Program Specialist

Program Specialist

The Office for Community Health (OCH) at the University of New Mexico is seeking an experienced, collaborative, empathetic, and community-focused Program Specialist to support the Adult Inpatient Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Team. Working fully in-person at UNM Hospital, this role bridges gaps in clinical care and community support by working directly with inpatient care teams to conduct SDOH screenings, assist with discharge planning, navigate resources, and coordinate services for safe care transitions.

Under the direction of the Senior Program Manager, the Program Specialist will provide day-to-day supervision and support to the inpatient Community Health Worker (CHW) team while managing a personal patient caseload. Additionally, this position acts as a key liaison to internal and external partners to advance operational goals and program delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Operations
• Provide daily supervision, guidance, and operational support to the inpatient CHW team.
• Advise the Senior Program Manager on operational goals, workflow efficiencies, and program deliverables.
• Represent the SDOH program to internal hospital units and external community partners.
• Conduct interdisciplinary trainings to educate hospital personnel on the CHW scope of practice, ensuring optimal integration and utilization across teams.
• Direct Patient Care & Navigation
• Maintain an active patient caseload to assess and address health-related social needs.
• Conduct comprehensive SDOH screenings to identify challenges related to housing, food insecurity, transportation, healthcare access, and other social needs.
• Connect patients to appropriate community resources, offering direct system navigation and health promotion education.
• Partner with inpatient clinical teams to support safe discharge planning and smooth transitions of care.
• Compliance & Administration
• Ensure accurate, timely, and thorough documentation of patient interactions and resource connections in compliance with departmental and hospital standards.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure program activities align with strategic health equity goals.

Conditions of Employment - Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement. If located at the UNM Children's Campus, successful candidate must pass a comprehensive post-offer, pre-employment criminal and New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) fingerprint background check, and a continued successful status will be verified by periodic future background checks.

Minimum Qualifications - High school diploma or GED; at least 6 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualifications - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, especially with diverse populations. Ability to work independently. Proficiency in email communication and electronic health record documentation. Familiarity with local community resources and social service systems. Strong problem-solving skills with a compassionate approach. Commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality and ethical standards. Bilingual skills are a plus and may be preferred based on community needs. Previous experience in a healthcare or clinical setting. Strong interpersonal skills and a passion for community advocacy. Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and client-centered principles

Additional Requirements

Campus - Health Sciences Center (HSC) - Albuquerque, NM

Department - VP for Comm Health Administration (196A)

Employment Type - Staff

Staff Type - Term - Full-Time

Term End Date - 06/30/2027

Status - Exempt

Pay - Monthly: $3,882.67 (minimum) - $5,453.07 (midpoint)

Benefits Eligible - This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for more information.

ERB Statement - As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than.25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.

Background Check Required - Yes

For Best Consideration Date - 10/7/2026

Eligible for Hiring Incentive

Eligible for Remote Work - No

University of New Mexico