Apply through your employee Workday account. View this job aid for assistance.

Resources:

  • This job announcement closes at 11:59 pm (PST) on the close date listed above.
  • After submitting your application, be sure to respond to the two questions relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference that immediately follow your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
  • Workday will timeout after 20 minutes of inactivity.

Additional Information:

  • Visa Sponsorships: Oregon Health Authority (OHA) does not offer VISA sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.  OHA is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.
  • Pay Scale: Upon receiving a salary offer, we will conduct a pay equity assessment using the information provided in your application to determine your salary placement upon hire. To ensure a comprehensive evaluation, please make certain your application materials are up-to-date and thorough. Include relevant details such as your work history, education, volunteer work, lived experiences, and any other pertinent information related to the position you are applying for. Please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage to learn more.
  • Background Check: If you are offered employment, your offer will be contingent upon the positive outcome of an abuse check, criminal records check, and driving records check. The information will be shared with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Office of Human Resources (OHR). Any criminal or founded abuse history will be reviewed and could result in the withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment.
  • Veterans: If you are a veteran, you may receive veterans’ preference points. Click here for more information about veterans’ preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, you will receive a notice in your Workday inbox and will be required to provide your documents at that time. Veterans | Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs: 1-800-692-9666
  • This recruitment may be used to establish a list of qualified applicants to fill current or future vacancies.

Questions?

If you have questions about the job announcement, would like assistance with the application process, have difficulties applying, or would like to request an accommodation request under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Tracie Knight, HR Analyst, at tracie.Knight2@dhsoha.state.or.us.

TTY users, please use the Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service: 1-800-735-2900. For assistance please call toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, and Pay Equity:

The Oregon Health Authority is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, genetic information, or any other protected class under state or federal law. In addition, we do not discriminate, or screen applicants based on current or past compensation. To learn more about OHA’s mission, vision, and core values, click here.

The Oregon Health Authority is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to workforce diversity and anti-racism.

REQ-150936. Application Deadline: March 24, 2024.

Salary Range: $5,747 – $8,831 / month

Job Description:

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD) is recruiting for a Healthy Waters Natural Resource Specialist to support the State of Oregon’s Healthy Waters unit as the program’s lead technical resource on water-related health hazards. The primary purpose of this position is to evaluate and report on human health risks from exposure to environmental contaminants including, but not limited to, those found in domestic well water, recreational waters (fresh and marine), as well as recycled/reused water and fish tissue. This position’s work supports OHA’s domestic well safety program, beach water quality advisories, fish consumption advisories, harmful algal bloom advisories, water plan reuse review, and other state programs related to waterborne health risks.

The work includes developing and maintaining surveillance systems to detect hazards to human health, using data to make determinations about public health interventions and other courses of action, preparing and presenting risk communication messages and public health advisories to potentially affected individuals and communities, representing OHA for media requests, and making recommendations to inter-agency advisory committees.

The Healthy Waters NRS4 also provides technical assistance and methodological expertise in collaboration with partner organizations regarding data collection on environmental hazards, environmental exposures to microbial pathogens or toxins, and health effects.

OHA values service excellence, leadership, integrity, health equity and partnership and has a strategic goal to end all health inequities by 2030.

The OHA mission is helping people and communities achieve optimum physical, mental, and social well-being through partnership, prevention and access to quality, affordable health care. OHA’s work is organized into three broad goals: Improve the lifelong health of all Oregonians, increase the quality, reliability, and availability of care for all Oregonians and lower or contain the cost of care so it is affordable to everyone.

This is a full-time, permanent position and is represented by a union, SEIU Human Services.
What you will do!

• Develop program strategy, review, and inform project work completed by other program staff for Oregon Beach Monitoring, Fish Consumption, Harmful Algae Blooms, and Domestic Well Safety Program.

• Prepare or review draft interagency MOUs and agreements.

• Advise management and other staff on scope and compliance for contracts supporting domestic well laboratory testing and treatment system installation.

• Provide and interpret water quality and environmental data reports for groundwater management, cyanobacteria and toxins, and fish contaminant levels.

• Provide support to toxicologist on fish consumption calculations and develop technical memos as necessary when fish consumption advisories are issued.

• Coordinate technical aspects of program protocols and public health advisories including, but not limited to, fish consumption advisories and harmful algae bloom (HAB) advisories.

• Research literature for new data and information on HABs and emerging potential human and animal health risks from exposure.

