Public Health Section Chief (Hybrid) - #240607-0564Mp-001

Introduction

Do you want to make a positive impact by working in the public sector? Are you looking to take the next step in your career? If so, please read on to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH) is currently seeking a qualified individual for the position of Public Health Section Chief. This position will serve as a direct report to the Branch Chief of the Environmental Health & Drinking Water Branch (EHDW) and will oversee the Drinking Water Section (DWS). The DWS is responsible for the administration of state and federal drinking water regulations and is dedicated to assuring the quality and adequacy of our State's public drinking water sources. We provide technical assistance, education, and regulatory enforcement to over 2,300 public drinking water systems, which provide drinking water to approximately 2.9 million persons on a daily basis.

• SECTION: Drinking Water Section (DWS)
• LOCATION: Hartford, CT
• WORK HOURS: Full-time, first shift, 40 hours per week
• SCHEDULE: Monday through Friday *Hybrid work schedule may be available

What We Can Offer You:

• Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule

• Professional growth and development opportunities

• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

Duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinate, plan and manage programs within the Drinking Water Section;

• Oversee regulatory requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and state laws that protect the adequacy and purity of the state's drinking water supply;

• Work to assure safe drinking water compliance and enforcement;

• Work with stakeholders within Connecticut, regionally, and nationally in the area of public drinking water regulation and oversight;

• Work to adopt and implement new SDWA Rules and new state regulatory items that address the public health needs of Connecticut;

• Prepare various SDWA primacy regulation packages and ensure legal adoption;

• Ensure required annual reports and other deliverables are completed;

• Coordinate technical functions for protection of public water supplies

• Lead staff in preparation of enforcement actions;

• Participate in hearings and pre-hearings for variances, exemptions, contested environmental and public water cases, and acquisition dockets;

• Develop various stakeholders groups and partnerships;

• Represent the DWS at local, regional, and national events.

You Will Discover The Opportunity To:

• Engage in a rewarding career;

• Showcase your talents in a meaningful role;

• Thrive in an exciting environment;

• Provide support to a division that is passionate about the work we do;

• Work together in a collaborative team environment.

Our Mission:

The Mission of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is to protect and improve the health and safety of the people of Connecticut by assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.

DPH accomplishes this through the implementation of its Strategic Plan which outlines the actions that DPH is taking to accomplish its Mission.

Selection Plan

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Please Note:

In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.

Please Note:

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.

• You must specify your qualifications on your application. You will be unable to make revisions once you submit your application for this posting to the JobAps system.

• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.

• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate's obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

• This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules.

Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.

• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.

• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics.

Connect With Us:

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process.

• Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Pamela Rochette via email at Pamela.Rochette@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Public Health this class is accountable for directing the design, development and implementation of multi-faceted health services programs of an assigned section.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations of large, multi-faceted health services programs at the section level;

• Coordinates, plans and manages section programs and activities;

• Develops, implements, communicates and evaluates section policies, procedures, goals and activities;

• Interprets and administers pertinent laws and regulations;

• Determines appropriate staffing levels;

• Directs preparation of section budget;

• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of section who might impact on policy, program or regulatory activities;

• Determines quality assurance and performance standards for staff;

• Obtains state and federal funds to maintain and implement programs;

• Develops and recommends changes to statutes and regulations;

• Reviews and evaluates legislative proposals and reports on health issues;

• Directs preparation of statistical studies and required federal reports;

• Provides testimony at legislative hearings, the courts and public hearings;

• Addresses professional and lay groups and prepares articles for publication on public health issues;

• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;

• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of

• and ability to apply management principles and practices;

• relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;

• principles and practices of public health with emphasis on public health administration of programs;

• Considerable

• interpersonal skills;

• oral and written communication skills;

• Considerable ability to interpret laws, regulations and statistical reporting data;

• Ability to develop health policies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory capacity in an organization with programmatic and/or regulatory responsibilities for promoting or protecting public health.

NOTE: For state employees this experience is interpreted at the level of a Health Program Supervisor, Supervising Nurse Consultant, Child Care Licensing Supervisor, Epidemiologist 4, Environmental Protection Supervising Environmental Analyst, Supervising Environmental Engineer or Supervising Environmental Sanitarian.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

One (1) year of experience as a Public Health Services Manager may be substituted for the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading and managing environmental health or drinking water programs at a senior level, including policy development, implementation, and evaluation.

• Experience navigating complex regulatory environments related to drinking water and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• Experience building and maintaining effective partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and industry representatives.

• Experience understanding current drinking water issues, trends, and best practices.

• Experience with communication and interpersonal skills, with experience articulating drinking water priorities, engaging stakeholders, and inspiring teams to achieve common goals.

• Experience successfully addressing and resolving complex drinking water challenges through innovative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and effective leadership.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to periodically undergo tests or immunizations for communicable or infectious diseases.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to undergo and successfully complete security background checks.

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.