Rural Health Outreach & Communications Coordinator

An Official website of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Job Description - Rural Health Outreach & Communications Coordinator (260007D9) Job Description Rural Health Outreach & Communications Coordinator - ( 260007D9 ) Description This position is a meaningful opportunity to join the Center for Rural Health’s (C4RH) State Office of Rural Health (SORH) team within the Bureau of Community Health and Prevention (BCHAP) at DPH. The SORH team is a group of dedicated staff with an exemplary track record of successful collaborative initiatives that have increased access to health care and community health services in the rural communities of Massachusetts. The Rural Health Outreach and Communications Coordinator (OCC) is responsible for conducting outreach to rural communities, coordinating an advisory council, maintaining broad and open communications, providing education and networking opportunities, conducting targeted technical assistance, conducting needs assessment, and maintaining program monitoring data bases for grant reporting. This position has many opportunities to continually learn and grow; the responsibilities of the position at times will evolve based on new opportunities and emerging community needs. Broader special content areas of responsibility will typically include healthcare workforce recruitment and retention, rural safety net models of primary health care and prevention services, community coalition and rural health network development, and access to state and federal programs and resources. The person in this position advances and supports rural healthcare needs assessment within communities and statewide; identifies priority needs and develops efforts to address the needs. Evaluates current activities and programs, makes recommendations for revisions. Participates in collaborative multi-program local, state, regional, and national initiatives. Facilitates and maintains essential internal and external relationships working with a network of rural healthcare and community leaders across the state, as well as many state, regional, and national partners. Follows state and federal procedures for state contracting, program monitoring, and reporting activities. BCHAP acknowledges that historical and systemic inequities continue to create unfair barriers to health and wellness. We are committed to improving the quality of life for all Commonwealth residents while building inclusive healthcare systems and broadening access to comprehensive education, care, and public health resources with a targeted focus on dismantling racial disparities. The OCC will actively apply this framework to all aspects of their work and will work with other Division and BCHAP staff to build understanding and capacity to incorporate this framing into programs across the Department. Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive): Collect and disseminate information and resources to a statewide network of rural providers, community groups, and local leaders using a variety of approved strategies including the Department’s social media outlets, listservs, targeted email lists, newsletters, websites, meeting participation, etc. Serve as a rural health communications liaison and marketing coordinator with other Massachusetts based groups and regional and national organizations. Make outreach visits and presentations to small groups about rural health in Massachusetts and the SORH and our projects. Maintain strong working relationships with internal and external partners, to appropriately inform and advance health innovations for the Commonwealth and rural Massachusetts communities. Provide expertise to rural community-based organizations on federal grants including application development, program monitoring and evaluation, grant management and accounting, and preparing progress reports. Coordinate operational systems and reporting databases to ensure SORH compliance with state and federal program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting requirements. Prepare grant reporting for submission. Provide staff support and coordination to the MA DPH rural health advisory council known as the Massachusetts Rural Council on Health (MARCH) and other rural community and clinical networks, as appropriate. Coordinate SORH contract processing, monitoring, and payment processes in collaboration with SORH Director, Administration and Finance Division, MDPH Accounting and Purchase of Services Divisions, and other Division staff as needed. Engage in the Bureau’s Racial Equity Initiative including participating in the many learning opportunities and work groups and implementing racial equity and social justice in all programming. Actively promote a racial justice framework for all initiatives and as an integral part of improving community health and rural health services systems. Required Qualification: Potential to write concisely to express thoughts clearly and to develop ideas in logical sequence. Capacity to communicate effectively in oral expression and follow written and oral instructions. Awareness of the methods of general report writing. Able to maintain accurate records. Skilled to exercise discretion in handling confidential information. Ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, etc. governing assigned unit activities. Preferred Qualifications: Three years of experience in work relevant to public health, program coordination or management, program planning or analysis. Strong writing experience with drafting announcements, informational materials, presentations, articles, and reports. Lived experience working with rural communities preferred. Ability to communicate with both internal and external partners, and knowledgeable about community engagement activities and community-based organizations. Ability to analyze and determine the applicability of data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations and maintain accurate records. Commitment to travel to rural communities to present and participate in educational activities of external partner organizations. Demonstrate an understanding of social determinants of health and a commitment to health equity, particularly racial equity, and racial justice. About the Department of Public Health: The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to prevent illness, injury, and premature death, to assure access to high quality public health and health care services, and to promote wellness and health equity for all people in the Commonwealth. We envision a Commonwealth in which all people enjoy optimal health. Massachusetts ranks among the healthiest of states according to comparative analyses, but we face numerous challenges, including chronic and infectious disease, substance abuse, violence, preventable hospitalizations, and health disparities. DPH coordinates programs and policies to address specific diseases and conditions and offer services to address the needs of vulnerable populations. We also develop, implement, promote, and enforce regulations and policies to assure that the conditions under which people live are most conducive to health and enable people to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. We license health professionals, healthcare facilities and a variety of businesses that impact public health. We operate the state laboratory and four public health hospitals. We monitor health status and manage vital records including births, marriages and deaths. We educate people about public health issues and work closely with local boards of health and community partners to identify and solve public health problems. More information can be found at: MA Department of Public Health A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website. For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io Ext. #4 Qualifications First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days. MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) three years of full time, or equivalent part-time, professional, administrative or managerial experience in business administration, business management or public administration the major duties of which involved program management, program administration, program coordination, program planning and/or program analysis, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below. Substitutions: I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the-required experience.* II. A Graduate degree with a major in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for the required experience.* III. A Bachelor's or higher degree with a major other than in business administration, business management or public administration may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.* *Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range. When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future. An Equal Opportunity / Affir… The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC)may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role. Primary Location United States-Massachusetts-Westfield-91 East Mountain Rd Job Administrative Services Agency Department of Public Health Schedule Full-time Shift Day Number of Openings 1 Salary 73,615.88 - 106,401.62 Yearly If you have Diversity, Affa…?**?? (This paragraph was omitted as it contained no identifiable EEO/DEI statement and was not necessary.) Bargaining Unit : 06-NAGE - Professional Admin. Confidential : No Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : Yes #J-18808-Ljbffr