• Participate in EPH section and center-wide activities to mutually further the mission and goals of the program, section and office; receive general calls from the public on a rotational basis (Tox Call); and performs other activities as assigned.

What’s in it for you?
The public health division is a team of passionate individuals working to promote health across the lifespan of individuals, families, and communities. We value and support unique perspectives using a trauma-informed approach and aim to reflect these values in our hiring practices, professional development, and workplace. We are committed to racial equity as a driving factor to improve health outcomes for all communities that experience inequities.

  • We offer exceptional medical, vision and dental benefits packages for you and your qualified family members, with very low monthly out-of-pocket costs. Try this free virtual benefits counselor by clicking here: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/pebb/pages/alex.aspx  
  • Paid Leave Days:
    • 11 paid holidays each year
    • 3 additional paid “Personal Business Days” each year
    • 8 hours of paid sick leave accumulated every month
    • Progressive vacation leave accrual with increases every 5 years
  • Pension and retirement programs
  • Optional benefits include short-term disability, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and childcare expenses.
  • Click here to learn more about State of Oregon benefits.

Most of this work may be conducted remotely at an alternate worksite with full access to the needed operating systems and technology. However, there are many times that the work will need to be conducted at the primary work location listed in this announcement, the Portland State Office Building located at 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, OR 97232. Work location can be changed at any time at the discretion of the hiring manager.
OHA values health equity, service excellence, integrity, leadership, partnership, innovation and transparency. OHA’s health equity definition is “Oregon will have established a health system that creates health equity when all people can reach their full potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances.

Achieving health equity requires the ongoing collaboration of all regions and sectors of the state, including tribal governments to address: the equitable distribution or redistributing of resources and power; and recognizing, reconciling, and rectifying historical and contemporary injustices.” OHA’s 10-year goal is to eliminate health inequities. Click here, to learn more about OHA’s mission, vision and core values.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

Minimum Qualifications

Three years of experience in water-related health hazards (specifically domestic wells, health-related hazards attributed to recreational use, HABs, and fish consumption, or any combination of the above). At least one year of the experience must be at a technical or professional level performing activities in a natural resource program such as researching and analyzing data, conducting investigations, applying pertinent laws and regulations, or coordinating and monitoring project activities;

AND
A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Public Health, or similar degrees, or three additional years of related (pertinent) experience.
OR

A Master’s degree in Public Health with an environmental focus will substitute for up to one year of the required experience.
OR

A Doctorate degree in Environmental Public Health will substitute for up to two years of the required experience.

Desired Attributes

  • Experience in advancing health equity, addressing systemic health inequities and collaborating with diverse communities most harmed by social injustice and health inequities.
  • Knowledge of the following is required: Human health effects of chemicals, microbes and other pathogens which relate to the field of health assessment; principles and procedures of environmental health investigations; relevant state and federal environmental regulations. Skill in evaluating the impact on health of pollution sources and determining appropriate environmental health strategy is required.
  • Position requires knowledge and skill using numeric analytical techniques and software (e.g., spreadsheets, statistical packages, and/or GIS) to acquire, integrate, analyze and produce information relevant to policy decisions.
  • Knowledge of data collection, systems and use is necessary. Requires skill with the following applications: Word processing (e.g. Microsoft Word), presentation software (e.g. Microsoft Powerpoint), analytic applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel and/or statistical packages). Must be skilled in creating, maintaining, and using files and public records.
  • Person must have good communication skills (verbal, written, and interpersonal) to be used with a variety of audiences answering questions and explaining information or decisions. Must be skilled in writing investigative or narrative reports.
  • Preference given to individuals with specific knowledge of principles of biology, microbiology, chemistry and/or toxicology.
  • Rigorous adherence to the highest standards of confidentiality regarding patient information is required.

How to apply:

  • Complete the online application
  • Attach a Cover Letter, no more than 2 pages, specifically focused on your qualifications for this position as identified in the Desired Attributes section of this announcement.

Please ensure you’ve provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment.  For further information, please visit the Pay Equity Project homepage.

Questions/Need Help?

If you need assistance to participate in the application process, including an accommodation request under the American with Disabilities Act contact: Juan McGruder at Voice: [503-302-0454] (TTY 711) or Email: Juan.A.McGruder@oha.oregon.gov. TTY users  may dial 711 or 1-800-735-2900. For Workday technical support dial 1-855-524-5627.