Multnomah County Health Department is seeking a Full Time (1.0 FTE) Director for Maternal/Child Health (Early Childhood Services). This is an executive level public health leadership position responsible for managing the Early Childhood Services (ECS) Program, which includes: Nurse Family Partnership, Healthy Birth Initiative, Healthy Start, and Maternal/Child Health field teams, and is comprised of eighty-five public health nurse supervisors, nurses and community workers. The person in this position is the visionary leader and change agent for the ECS program, sets the strategic direction for the services, manages the $13 million operating budget, and monitors the work performance of nine subordinate managers to ensure that goals, objectives and performance measures are met. This program is comprised of multiple large grants, contracts and Medicaid billing revenues and must ensure that all requirements are achieved, funding is sustained and community maternal child health needs are addressed. This position actively participates in community and statewide strategic planning, assessment and policy advocacy to address community maternal child health needs. We are seeking a person with progressively responsible management/leadership experience in community health administration, with a focus on maternal/child health and home and community-based services, as well as a MD/MPH, or a Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, Public Administration or related field.

About the Area
In recent years, Multnomah County, Oregon, has been featured in several national publications as one of the most livable and desirable areas in the country. The County offers natural splendor and urban amenities alike: it is home to the scenic wonders of the Columbia River Gorge and the western slopes of picturesque Mt. Hood, as well as to the urban sophistication of Portland, Oregon’s largest city. For miles upon miles of pristine beaches, rugged coves and quiet coastal communities, Multnomah County is only a short drive away from the Oregon Coast.

Portland, the City of Roses, is the largest city in Multnomah County. It is populated by friendly people and surrounded by breathtaking beauty. Its residents enjoy clean air and streets and are recognized for a long-standing commitment to the environment and sustainable living. With all-season outdoor recreation, mainstream/independent theater, concerts, festivals, galleries and an acclaimed and diverse restaurant scene, Portland has something for everyone.

The County’s population has grown substantially in recent years to 717,880. The population of the entire metro area is 2,100,000. More information about the Portland metro area is available at www.travelportland.com, and www.portlandalliance.com.

Multnomah County Governance and Workforce:
Multnomah County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, consisting of non-partisan members elected from designated districts, and the Chair of the Board, who is elected at large. In addition to legislative leadership, the Chair also provides executive direction as the County’s CEO. The County workforce of about 4,500 regular employees provides a wide variety of services to the community through nine County Departments including libraries, social services, health clinics and regulatory health services, supervision/custody for juvenile and adult offenders, criminal prosecution, land use and transportation and law enforcement for unincorporated areas.

About the Health Department: “Healthy People in Healthy Communities”
Multnomah County Health Department, Oregon’s largest local public health agency, serves a population of more than 700,000 residents. The agency consists of over 1300 employees providing services in Disease Prevention, Inspections, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Services, Family Planning and Sexual Health, Early Childhood Services, W.I.C. Services, Homeless Services, Food Safety, Health Education, Nutrition and Pest Control & Vector Services. We take a leadership role in many local, state, and regional safety net initiatives. Our long range strategic plan includes strategies that seek to increase coordination and minimize redundancy within our clinical systems while continuing to maintain and strengthen our work in the areas of health equity, quality improvement, community engagement/empowerment, and becoming a learning organization.

The Community Health Services Group is focused on home and community-based public health services. Programs within this Group include Maternal Child Health (Early Childhood Services), WIC, Adolescent Health, Environmental Health, Communicable Disease Services, Chronic Disease Prevention, and the STD/HIV/Hep C Program.

APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BEFORE NOVEMBER 20, 2009 WILL BE CONSIDERED FIRST. 

Critical knowledge and skills for this position:
· Clear understanding of public health management and nursing management principles and practices
· Broad knowledge of maternal/child service delivery systems, including how to integrate delivery systems to achieve quality outcomes, administrative effectiveness, and cultural competence
· Possess a clear sense of direction
· Able to listen and be challenged and willing to reset direction when indicated
· Experience working in a complex system with culturally diverse workforce and patient populations
· Demonstrated ability to negotiate for agreement while balancing diverse points of view among stakeholders
· Ability to work with multiple stakeholders, including elected officials, business leaders, community members, schools, faith communities, medical and public health personnel.
· Well-developed oral and written communication and presentation skills, including ability to articulate concepts to staff, partners and stakeholders.
· Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
· Must be able to negotiate sensitive political situations.