County Health Officer

Working with the Health & Human Services Agency Director as an integral member of the Agency executive team, the County Health Officer functions as the chief health strategist, assisting and leading cohesive, multi-sectorial work to assure the health and well-being of the people of Mendocino County.

Under administrative direction of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Director, the County Health Officer ensures enforcement of California statutes, regulations, and local ordinances pertaining to the protection of public health; oversees public health programs as prescribed by the California Department of Public Health; advises the Board of Supervisors and HHSA Director concerning community health issues; assesses and reports on the County’s health status; and, provides leadership in developing health policy for the County and community.

Responsibilities include performing diverse, specialized, and complex work involving significant accountability and decision-making. The County Health Officer provides overall direction and guidance related to public health matters, and is responsible for activities and services of the Public Health Branch, including controlling, reducing and preventing the spread of communicable diseases; serving as the registrar of Vital Statistics; overseeing contracted public health laboratory services; and, guiding other public health functions such as environmental health, public health preparedness, and maternal and child health. The County Health Officer also coordinates services with other branches, divisions and departments and advises policy makers on community design issues that affect health.

The ideal candidate for this position is a skilled and innovative medical expert who leads through change and growth by empowering, inspiring, and motivating both within the workplace and throughout the community. General requirements are a Doctor of Medicine degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree issued by an accredited medical school in good standing; and, possession of a valid California Physician license and current board certification in a recognized field of medicine; and, six (6) years of professional experience in a public health setting, including one (1) year of administrative and supervisory responsibility; or, an equivalent combination of directly related, progressively responsible education, training, and experience performing duties that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.