Bureau Director Infectious Disease

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

The Infectious Disease Bureau (IDB) oversees all activities in Boston related to surveillance, control, prevention, treatment and community engagement and health education for infectious diseases of public health significance. Infectious diseases include but are not limited to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and respiratory illnesses including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. The Bureau has approximately 65 staff and a budget of $27.7 million. The Bureau oversees the following programs: Communicable Disease Control Division, Division of Education and Community Engagement, Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, and Division of HIV/STI Services. The Division of HIV/STI Services administers approximately $20 million in federal HRSA funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Part A, Ryan White Dental Program, and Ending the HIV Epidemic grants. The Bureau also includes a team of infectious disease epidemiologists who work closely with the BPHC's Center for Public Health Science and Innovation to analyze Boston surveillance data and develop public data reports and data dashboards.

The IDB Bureau Director provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the Bureau in collaboration with the IDB Medical Director and Associate Bureau Director. The Bureau Director is responsible for the design, implementation and oversight of programmatic, fiscal, information systems, personnel, quality control, and evaluation components of the Bureau. They serve as an active member of the BPHC senior leadership team and work in a collaborative and confidential capacity with the BPHC Executive Office, Human Resources, Labor & Employment, Administration & Finance, and Communications. The Bureau Director also works closely with other BPHC offices and centers, including the Office of Public Health Preparedness; Office of Racial Equity and Community Engagement; Center for Public Health Science and Innovation; Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness; and more. This role ensures that the Bureau's programs leverage collaborative opportunities within the Bureau and with all other BPHC Bureaus, including Homeless Services; Community Initiatives; Recovery Services; Child, Adolescent, and Family Health; and Boston Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The Bureau Director facilitates collaboration and coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other local and state agencies to ensure timely and effective response to infectious disease concerns. Additionally, the Bureau Director serves as a liaison to infectious disease service and outreach providers across the City and State for responding to emerging and endemic infectious diseases, planning, strategic initiatives, and funding opportunities.

DUTIES:

Key duties and responsibilities fall under four categories outlined below: 1) program design and strategic development; 2) management and supervision; 3) general administration; and 4) fiscal management. This position will also carry out other duties as required by the evolving nature of responding to infectious disease-related needs in the City of Boston.

Additionally, all positions at BPHC shall work to help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.

1) Program Design and Strategic Development

• Provide leadership and strategic guidance to programs and services run by the Infectious Disease Bureau to promote infectious disease awareness, prevention, care, and treatment.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate new programs, partnerships, and initiatives related to infectious disease, community engagement, prevention, outbreak response, and treatment to address public health needs and service gaps in the City.
• Partner with city, state, and consultants as needed to implement strategic initiatives within the Bureau; support the implementation of BPHC's 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, Public Health Accreditation Board activities, and other Commission-wide initiatives.
• Establish and develop collaborations with the Ryan White HIV Planning Council, advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, community and consumer groups, community health centers, hospitals and community-based organizations providing care to people at risk for or living with infectious disease(s).
• Establish criteria and ongoing engagement for people living with infectious diseases to participate in strategic planning/development of new services and initiatives.
• Identify and respond to new funding opportunities through state, federal and private funding sources in partnership with the Grants Development Office.
• Ensure compliance with city, state and federal regulations for funded programs across the Bureau.
• Promote collaborations with other BPHC programs and partners at the local, state and federal levels, including with BPHC's Homeless Services Bureau and Recovery Services to ensure timely and effective infectious disease prevention and treatment for individuals experiencing homelessness and/or substance use disorder, returning citizens, and newcomers.
• Maintain ongoing communication and planning with staff, partners and funders to meet established program needs and new innovations.
• Partner with the IDB Medical Director to develop and implement evidence-based clinical guidelines for infectious disease surveillance, data collection, research, and evaluation activities.
• Integrate a racial equity framework into community engagement, outreach, strategic planning, and data sharing in Boston.
• Represent and promote the IDB programs within the BPHC and at community events, panels and conferences. the BPHC, City, state and federal levels, including community events, panels, and conferences.
• Develop updated infectious disease content in partnership with BPHC Communications Office and Center for Public Health Science and Innovation, including website updates, social media content, infectious disease advisories, and public data reports and dashboards.

