Description

Under direction, the Chief Science Officer is responsible for providing vision for and directing epidemiology, public health informatics, performance management and quality improvement, and modeling, research, and evaluation to enhance the use of science and evidence-based decision making to provide actionable insights that improve public health performance. This is an executive leadership position that reports directly to the Public Health Officer.   (Download PDF reader) The Position The Chief Science Officer will direct core scientific functions, including epidemiology and surveillance, statistical modeling and demography, public health informatics, research and evaluation, and performance management and quality improvement. The position will provide executive leadership for incorporating a health equity lens throughout areas of responsibility and the Department as a whole. In addition to scientific and administrative oversight, the Chief Science Officer will develop and maintain external partnerships to enhance knowledge generation and improve access to and translation of data into policy, strategy, and operational improvements.     In addition to these overall responsibilities, the position will provide direction and subject matter expertise for development of research questions and priorities to guide in-depth investigations, advanced statistical modeling, identification and selection of methodological approaches from multiple scientific disciplines, synthesis of the scientific evidence base on key topics, development of analytic and evaluation plans, procedures for assessing data validity, reliability, and completeness, development and improvement of surveillance systems and procedures, review and interpretation of data analyses, and translation of complex findings into policy, program design and planning, and communications. The position will also be responsible for strategic planning to ensure continuous identification, adoption, and improvement of scientific and technological advances across the core areas in the Branch.   Due to the nature of the work required, a doctoral degree is highly preferred.   

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: The County of Santa Clara, as a condition of employment, requires that all County employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption request. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exemption request prior to your start date. Do you acknowledge and accept this requirement?  Recruitment Brochure  To learn more about this role,  Click here (Download PDF reader) 

FILING PERIOD AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE If the final filing date states "Continuous", the application filing period may close at any time after ten business days from the issue date of the job announcement if sufficient qualified applications have been received.  Therefore it is important to submit your application as soon as possible.   This recruitment requires the submission of an online application.  No paper applications will be accepted.  Applicants who are viewing this job announcement outside of our Santa Clara County website must go to www.sccjobs.org to apply.

To qualify for this exceptional opportunity, applicants must:

• Attach a Resume
• Complete the online supplemental questionnaire
• Submit a letter of interest explaining why you are the ideal candidate. (3 pages max)

It is important that you complete the supplemental process and include the additional information requested as it will be evaluated during the competitive review process. 

If you have any questions, please contact Alan Reed, Executive Services at (408) 299-5851 or [email protected].

