Unit Manager - Blood Disorders (Sickle Cell)

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Title: Unit Manager - Blood Disorders (Sickle Cell)

$73,236.80 - $108,139.20 / Posted Thru: 4/5/25

Location: Hybrid - Must work and Live in the State of Michigan

Purpose: This position serves as the Unit manager for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Hemoglobinopathy Quality Improvement Program. The manager will oversee planning and coordination of statewide initiatives focused on sickle cell disease, which includes follow-up related to infants with hemoglobinopathies detected through newborn screening, relevant projects, grants, and strategic planning implementation. This position is based in the Public Health Genomics Section at MDHHS and works closely with other section staff, the Newborn Screening Program, the University of Michigan- Child Health Evaluation Research Center, Children's Special Health Care Services (CSHCS), partner agencies such as the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America - Michigan Chapter (SCDAA-MI), and hospital-based clinics. The Blood Disorders Unit requires working with hematologists, university-based partners, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, policymakers, and other partners. This unit will seek and implement grant funded programs and oversee the Sickle Cell Expansion & Enhancement (SCCEE) clinical grants.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide leadership, oversight and administration of daily operations for the Hemoglobinopathy Program conducting the following activities:

• Develop, implement, and evaluatethe Hemoglobinopathy Program Quality Improvement Program.
• Maintainknowledge on sickle cell disease and related hemoglobinopathies regarding national treatment guidelines and available clinical services; serveas department expert on sickle cell health issues, trends, and prevalence.
• Serveas PHG lead for cross-cutting issues affecting individuals with blood disorders.Develop and ensure the issuance of a Request for Proposals for the SCCEE clinical grants; Review workplans, budgets, approve and monitor agreements, and provide contract oversight.
• Participatein departmental initiatives related to public health programs for sickle cell disease; attendrelevant meetings with hospitals, clinics, and stakeholders; assure coordination with maternal child health and chronic disease programs as needed.
• Planthe Hemoglobinopathy Quality Improvement Committee (HemQIC) meetings; preparemeeting summaries and related correspondence.
• Collaboratewith CSHCS on development of interventions to promote transition from pediatric to adult health care services and other programmatic activities as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Medicaid on treatment and outreach, as requested.
• Develop and implement a clinician learning collaborative.
• Serveas project coordinator for federal grant activities relating to sickle cell disease; participatein scheduled calls with federal and/or other funding agencies and collaborators.
• Preparereports, oral/poster presentations, and manuscripts as relevant to share program accomplishments.
• PrepareIRB, medical research designation applications, and data use agreements as needed, including renewals.
• RepresentMDHHS in local/state/national hemoglobinopathy/sickle cell initiatives and participatein relevant conferences and meetings.
• Attendunit, section, division, and departmental staff meetings.
• Performother tasks as requested to ensure successful completion of program objectives.

Coordinate follow-up program activities for newborn hemoglobinopathy screening:

• Provideassurance of early childhood follow-up for sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies.
• Serveas liaison and maintaincommunication between the Newborn Screening Laboratory, Newborn Screening Follow-up Program and the contracted follow-up coordinating center (SCDAA-MI); assistwith contract management and development of work plan objectives.
• Identifyprogrammatic and technology needs to ensure a high quality hemoglobinopathy follow-up program; remainabreast of new developments and resources for populations with hemoglobinopathies; participatein national technical assistance calls, webinars, and regional meetings.
• Monitorand suggestuses for collected follow-up data.
• Prepare educational materials for the public and develop training content for health professional continuing education modules

Oversee surveillance and coordination of long-term follow-up of individuals with sickle cell disease.

• Collaborate with the University of Michigan- Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation Research Center (CHEAR) to implement Michigan's Sickle Cell Data Collection Program (MiSCDC); Lead coordination of the MI-SCDC Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).
• Providetechnical assistance to SCDAA-MI concerning collection of Health Status Assessment data; coordinatetimely data entry and analysis.
• Assistwith complex Medicaid claims analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Collaborate with CHEAR and other partners to develop comprehensive surveillance reports.

Serve as department expert on implementation and evaluation of the MDHHS public health strategic plan for sickle cell disease.

• Organize, monitor, and ensureprogress toward strategic plan goals in collaboration with public health programs and partners.
• Planand developinnovative changes in health policy procedures for sickle cell disease initiatives across public health programs and clinical settings; trainand updateinternal staff/external partners on changes.
• Evaluateproposed program changes and analyzeimpact on the sickle cell population, providers, health care systems, access to care and overall direction of the program.
• Establishand utilizeperformance indicators and benchmarks to evaluate program effectiveness and accomplishment of desired outcomes.
• Coordinateinternal team meetings; preparemeeting summaries as needed and carryout identified tasks.
• Facilitatecommunication with Michigan hematologists on research projects and strategic plan activities as needed.
• Performother tasks as requested to ensure successful completion of program objectives.

Maintain a positive, strong, credible, professional and interpersonal relationship with all parties relevant to MDHHS and MPHI projects and represents their best interest at all times.

• All other duties as assigned.

Education: Master's degree in genetic counseling (MS), public health (MPH), nursing (MSN), health services administration (MSA), social work (MSW), health education (MA) or other relevant health related field.

Experience: Minimum three years as a project coordinator or manager for a public health program or clinical service coordinator; four years preferred.

Important Skills and Characteristics:

• Must have knowledge of the newborn screening process; personal experience or familiarity with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies or willingness to learn.
• Ability to understand and interpret medical articles relating to newborn screening and hemoglobinopathies.
• Familiarity with the MI Sickle Cell Data Collection Program, use of databases and spreadsheets for data collection and reporting.
• Experience with survey methods and instruments.
• Experience with health education and outreach methods.
• Ability to develop new contacts and maintain positive working relationships.
• Ability to utilize knowledge to provide consultation.
• Ability to work with clinical professionals and other state partners.
• Ability to provide technical assistance and training to clinical sites and SCDAA.
• Ability to organize and develop grant applications and progress reports.
• Experience in EGrAMS and CHAMPS or a willingness to learn.
• Ability to prepare summary articles and reports suitable for publication and/or posting to program websites.
• Excellent public speaking, data management, organizational, and writing skills are essential to this position.
• Ability to maintain records, prepare reports, and correspondence.
• Familiarity with emerging health information exchange technology a plus; MS Office software skills are essential.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements:Standard office environment. Job mayrequire moderate physical effort including lifting and transporting handout materials, laptop computer and projector, etc. Involves significant telephone and/or computer related activity including keyboarding and viewing a computer screen. Requires valid vehicle operator's license and monthly travel to Detroit for consultation with SCDAA-MI or other areas of the state for meetings with advisory committees, subcontractors and collaborators. Potential for occasional overnight stays and out-of-state travel to attend grantee meetings or conferences with federal project officers.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHERS: This position will supervise the Public Health Advisor, some aspects of products produced by the LEGD Health Educator, and any new staff created or identified through grant funding as appropriate for the unit.

"For purposes of employment standards, this classification is "Exempt" from overtime provisions of the fair Labor Standards Act."

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