Careers

Description:

Public Health - Seattle & King County is seeking a dedicated and visionary Public Health Officer (PHO) to champion high standards of scientific excellence and community trust. This role offers the opportunity to serve as a chief advisor to the Public Health Director, providing clear, objective factual advice on critical medical and public health issues. This executive-level position requires a licensed physician with significant scientific and epidemiological experience, preferably in the focus areas of communicable disease investigation and control. This new PHO will not only be a trusted voice in the community but also successfully navigate the complex landscape of public health policy and administration. The Public Health Officer will be a capable, knowledgeable, committed, and collaborative executive leader. The ideal candidate is progressive, innovative, inclusive, and enthusiastic about creating change in the community by improving quality of life. Serving the Seattle metropolitan area and beyond, they will play a crucial role in addressing public health issues through research, policy development, and community engagement.

HE POSITION and THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The Public Health Officer will partner closely with the Director and Deputy Director to continue King County’s reputation as a leader in health innovation and equity. They will be involved in every significant conversation, providing expert advice, driving policy discussions, and ensuring that the county continues to set the nation’s standard for public health excellence. The next Public Health Officer is an equity-focused, strategic, capable, and organized advisor. They will have the ability to navigate the complex landscape of public health policy and administration with creativity and innovative thinking with a skill in navigating bureaucracies with tact and diplomacy.

The ideal candidate is a licensed physician with significant scientific and epidemiological experience, with extensive knowledge of communicable disease and prior service as a full-time health officer at the state or local level. In addition to managing daily outbreak control, this PHO will be an enthusiastic visionary leader with an extensive background addressing emergent issues such as climate change, racial inequity, gun violence, homelessness, and access to care, all of which impact the health and well-being of the community. They will oversee major programs and outreach efforts to support, educate, and empower the public. This position involves considerable public speaking and community engagement, with regular presentations to City leadership, media, elected officials, and the public. The PHO will be a calm and confident leader able to communicate effectively in times of crisis. They will also be passionate about serving others and making an impact through scientific research, policy development, and community engagement. 

Skills/Eligibility:

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• EDUCATION: Master’s degree or Doctorate in Public Health or a closely related field.
• EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible senior management level experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job. One (1) year of experience with direct supervision. Demonstrable experience in leading disease outbreak investigations. Minimum three years of experience as a full-time health officer or deputy health officer at the city, county, region or state level or a like equivalency that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the role.
• COLLABORATION: Demonstrable experience promoting and leading a collaborative, communicative work and community environment that is considerate and respectful of all people.
• POLITICAL SAVVY: Ability to understand diverse human and organizational environments and sensitivities, collaborating effectively and collegiately with decision-makers. 
• DEVELOPMENT: Commitment to continuing education and development, including a well-developed Self-Reflective Awareness practice.
• LICENSURE: A valid unrestricted MD or DO license to practice medicine in Washington State (or ability to obtain before hire). 
• AUTHORSHIP: Demonstrable experience in scientific writing and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

HIGHLY DESIRED

• TRAINING: Completion of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) training and / or CDC Public Health Fellowship.