Community Relations Specialist

Community Relations Specialist

The Community Relations Specialist functions as a representative for CalOptima in the community and to community-based organizations. The incumbent plans and coordinates community outreach activities, including quarterly networking forums, community town hall meetings, stakeholder meetings educational seminars, and health fairs. The incumbent serves as a knowledgeable resource about CalOptima's programs and services. The incumbent is expected and empowered to be a real-time problem solver for members and stakeholders.

Position Responsibilities:

• Serves as a CalOptima representative for community organizations.
• Plans, coordinates, and evaluates community relations projects, activities, and events. Specific activities include developing project work plans and budgets, scheduling and facilitating planning meetings, and coordinating logistics.
• Participates as a representative of CalOptima in assigned community meetings, collaborative, committees, and coalitions to develop and enhance community partnerships.
• Attends health and community fairs and health promotion events.
• Organizes and plans workshops, presentations and supports large/special events.
• Partners with Strategic Development, Communications, Government Affairs, and other internal departments to maintain positive stakeholder relationships; Cultivates support for CalOptima's programs and generates leads for outreach and enrollment staff.
• Communicates major community developments and issues to senior management and other internal departments.
• Ensures key messages related to CalOptima's programs and policy issues are clearly communicated to external stakeholders.
• Conducts presentations for community-based organizations to increase awareness about CalOptima's programs and services.
• Engenders cultural sensitivity and knowledge regarding the diversity of the populations CalOptima serves.
• Other projects and duties as assigned.

Possesses the Ability to:

• Develop rapport, establish, and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with internal and external contacts at all levels and from varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with CalOptima leadership and staff.
• Create and deliver presentations, as well as interpret, explain, or consult about the complexities of healthcare programs.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing with strong analytical skills.
• Work independently, with team members and to manage multiple projects with deadlines using effective time management and project planning skills.
• Motivate and lead multi-program teams and external committees/coalitions.
• Be detail oriented and work under pressure while providing exceptional customer service.
• Prepare written reports and maintain accurate records.
• Collaborate with internal staff to resolve problems/analyze complex situations as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• May be requested to speak, understand, read and/or write in English and one of CalOptima's defined threshold languages for assignment to specific constituencies.
• Utilize computer and appropriate software (e.g., Microsoft Office: Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and job specific applications/systems to produce correspondence, charts, spreadsheets, and/or other information applicable to the position assignment.

Experience & Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Community Health, Public Affairs, Communications, Public Health, or other related field and/or relevant experience in Community Relations required.
• 3 years of experience in Community Health, Public Relations, and/or Community-Based Organizations, including planning and organizing large-scale public events required.
• Experience in presenting to key stakeholders is required.
• Bilingual in English and in one of CalOptima's defined threshold languages (Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Chinese) is required.
• Valid driver's license and vehicle, or other approved means of transportation, an acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance will be required for work away from the primary office 30% of the time or more.
• A flexible schedule to participate in evening and weekend events is required.
• Master's degree in Public Affairs, Community Health, or another related field preferred.
• Knowledge of: Cultural and linguistic sensitivities. Managed Care, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and community engagement. Community health program development, implementation, and evaluation a plus.

CalOptima is an equal employment opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions on the basis of merit. CalOptima prohibits unlawful discrimination against any employee, or applicant for employment, based on race, religion/religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transitioning status, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, military status as a disabled veteran, or veteran of the Vietnam era, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. CalOptima also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has, or is perceived as having, any of those characteristics.

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