Community Health Specialist

Salary : $77,448.00 - $91,308.00 Annually
Location : Aberdeen, WA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: PH-260716
Department: Public Health & Social Services
Opening Date: 07/16/2026
Closing Date: 7/31/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Range: 21
Covered Under:: Courthouse


Summary
This position is primarily responsible for leading systemic county-wide planning and strategic collaborations and implementing effective population-based policy, systems and environment change strategies to address the environmental, economic and social determinants of health and health inequities.
Work assignments are broad in nature and require independence in the selection of courses of action and resolution of complex or unique problems within the framework of the Department's policies and procedures under limited direction. Work involves coordination with many local individuals, community agencies and resources, as well as regional, state or national partners.

Essential Duties

• Lead community efforts and engage stakeholders in program planning, development of policy or initiatives, and/or evaluation that support population based public health and prevention efforts.
• Lead processes to identify community priorities for planning or implementing population-based prevention and strategies that promote health equity and address the social determinants of health.
• Ensure strategies are compliant with local, state, and federal requirements (grant requirements, RCWs, etc.).
• Manage all aspects of a competitive grant writing and award process, including ensuring community, stakeholder and advisory board engagement as appropriate.
• Negotiate and establish contracts with grantees or sub-awardees; monitor contracts for compliance and approve disbursement of grant funds.
• Oversee community or program data collection and or provide technical assistance to grantees, sub-awardees, or partners as needed to ensure high quality data.
• Conduct and/or oversee reporting processes, including reporting on outcomes and progress to a variety of diverse key stakeholders.
• Liaise with local leaders to encourage coordination and strengthen partnerships among agencies and organizations that are addressing health and wellness related issues; facilitate effective, culturally responsive, and equitable planning and delivery of services across the county.
• Organize, convene, facilitate and present at community meetings, events, public engagement, or programs that relate to public health improvement and county health priorities.
• Review research, case studies, and examples from other counties, both in Washington and across the country, to bring information about evidence-based approaches or programs and innovative strategies to Grays Harbor, or to design new programs.
• Advocate for population based prevention and health promotion policy, systems and environment changes.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, community health, or a closely related field. Master's degree in Public Health preferred.
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in public health or closely related field and that is directly applicable or comparable to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Valid Washington State Driver's License

OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the necessary skills, knowledge and abilities to perform the duties as listed.

Knowledge of:

• Social marketing, behavior change theory, asset based community development principles and practices, trauma-informed/responsive practices, and health equity.
• Maintains knowledge of current best practices for public health and the advances in the field within the focus area of work.
• Local, state and national agencies and organizations that provide community and social services and other governmental assistance programs.
• Grant program policies, procedures, and reporting standards for all sources of funding.
• Principles and procedures for grant applications, administration, accounting, and records management.

Skilled in:

• Verbal and written communications (ie. Presentations, reports, deliverable documentation, grant proposals or request for qualifications, infographics, etc.).
• The use of Microsoft Office Suite for electronic communications and scheduling, creating professional documents, spreadsheets and charts using formulas, references, linking, and other advanced functions.
• Understanding, interpreting and applying social and public health theory to local situations and determine best course of action.
• Evaluating community needs and developing recommendations for short and long term prevention, policy, system, and or environmental strategies that address determinants of health.
• Maintains strong interpersonal skills to nurture lasting relationships with community partners.

Ability to:

• Manage multiple priorities and prioritize tasks in order to ensure timeliness, quality and quantity of work.
• Design new projects or programs, work plans, goals, objectives with measurable performance and financial impacts; track program effectiveness and make recommendations to management.
• Use data, analytical skills, and systems-thinking to assess and identify problems, develop effective, creative, and resourceful solutions.
• Receive, process, and provide complex visual, verbal, and written information. Ability to present complex ideas in understandable and approachable ways that result in high quality effective communication with all audiences.
• Effectively respond to and reconcile competing interests of government entities, community organizations, service providers, contractors, public representatives, and consumers as they affect the planning and operation of programs.
• Exercise skill and judgment in engaging effectively and respectfully with members of the public, community groups, co-workers, etc.; maintains excellent public relations in all situations, including unusual, complex, difficult or high-tension situations.
• Work effectively with diverse individuals and community organizations. Possess commitment to and demonstrate expertise in understanding root causes of health inequalities; advocate for equity related to age, disability, religious culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social class, indigenous background, national origin and gender.
• Work effectively in a teamwork environment, as well as independently; coordinates work with other employees, supervisors, and managers as appropriate.
• Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality when appropriate (such as resolving a problem with a contractor, etc.).
• Maintain a respectful demeanor, interact effectively with others, and recognize and attend to self-care when job stress, heavy workload and stressful situations occur.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements
This position may require
Balancing
Pulling
Finger dexterity
Climbing
Pushing
Repetitive motion
Stooping
Standing
Hearing
Kneeling
Sitting
Seeing
Crouching
Reaching
Feeling
Talking
Grasping


Duties are typically performed in an office setting with visits to other departments and work sites. Will require travel within and outside the County.
Grays Harbor County offers the following benefits:

• MEDICAL
• DENTAL
• LIFE
• VISION
• DEPENDENT COVERAGE - Medical, dental and vision
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT
• DEFERRED COMPENSATION - includes employer match up to $50 per month
• DRS RETIREMENT
• VACATION - 8 hours to 24 hours monthly depending on longevity
• SICK LEAVE - 8 hours per month for full time employees
• BEREAVEMENT LEAVE
• 2 FLOATING HOLIDAYS
• 12 PAID HOLIDAYS
• LONGEVITY PAY

Grays Harbor County pays entire medical, dental and vision for full time employees and provides up to $800 monthly towards dependent coverage for Courthouse Contract employees and $950 per month for Public Works Contract employees. Benefits are pro-rated for part-time employees.

**To view full benefits offered please visit the website and review the collective bargaining agreements and benefits page.


Why Live in Grays Harbor? Check out here: