Health Program Adviser/Specialist/Manager Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established June 11, 1981

Scope

This series specification describes classes which perform a variety of tasks related to health program administration, including the provision of consultation to State, Federal and local agencies in the planning, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of health programs, special studies or projects. In the course of these activities, Health Program Advisers/Specialists/Managers develop, evaluate and research health policy issues; coordinate health program activities; disseminate information to agencies; prepare, monitor and evaluate contracts for compliance with health regulations; develop and submit grant proposals for funding; define new programs and identify resources required; apply and recommend changes in health regulations; policies and procedures; plan and perform staff work for health-related advisory committees; perform or supervise complementary staff support functions; manage or supervise complex major health programs or projects; and represent the department in dealings with local, State, Federal and private jurisdictions.

Entry Levels

Entry into this series may be from related professional State classifications at a lower level, comparable professional levels both inside and outside State service, and college graduates with specialization in related fields.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Variety, scope, and complexity of program assignments; extent of management and supervisory responsibilities; independence of action; level of decision-making authority; extent of program planning and policy development responsibility; demonstrable effect on major departmental programs; and degree of originality and initiative required.

Definition of Levels

Associate Health Program Adviser

This is the full journey level. Under direction, incumbents perform the more difficult and complex duties involved in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health programs or projects. An Associate Health Program Adviser may have lead responsibility, serve as a team leader on studies or projects or discrete program areas, or plan and perform staff work for health-related advisory committees.

Health Program Specialist I

Incumbents at this level function as highly skilled, technical program consultants in areas of extreme sensitivity and with responsibility for coordinating the development of broad policy with multiple departmental, immediate and long-range impact. Positions at this level are those where the level of expertise required is definably greater than that for any other supervisory position at this level and the function performed is critical to the department's basic mission.

Health Program Specialist II

Incumbents at this level function as highly skilled, technical program consultants in programs which are critical to the department's basic mission, where the level of expertise required is definably greater than that for any other supervisory position at this level; and where the person proposed for the position has an established reputation in the areas of expertise required.

Health Program Manager I

This is the working supervisor level. Under general direction, incumbents supervise a small technical/professional staff performing journey level work in planning, implementing, and monitoring health programs as projects, and personally perform the most difficult or sensitive work.

Positions at this level are characterized by one of the following criteria:

1. Are responsible for a multi-county area of a complex statewide health program(s), and supervise diverse technical/professional staff. or

2. In a well-defined statewide program, are responsible for both program and staff services support functions; supervise a small group of technical/ professional staff, and serve as a technical consultant. or

3. Are responsible for a statewide component of a complex program supervising a small technical staff.

Health Program Manager II

This is the full supervisory level. Under general direction, incumbents plan, organize and direct the work of a staff administering comprehensive health programs or projects. These positions are typically used at the section level and above, and are characterized by one of the following criteria:

1. Serve as Assistant Chief of a major program and have line responsibility for a portion of a large, well-defined program with multidisciplinary staff. Responsibilities include complex staff services functions in addition to program responsibilities. or

2. Serve as Assistant Chief of a major program and have responsibility for a portion of a moderate size statewide health program with a wide variety of program area, developmental projects or pilot projects, and diverse funding sources. Responsibilities usually include program development for grant proposals and multiple complex contracts requiring a high level of program knowledge. or

3. Have full management and supervisory responsibility for a small complex program with emphasis on health program knowledge and requiring staff services skills.

Health Program Manager III

Positions at this level have full management and supervisory responsibilities for complex statewide health programs and are usually at the major section or above and are typically characterized by one of the following criteria:

1. In charge of a large, well-defined multifaceted health program through multilevel subordinate supervisors and a large, multidisciplinary technical/professional staff. or

2. In charge of a moderate-size health program with at least two of the following characteristics:

a. New program area with evolving or rapidly changing technology.

b. Program not clearly defined, requiring development of program definition, policy and resources.

c. Highly sensitive/controversial subject matter.

d. Significant, immediate and long-range impact on other programs, public and private industry. or

3. In charge of a small highly visible program characterized by broad policy development and implementation, where the nature of such program and policy recommendations is extremely sensitive and controversial, far-reaching and highly visible both within and outside the department. or

4. Serve as the assistant program manager to a branch, exempt or CEA administrator or divisional Deputy Director with additional line management and supervisory responsibility for two or more programs at the section level or above. Where positions are allocated on the basis of the size and complexity of the program must be such that the delegation of this authority will not adversely impact the allocation of the administrator.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate Health Program Adviser

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties comparable to Health Analyst, Range C. (Applicants who have completed six months of service performing the duties as specified above will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration, at least one year of which shall have included significant responsibility in a program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. (Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration or a closely related health professional field may be substituted for one year of the required general experience.) (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration or a closely related field may be substituted for the two years of the required general experience.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience in public health or health program administration may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Health Program Specialist I

Health Program Manager I

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to Associate Health Program Adviser. (Applicants who have completed six months of service performing the duties as specified above will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be eligible for appointment.)

