Program Lead- Rural Health Workforce Development

Hagerty Consulting, Inc. (Hagerty) is the nation's leading emergency management and homeland security consulting firm. Known for its public spirit, innovative thinking, problem-solving, and exceptional people, Hagerty is sought after to work on some of the largest and most complex crisis and emergency management issues. We serve our clients across the nation to enhance their preparedness programs; create more resilient and sustainable communities; provide innovative solutions to enhance their response; and obtain and manage grants and loans to support their recovery.

The Program Lead – Rural Health Workforce Development will support initiatives aligned with efforts surrounding workforce development in rural healthcare settings. This role will support the design, implementation, and sustainability of workforce strategies that strengthen access to care, improve staffing models, and enhance long-term system resilience across rural communities. The ideal candidate brings deep experience working at the intersection of healthcare delivery, public health, and workforce strategy, with the ability to engage stakeholders, assess workforce gaps, and translate strategic plans into actionable programs.

This is a Proposal-Based Opportunity for an upcoming rural healthcare workforce initiative. Engagement is contingent upon successful contract award. This position is open to Independent Contractors (1099) only at this time; as such, a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN) will be required in order to be considered for this opportunity.

Responsibilities for the Program Lead – Rural Health Workforce Development Include:

• Lead and support rural healthcare workforce assessments, including gap analyses, staffing models, and capacity evaluations

• Design and implement workforce development strategies, including recruitment, retention, training, and upskilling initiatives

• Facilitate stakeholder engagement with hospitals, public health agencies, community-based organizations, and state/local partners

• Translate federal and state funding priorities (e.g., CMS, HRSA) into practical workforce solutions and program designs

• Support development of strategic plans, implementation roadmaps, and sustainability frameworks

• Conduct workshops, interviews, and working sessions to gather input and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders

• Develop deliverables and executive-level briefings, including reports, dashboards, and presentations

• Identify innovative and scalable workforce models tailored to rural and underserved populations

• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to align workforce initiatives with broader healthcare transformation efforts

Qualifications for the Program Lead – Rural Health Workforce Development Include:

• Bachelor’s degree

• 10+ years of professional experience in healthcare, public health, workforce development, or related consulting environments

• Demonstrated experience working with rural health systems, critical access hospitals, FQHCs, or public health agencies

• Experience conducting workforce assessments, strategic planning, or program implementation

• Strong facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience working with executive leadership and cross-sector partners

Preferred Qualifications for the Program Lead – Rural Health Workforce Development Include:

• Master’s degree (MPH, MHA, MBA, or related field)

• Experience supporting federally funded programs (e.g., CMS, HRSA, HHS initiatives)

• Familiarity with rural health policy, funding mechanisms, and workforce challenges, access challenges

• Experience with data-driven decision-making, including workforce analytics or health systems data

• Background in emergency preparedness, healthcare operations, or system transformation initiatives

Compensation for the Program Lead – Rural Health Workforce Development Include:

• Salary range of $75-$125/hr. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skills, experience and training, licensure and certifications, internal equity, location, travel requirements, and other business and organizational needs.

Hagerty Consulting is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity/national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, age, disability, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status, characteristic or condition protected by local, state, or federal law. We promote equal opportunity in all our employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

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