Do you love turning data into stories and ideas into funded programs? Are you energized by connecting the dots between planning, quality, and real community impact? CG Public Health is looking for a Public Health Planner to help shape the future of our department. In this role, you will secure the funding that brings community health priorities to life, help our department keep the high standards of a nationally accredited public health agency, and share our progress with the Board of Health and the public in ways that are clear and compelling. You will work alongside colleagues at every level, and your research, your writing, and your ideas will make a visible difference in the community we serve.

We are looking for an organized, curious, and collaborative planner. The ideal candidate communicates clearly with leaders, partners, and funders and can explain complex ideas in plain language. They are comfortable weighing information and making sound decisions, adapting when plans change, and keeping several projects moving at once. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office is a must, and an understanding of how public health planning, quality improvement, and strategic planning fit together is a plus.

At CG Public Health, you will join a supportive team, enjoy a Monday–Friday schedule, and receive a strong benefit package that includes paid vacation and participation in the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS). Best of all, you will have the chance to see your work improve the health of the communities we serve. If you are ready to make a lasting impact, this is your opportunity.

Please note: This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list. It presents highlights of the position’s scope and function and the candidates’ requirements. For more details, please review the full job description.

Job Description
Administration Division
Reports To: Director
Director: Kara Vogelson
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, Full Time – 40 hours per week
Expected Work Week: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm; Overtime as required

Definition:
The Public Health Planner supports planning functions for the department by understanding health issues facing the community; assists with department plans development and is responsible for researching, developing and writing grant proposals to support external funds development and evaluating programs. This position will assist with maintaining accreditation, performance management and will have an integral role in quality improvement. Through this work, the position supports continuous improvement, strengthens organizational performance, and advances the department’s commitment to high-quality public health practice.

Duties to Include:
Under supervision of the Director, performs the following essential functions within the framework of CG Public Health’s provision of core functions and essential services:

Responsibilities:

External Funding/Grants

• Explore external funding opportunities that address health indicators and other data sources.
• Analyze funding opportunities and provide guidance on pursuing; ensure alignment with Department plans and priorities.
• Interpret funding guidelines for staff involved.
• Provide recommendations about pursuing solicitations and provide information for leadership to make determinations.
• Serve as the lead grant writer on all applications; conduct research and data gathering for proposals
• Collect and manage reporting data and other information to inform reports for all assigned grant/contract reporting.
• Serve on at least one community health improvement plan priorities or other like coalition.
• Develop a calendar and system for ensuring all reports are submitted on time to the funder.
• Serve as the coordinator for all grant portals, websites, etc.
• Review all submitted data, analyze and report in a coherent and timely fashion to the funders per their guidelines.
• Conduct reviews and participate in the community health assessment, annual updates, community health improvement plan and groups, etc.
• Coordinate grant start up activities, including facilitating kick-off meetings, confirming roles, and responsibilities, and ensuring tracking systems and documentation are established.
• Develop and maintain standard templates, tools, and guidance documents for grant oversight and coordination.
• Evaluate programs, grants and other external funding - Designs measurement frameworks, tracks program outcomes and writes compliance/impact reports to show how funds were used.

Quality Improvement (QI), Performance Management (PM) and Accreditation
• Ensure QI, PM and Accreditation work as a system and serve as a resource for staff.
• Lead one Strategic Plan priority team.
• Facilitate the QI-PM council, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, documenting discussion and decisions, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Maintain QI and PM Plans & ensure integration with strategic plan and its initiatives.
• Oversee PM tracking system ensuring data is submitted accurately and fully.
• Prepare and distribute quarterly PM report and assist with annual performance cycle summaries.
• Coordinate follow-up on performance findings, including documenting action items and supporting cross-program collaboration when needed.
• Recognize and recommend QI projects (from PM data and other sources).
• Facilitate QI projects by helping teams define the problem, establish goals and measures, develop timelines, clarify roles, and use QI tools consistently.
• Evaluate past QI projects.
• Serve as a resource to staff for QI, PM and Accreditation.
• Understand PHAB Standards and requirements.
• Assist leadership in department efforts to maintain public health accreditation through the National Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
• Maintain the electronic accreditation filing system, upload required documentation to the PHAB online system, and track submission status. Complete and submit required annual or bi-annual PHAB reports.

Governance Reporting
• Lead the development, synthesis and timely submission of comprehensive quarterly and annual reports for the Board of Health.
• Partner with managers to identify and track health data indicators and outcome metrics for public-facing reports.
• Translate data into clear, visually compelling and digestible reports for stakeholders.
• Ensure connection to departmental plans, accreditation and other requirements.