2) Management and Supervision

• Supervise the Associate Bureau Director and other members of the IDB Senior Management team. Meet regularly with the Bureau's Senior Management team.
• Develop staff professional development training, policies, procedures, protocols to support the development, implementation, and oversight of all program and administrative components of the Bureau programs.
• Lead recruitment efforts of senior leadership roles within Bureau, including finalization of job descriptions and timely response to filling vacancies, and ensuring short-term plans during vacancies to ensure continued, smooth operations of Bureau.
• Promote a workplace culture that fosters collaboration, teamwork, and staff well-being and professional growth.
• Convene ongoing management and all-staff meetings, including development of agendas that facilitate sharing updates, professional development, policy review, strategic planning, and capacity building. Share updates with Bureau team via email/newsletter.
• Develop and implement workforce retention and succession plans to ensure continuity of operations.
• Work in a confidential capacity with the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Public Health/Executive Director to address policy, program operations, and personnel related matters.
• Make and recommend management and personnel decisions to Human Resources.
• Represent management in grievance and arbitration process and hearings.
• Recommend, review, and assist in creation of proposals for union collective bargaining on behalf of the program. May attend and participate in collective bargaining as management representative.
• Develop systems to ensure staff cooperation and adherence to employee performance evaluation requirements.
• Serve as primary liaison to Human Resources and Labor & Employment Offices for management activities and union contract negotiations.

3) Fiscal and Contract Management

• Collaborate with IDB's Bureau Administrator to develop and oversee the Bureau budget and all financial transactions.
• Develop and implement long-term sustainability plans for Bureau services and programs across multiple funding streams, including external grants and other revenue generating activities.
• Ensure Division Directors and Project Directors understand their program budgets, grant administration responsibilities, and internal fiscal and contracting processes
• Develop budgets and work plans for new program initiatives.
• Partner with Grants Development Office to prepare grants and proposals for external funding sources.
• Oversee billing systems and implement procedures for revenue maximization in collaboration with Bureau Administrator and Fiscal Manager.
• Develop RFPs for new initiatives funded by the Bureau, establish new contracts, and ensure ongoing contract monitoring, in collaboration with the Finance and General Counsel Offices.
• Maintain appropriate levels of ongoing communication with funders and respond to established reporting requirements and new requests for information as these arise.
• Ensure compliance with funding rules and regulations, especially Uniform Administrative Requirements and HRSA processes.

4) General Administration

• Create, develop and implement Bureau policies, including goals, outcomes and process objectives and plans.
• Ensure compliance with Bureau administrative policies and procedures.
• Ensure Bureau program directors and managers complete reports to funders and yearly submission of grants for continued funding from state and federal sources.
• Develop and implement procedures for adherence to licensure requirements and federal grant requirements of funded programs.
• Oversee program physical space needs and any changes.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Commissioner/Executive Director and Deputy Director.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate Degree in Public Health, Social Work or related field plus 10 years' experience in public health management.
• Minimum of five years' leadership experience and management of clinical or public health programs, with experience addressing infectious disease prevention, response, and/or treatment.
• Experience leading a communicable disease/infectious disease public health program at local, state, or federal level.
• Prior experience working with local, state and/or federal government programs.
• Demonstrated leadership of large, diverse workforce from different professional backgrounds/disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience providing education and technical consultation to healthcare providers, community groups, and individuals.
• Demonstrated experience promoting health equity, inclusion, and diversity within workplace and community.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
• Ability to work and lead from a strength-based perspective; interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to set up administrative procedures, to manage an extensive network of infectious disease programs.
• Ability to successfully institute systems that support leadership and supervision functions across the Bureau.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and managing budgets including grants and contracts from city, state, and federal sources.
• Demonstrated experience in grant writing and grants management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including developing presentations and facilitating meetings.
• Experience in utilizing harm reduction principles and practices at all levels of care.
• Experience implementing crisis management and trauma-informed care approaches.
• Experience with evidence-based approaches in addressing infectious disease prevention and treatment, substance use disorder, mental illness, and trauma.
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse client and provider populations.
• Ability to develop and manage administrative policies and procedures that maximize effectiveness and efficiency of direct service programs.
• Ability to successfully lead and manage staff greater than 65 employees, including development and implementation of administrative policies and procedures to support high quality service programs and a positive workplace culture.
• Bilingual skills a plus.
• Knowledge of the City of Boston public health and infectious diseases provider landscape a plus.

Additional Information

• City of Boston Residency Required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• This is a grant funded position.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• This position requires the Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the departments discretion.

Shift

35 hours/week, Monday -- Friday, evenings and weekends and on-call coverage as needed (Hybrid Telework Schedule)

Pay Range

$135,000 - $145,000 Annually