Director of Medical Operations - STAR Flight

Job Summary

Are you looking for career opportunities that provides top-notch benefits including paid vacation & sick leave, outstanding health & dental insurance, a free health clinic for you & your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more?  Then bring your talents and leadership to Travis County!

Under general direction of the County Executive, Emergency Services, and direct supervision of the Emergency Services Chief Deputy, the STAR Flight Director of Medical Operations oversees and guides STAR Flight activities in partnership with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations. STAR Flight programs include air ambulance and emergency medical care, aerial firefighting, search-and-hoist-rescue, and law enforcement aerial assistance. This position is responsible for oversight of emergency medical care as well as for administrative functions including budgeting, purchasing, hiring, and personnel supervision within the position’s programmatic areas of responsibility. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: 
This is a job classification within the Public Safety/Emergency Management job family. This classification represents senior management within Emergency Services and is one of two equivalent leadership positions at STAR Flight, the other being STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations. These two leadership positions work in partnership to guide the overall STAR Flight program. Both positions work closely with Emergency Services executive management for all STAR Flight operations. This classification is distinguished by serving as the administrator, manager, and Co-Division Chief, reporting directly to executive management and managing through subordinate managers. This position requires a flexible work schedule and working under sometimes-difficult conditions to meet the needs of the department. This position must be available for emergency response at all times when in the geographic area. This position is expected to work occasional holidays, nights, and weekends as operational and emergency response needs dictate.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, develops, manages, and implements all programmatic, operational, and administrative activities related to STAR Flight, including clinical and medical roles and functions. Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations to create and implement comprehensive strategic plans consistent with departmental goals and objectives.
• Oversees subordinate management and staff, including hiring, training, coaching, performance evaluation, disciplinary actions, and dismissals, and directs activities to be consistent with goals and objectives. Seeks and creates opportunities for improved performance, learning and development of staff and identifies, and addresses problems or conflicts.
• Works with the Division Chief of Clinical Performance and Education to develop clinical training and clinical policies. 
• Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations to ensure all program policies, operations, and procedures are in compliance with Federal, State, Local laws and regulations. Manages and participates in the development of clinical and operational policies and procedures. Establishes standard operating and emergency procedures and protocols accordingly.
• Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations and the Division Chief of Clinical Performance and Education to ensure all ongoing training requirements are met. Coordinates with management, staff, and external sources in all programmatic areas to access and implement training and continuing education in the areas of clinical, safety, administrative, and other relevant areas. Provides opportunities for staff to achieve and maintain all required and professional development training.
• Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations to develop the annual STAR Flight budget, focusing on clinical, medical, and operational needs. Oversees, monitors, and maintains approved annual program budget and ensures funds are maintained for programmatic areas of responsibility. Provides administrative reports, including clinical, operational, and fiscal data.
• May respond to emergency calls as required to provide medical care/oversight or other mission critical functions. Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations to ensure emergency operations are staffed and operational on a 24/7 basis. Coordinates activities and communicates with external agencies in completing missions and providing appropriate customer service. Evaluates risk/benefit ratio of rescue and other missions.
• Works with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations to represent Travis County and STAR Flight by coordinating and conducting public relations events and educational in-services for Travis County and our surrounding service area. Attends community meetings, seminars, conferences, professional association gatherings and other meetings, and participates on related committees.
• Oversees and facilitates mission readiness status on all programmatic levels, including clinical and safety compliance. Communicates program operations status regularly with the STAR Flight Director of Aviation Operations, Division Chief of Clinical Performance and Education, and executive management. Participates in communications with Commissioners Court and others, as required.
• Is the Admittatur of Record for the STAR Flight transport license with the Texas State Department of Health Services
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice or a directly related field AND eight (8) years of increasingly responsible experience in emergency medical services, emergency services, or a directly related field, including four (4) years of mid-to senior level supervisory or management experience;

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Incident Command 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800.

Knowledge of:

• Functions, policies and procedures, principles, practices and techniques of emergency services and public safety operations.
• Supervisory principles, practices, and techniques.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.
• Incident Command principles.
• Clinical Practice Standards of Care.
• State and Federal regulatory or administrative requirements and practices.
• Budget development, process, and maintenance.
• Methods of presentations.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.
• Program management, including managing subordinates and working with all levels of personnel.
• Meeting emergencies.
• Building consensus and teamwork.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.

Skill in:

• Planning and organizing work assignments.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Low to High Angle and Swift Water Rescue techniques.
• Helicopter rescue techniques.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Supervise work of staff members.
• Work as a team member in a diverse organization.
• Communicate effectively.
• Work calmly, effectively, and decisively in emergency situations.
• Reason and make judgments and decisions.
• Prioritize needs, develop, and implement plans of action.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Perform in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner.
• Work on a wide variety of tasks simultaneously and produce timely and tangible results.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, and the public.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include meeting physical ability/strength standards outlined above. Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 50-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Must be available to work in inclement weather. Subject to contact with dust, dangerous machinery, noise, fumes, potential harm, vibration, communicable diseases, and hazardous chemicals.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.  

Work Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM; Monday through Friday.

Location: 7800 Old Manor Rd Austin, TX 78724 

Department: STAR Flight 

Criminal Background Check, Driving Record, Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Education, and Employment History Check Required.

Benefits Guide