Sustain an effective knowledge of the department’s public health preparedness and response plan.
• Review appropriate plans & train for emergency response roles(s).
• In response, fully participate in all assigned roles to respond to health emergencies.
• Assist with reporting and documenting emergency response activities.
• Assist with review and timely updates to the All-Hazards Emergency Response Plan.
• Participate in emergency preparedness trainings and exercises.

Other duties as assigned

Education and Experience Required:
• Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with major coursework in public health, English, communications, data or a related field with one (1) year of relevant work experience, or
• An associate degree in a related field with at least five (5) years of significantly relevant work experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Experience may be substituted for education.

Public health core competencies are the central knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for the public health workforce to practice effectively and achieve the core functions of public health. Core competencies required for this position: Communication skills, cultural competency skills, community dimensions of practice skills, analytical/assessment skills, policy development/program planning skills, public health sciences skills, leadership and systems thinking skills.

Public Health Preparedness:
• Ability to gain knowledge of public health, EMS and hospital preparedness issues. Knowledge of the Incident Command System and National Incident Management System. Must achieve NIMS competency training compliancy. Employee will report to public health for emergency response as requested by the health director.

Training/Continuing Education Requirements:
• Training and continuing education are highly valued and supported at CG Public Health. This position will have a minimum of 32 continuing education credits per year. Additional requirements may apply based on certifications & licensing available.
• Completion of National Incident Management System’s trainings: IS-100, IS-200 & IS-700

Licensure Requirements:
• None required

Optional Licensure Incentives:
• Any approved licensure or certification listed per CG Public Health Personnel Manual

Physical Requirements:
Position involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. This position frequently will reach with hands or arms and occasionally involves stooping and kneeling. This position may exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) and/or exert a negligible amount of force frequently (from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position will occasionally be required to carry or lift up to 35 pounds. This position will alternate between working indoors in a controlled climate and proper lighting, in an outdoor environment with variable climate and lighting. Must be able to exchange and receive information over the telephone. Must be able to interact with all types of individuals, be mentally alert, detail-oriented, and with good reasoning skills. Specific vision abilities required include utilizing all types of visual acuity to accurately complete documents and forms necessary for the department (close, distance, depth, focus adjustment, peripheral, and color), and excellent manual dexterity for machine usage. 20/40 corrected vision for driving.

Skills:
• Strong organizational judgment, including the ability to prioritize competing demands, anticipate dependencies, and adapt work plans as circumstances change.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and tailor clear, accurate content for staff, leadership, partners, and funders.
• Effective verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex requirements in plain language and to maintain good working relationships with outside agencies as well as co-workers.
• Interpret quantitative and qualitative information, identify meaningful patterns and limitations, and draw well-supported conclusions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and other software applications.

Abilities:
• Ability to build alignment, navigate differing perspectives, and move cross-functional work forward without direct supervisory authority.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff at all levels of the department.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when requirements, priorities, or evidence conflict and to recognize when an issue requires leadership review.
• Ability to support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to strengthen processes, consistency, and performance.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, accountability, and consistency when working with diverse teams and perspectives.
• Ability to define problems, distinguish root causes from symptoms, evaluate practical options, and recommend solutions appropriate to available resources and organizational constraints.
• Ability to follow various polices.
• Ability to respect the rights of all persons visiting the CG Public Health.

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of how accreditation, quality improvement, performance management, and strategic planning work together to support accountable and effective public health practice.
• Knowledge of the 10 Essential Public Health Services and their application to community assessment, program planning, service delivery, and organizational improvement.
• Knowledge of emergency preparedness principles, including coordinated response structures, role clarity, documentation, and continuity of public health operations.

Environmental Adaptability:
The job will not cause exposure to high-risk environmental exposure unless there is a public health disaster. Possible risks would include exposure to biological agents, fumes, toxic gases, chemicals, radiological agents, explosions, and outdoor weather conditions.

Must have a valid Iowa Driver's License and have reliable transportation. Must be insurable for driving under county insurance company policies. Ability to obtain automobile insurance if personal vehicle is ever used for county business for which mileage reimbursement would be received. To be reimbursed for mileage, must provide proof of auto insurance with the following minimum limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury for each person
• $300,000 bodily injury for each occurrence
• $100, 000 property damage OR
• $300,000 single limit for all liability

Applicant will be subject to post-offer, pre-employment drug and physical testing, CRT, reference checks, as well as a criminal background check.

Cerro Gordo County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Cerro Gordo County is subject to and has adopted a policy in compliance with the 2008 Smokefree Air Act.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Cerro Gordo County participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

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