Or II

Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration, at least one year of which shall have been with major responsibility for a significant program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field may be substituted for up to one year of the required general experience.) and

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field. (One year of additional specialized qualifying experience may be substituted for the required master's degree.)

Health Program Specialist II

Health Program Manager II

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to a Health Program Specialist I or Health Program Manager I.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to an Associate Health Program Adviser.

Or III

Experience: Four years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration, at least two of which must have been with independent responsibility for a significant program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. This experience must include program planning and/or evaluation experience and the making of recommendations to management. (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field may be substituted for one year of the required general experience.) and

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related health professional field. (One year of additional specialized qualifying experience may be substituted for the required master's degree.)

Health Program Manager III

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to a Health Program Specialist II or Health Program Manager II.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing duties equivalent to a Health Program Specialist I or Health Program Manager I, of which one year must have included supervisory experience.

Or III

Experience: Five years of progressively responsible experience in health program administration at least two of which must have been with independent responsibility for a significant program such as is normally found in a complex or departmentalized medical care delivery setting or health institution or organization. This experience must include program planning and/or evaluation experience and the making of recommendations to management. (Possession of a Doctoral Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Health Planning, Public Administration, or closely related health professional field may be substituted for one year of the required general experience.) and

Education: Possession of a Master's Degree in Public Health, Health Administration, Hospital Administration, Comprehensive Health Planning, Public Administration, or a closely related field. (One year of additional specialized qualifying experience may be substituted for the required master's degree.)

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Public health, mental health and health care services programs and trends; problems and procedures involved in establishing community relationships and assessing community health program needs and resources; preparation and planning for coordinated programs with local and Federal agencies, private agencies and health care providers; principles and methods of public administration including organization, personnel and fiscal management; methods of preparing reports; research and survey methods; methods and principles of medical care administration, disease and disability prevention, health promotion and medical rehabilitation; procedures, planning, implementation and monitoring of programs; design and plan for coordination of programs with Federal and local agencies; legislative processes.

Ability to: Assist in development of public health and health care projects; apply health regulations, policies and procedures; participate in monitoring and evaluating health programs and projects; gather, analyze and organize data related to health programs; analyze administrative problems and recommend effective action; speak and write effectively; act as program liaison with staff in other programs at the Federal, State, and local level; assist in planning, conducting and evaluating of field projects; recommend and take actions on a variety of health programs, project activities, staffing and budgetary processes; analyze proposed legislation, regulations and health program standards; provide consultation and technical assistance to local agencies; serve on task forces and committees as a program representative.

Health Program Manager I

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and practices of employee supervision, development and training; methods and techniques of effective leadership; Federal, State and local health programs, policies, objectives, and constraints; equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.

Ability to: All of the above, and supervise staff; manage a health program or project; establish and maintain priorities; effectively utilize available resources; apply and recommend changes in health regulations, policies and procedures; establish and maintain cooperative relations with a variety of governmental, educational and provider entities; effectively carry out equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.

Health Program Manager II

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles and techniques of management and public administration; Federal, State and local standards, issues, policies and priorities related to health services financing, health services delivery, health promotion, disease prevention, and environmental factors impacting health.

Ability to: All of the above, and manage a major health program(s) or project; assume and demonstrate independent responsibility for decisions and actions having broad implications on a variety of complex health programs and project activities; work effectively with various health disciplines and community agencies and lenders in coordinating health services and implementing health programs and in developing and interpreting health policies, regulations and procedures; negotiate and coordinate policy relationships with Federal, State and local agencies; utilize public administration methods including budgeting and personnel practices in achieving implementation of legislation and new health programs statewide; serve as a technical program expert to higher level management and represent the department's position before legislative committees and other State agencies.

Health Program Manager III

Knowledge of: All of the above, and health program administration, including program policy development, program planning and implementation, program evaluation, and use of supportive staff services; formal and informal aspects of the legislative and regulatory process.

Ability to: All of the above, and manage a major complex health program; creatively utilize a variety of management techniques to resolve complex health issues and health program problems.

Class History