Associate Director, Rural Health Transformation Program

University of New England Career•Portland, ME

About The Position

The Associate Director provides day-to-day senior management of Initiative One, translating Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) goals, DHHS requirements, workplans, and budgets into implementation. The role coordinates Community Health Worker (CHW) and evidence-based practice (EBP) workstreams and technical contractors, tracks milestones and deliverables, manages risks, addresses barriers with partners, and ensures alignment with federal, state, University of New England (UNE), and RHTP requirements. The position advances statewide efforts to expand, train, integrate, deploy, and sustain CHWs in rural Maine. It manages relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, Public Health Districts, and Tribal Health Centers, and works with the Director of Finance and Research Administration to oversee subrecipient deliverables, performance, reporting, technical assistance, and implementation monitoring. The role also supports strategies for sustaining CHW roles beyond RHTP funding. The Associate Director provides thought leadership on identifying, selecting, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and sustaining EBPs relevant to rural Maine. It coordinates EBP workplans with Maine DHHS, engages stakeholders, manages proposal solicitation and review processes, develops investment recommendations, and identifies gaps or duplication in statewide EBP activity. The position serves as a primary contact for subrecipients and implementation partners, establishing expectations and monitoring program and financial performance. In conjunction with the Senior Research Associate, it creates project monitoring and reporting systems, meets DHHS and CMS reporting requirements, and produces dashboards, presentations, briefings, and other materials for technical and nontechnical audiences. The Associate Director builds relationships across government, healthcare, academia, Tribal organizations, and community partners; represents UNE in RHTP forums; translates policy and implementation issues into recommendations; and identifies opportunities to embed sustainability in financing, workforce, delivery, partnerships, and policy infrastructure.

Requirements

Master’s degree or doctoral degree in public health, health administration, public administration, healthcare, business, social services, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex health, public health, healthcare, community development, or social services programs.
Demonstrated success managing multi-partner initiatives with government, healthcare, community, or other external stakeholders.
Experience managing multiple workstreams, budgets, deliverables, deadlines, and grant, contract, or subrecipient relationships.
Strong understanding of public health systems, healthcare delivery, population health, and health equity.
Ability to turn strategy into action, solve complex problems, exercise sound judgment, and communicate effectively with senior leaders and diverse audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience with federal health programs, particularly CMS, CDC, or HRSA.
Experience with rural health, Maine DHHS/Maine CDC, Tribal organizations, or Maine community-based organizations.
Experience with CHW workforce development or community health systems.
Experience with evidence-based practice implementation, implementation science, evaluation, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement.
Experience developing sustainable financing or reimbursement models for health programs.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day senior management of Initiative One and translate RHTP goals, DHHS requirements, workplans, and budgets into action.
Coordinate CHW and EBP workstreams and technical contractors; track milestones and deliverables, manage risks, and keep implementation on schedule.
Identify barriers, resolve issues with partners, and ensure alignment with federal, state, UNE, and RHTP requirements.
Support statewide expansion, training, integration, deployment, and sustainability of CHWs in rural Maine.
Manage relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, Public Health Districts, and Tribal Health Centers.
With the Director of Finance and Research Administration, oversee subrecipient deliverables, performance, reporting, technical assistance, and implementation monitoring.
Support strategies for sustaining CHW roles beyond RHTP funding, including organizational, partnership, workforce, and reimbursement models.
Provide thought leadership in identifying, selecting, implementing, monitoring, evaluating, and sustaining EBPs relevant to rural Maine.
Coordinate EBP workplans with Maine DHHS and engage communities, public health partners, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders.
Manage proposal solicitation and review processes and develop investment recommendations based on evidence, rural relevance, feasibility, evaluation, budget, and sustainability.
Build a statewide view of EBP activity, identify gaps, and reduce duplication across programs.
Serve as a primary point of contact for subrecipients and implementation partners; establish expectations, milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
Monitor program and financial performance, identify risks, and work with UNE finance and administration staff to maintain compliance and documentation.
With the Senior Research Associate, create project monitoring and reporting systems to track implementation and performance data, report outcomes, identify opportunities to strengthen delivery, and support continuous improvement.
Meet DHHS and CMS reporting requirements and create dashboards, presentations, briefings, and other materials for technical and nontechnical audiences.
Build trusted relationships across government, healthcare, academia, Tribal organizations, and community partners.
Represent UNE in meetings, workgroups, steering committees, and other RHTP forums.
Translate complex policy and implementation issues into clear recommendations and action.
Embed sustainability from the start and identify opportunities to strengthen financing, workforce, delivery, partnerships, and policy infrastructure.