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Typical Tasks

• Sets vision, strategic direction, goals, objectives, and priorities to enhance the use of science and evidence to prevent and control disease;
• Leads, promotes, and supports an overall scientific agenda and use of scientific knowledge and evidence in decision-making;
• Leads, guides, and enhances core functions that support evidence-based decision making in public health including public health surveillance, epidemiology, public health informatics, research, evaluation, statistical modeling, and performance management and quality improvement;
• Creates and maintains partnerships with other health agencies, universities, and external partners to enhance generation of knowledge, access to data, and utilization of and translation of data and evidence into policy, strategies, operations, and communications;
• Participates as a member of the department executive team in the review and establishment of policies and procedures for carrying out the department's goals and objectives, and initiates changes in methods and procedures to improve decision support;
• Provides leadership for incorporating a health equity lens within areas of responsibility and the department as a whole;
• Leads excellence and innovation through scientific exploration,  learning and discovery,  promoting performance management and continuous quality improvement throughout areas of responsibility and the department. 
• Leads and supports program evaluation to optimize programs and services by utilizing trans-disciplinary and innovative methods;
• Identifies resource development opportunities and leverages funds for science in support of Department priorities. Promotes and facilitates long-term investment in infrastructure including new and emerging methods to support scientific excellence;
• Oversees and leads data governance and data stewardship principles and practices across the department, in collaboration with Technology Services and Solutions (TSS);
• Collaborates with TSS around all departmental information technology needs, IT capital projects, and data systems; 
• Oversees and advocates for the development, promotion, implementation, and use of information systems and electronic disease reporting;
• Delineates responsibilities between TSS and PHD around information technology and public health informatics, including around planning, procurement, installation, validation, and implementation; 
• Oversees adherence to laws and policies regarding public health information; 
• Oversees budget development and expense monitoring and development and management of contracts and grants for branch;
• Directs and manages selection, hiring, training, development, and evaluation of managers and staff;
• Directs and oversees maintenance of ethical, privacy, and security issues related to health data, including coordination with county counsel and compliance, as necessary;
• Translates scientific information and innovation into public health practice, including ensuring continuous training and development of public health analytics and informatics workforce;
• Serves as representative on local, state, and national committees and taskforces;
• Prepares and makes presentations to boards, commissions, and external groups; 
• Represents the Health Officer and Public Health Director with County departments and external entities in areas of responsibility and jurisdiction;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Performs related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Considerable education, training and extensive experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the above typical management tasks and the possession and application of the following knowledge and abilities, listed below.   Note: The knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this function are normally attained through possession of a Bachelor’s degree, from an accredited college or university in an analytic or technical field focused on epidemiology, public health or related health sciences, biostatistics, statistics, health informatics, mathematics, data science, social sciences, or a related field. A master’s or doctoral degree highly desirable.   AND   Minimum of five (5) years of management or supervisory experience in directing epidemiology, surveillance, health informatics, research, evaluation, and/or related field(s) within a public health entity, healthcare delivery setting, academic institution, non-profit organization, or private sector organization directing public health programs and operations.    A doctoral or medical degree from an accredited college or university in epidemiology, public health or related health sciences, biostatistics, statistics, health informatics, mathematics, data science, social sciences, or a related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required work experience. KNOWLEDGE OF:  

• Principles, practices, and techniques of public health and health care administration, organization, budget, grant funding, management analysis, supervision, personnel management, employee relations, modem information systems applications, and organizational development;
• Principles, practices, and techniques of epidemiology and surveillance and related fields, including investigation, data collection, data management, modeling, sampling, analysis, data visualization, and reporting;
• Principles and practices related to health informatics, including database management, maintenance, and analysis; data warehousing; open data technology, and other tools;
• Analytical, statistical, programming, geographic mapping, data visualization, or business intelligence software applications or tools used for epidemiology and related fields;
• Theories, intervention techniques, policies, and principles of communicable and chronic disease and injury prevention and control;
• Social determinants of health and theories and concepts of racial and health equity;
• Techniques for organizing, facilitating, and motivating groups and building consensus;
• Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and policies governing data collection, data sharing, and reporting.

   ABILITY TO:  

• Develop and modify vision, strategic plans, priorities, and objectives for use of scientific knowledge and evidence in decision-making; 
• Translate emerging knowledge/innovations in the use of public health data and informatics;
• Effectively analyze and evaluate complex financial, budgeting and administrative problems and implement effective solutions;
• Oversee and direct the work of others in the planning for and application of surveillance, epidemiologic methods, health informatics, and related areas to understand the patterns, distribution, and determinants of conditions of public health significance in the population;
• Provide methodological and technical leadership and direction for epidemiological studies and activities, health assessments, special studies, and related activities;
• Apply a racial and health equity lens across all strategies and activities with responsibilities;
• Prepare and manage contracts, budgets, and grants;
• Assess stakeholders' needs and oversee development of deliverables to meet those needs;
• Interpret and apply provisions of federal, state, and local legislation, rules, regulations, and policies pertinent to areas of responsibility;
• Apply principles and ethics consistent with standards in the field in study design, data collection, and dissemination;
• Effectively manage, train, develop and motivate subordinate staff;
• Effectively represent the department before the Board of Supervisors, County Executive, the public, media and other entities and organizations; and
• Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing to various audiences.