Rural Health Outreach & Communications Coordinator

Commonwealth of Massachusetts•Westfield, MA

About The Position

The Rural Health Outreach and Communications Coordinator (OCC) joins the Center for Rural Health’s State Office of Rural Health team within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Community Health and Prevention. The position advances access to health care and community health services in rural Massachusetts through outreach, communications, education, networking, technical assistance, needs assessment, and program monitoring and reporting. Areas of focus may include healthcare workforce recruitment and retention, rural safety-net models of primary care and prevention, community coalition and rural health network development, and access to state and federal programs and resources. The OCC supports rural health needs assessment in communities and statewide, identifies priorities and develops efforts to address them, evaluates current activities and programs, and recommends revisions. The role works with rural healthcare and community leaders and state, regional, and national partners, and participates in collaborative initiatives. Responsibilities may evolve in response to new opportunities and community needs. The coordinator follows state and federal procedures for contracting, program monitoring, and reporting. The position is expected to apply the Bureau’s framework for addressing historical and systemic inequities, dismantling racial disparities, and advancing racial equity and social justice throughout its work and programs.

Requirements

Potential to write concisely, express thoughts clearly, and develop ideas in a logical sequence.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and follow written and oral instructions.
Awareness of general report-writing methods.
Ability to maintain accurate records.
Skill in exercising discretion when handling confidential information.
Ability to understand, explain, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures governing assigned activities.
Meet the minimum entrance requirements through at least three years of qualifying full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, or managerial experience in business or public administration involving program management, administration, coordination, planning, or analysis, or an allowed equivalent combination of experience and education.
Education substitutions may apply: a qualifying bachelor’s degree in business administration, business management, or public administration may substitute for up to two years of experience; a qualifying graduate degree may substitute for the required experience; and a bachelor’s or higher degree in another major may substitute for up to one year of experience.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience relevant to public health, program coordination or management, program planning, or analysis.
Strong writing experience, including drafting announcements, informational materials, presentations, articles, and reports.
Lived experience working with rural communities.
Ability to communicate with internal and external partners and knowledge of community engagement activities and community-based organizations.
Ability to analyze data, determine its applicability, draw conclusions, make appropriate recommendations, and maintain accurate records.
Willingness to travel to rural communities to present and participate in educational activities of external partner organizations.
Understanding of social determinants of health and commitment to health equity, particularly racial equity and racial justice.

Responsibilities

Collect and disseminate information and resources to a statewide network of rural providers, community groups, and local leaders using approved channels such as social media, listservs, targeted email lists, newsletters, websites, and meetings.
Serve as a rural health communications liaison and marketing coordinator with Massachusetts-based groups and regional and national organizations.
Conduct outreach visits and presentations about rural health in Massachusetts, the State Office of Rural Health, and its projects.
Maintain working relationships with internal and external partners to 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, monitoring and evaluation, grant management and accounting, and progress reports.
Coordinate operational systems and reporting databases to support state and federal program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting compliance, and prepare grant reports for submission.
Provide staff support and coordination to the Massachusetts Rural Council on Health and other rural community and clinical networks, as appropriate.
Coordinate State Office of Rural Health contract processing, monitoring, and payments with the SORH Director and relevant administrative, finance, accounting, purchasing, and division staff.
Participate in the Bureau’s Racial Equity Initiative, including learning opportunities and work groups, and implement racial equity and social justice in programming.
Promote a racial justice framework as an integral part of initiatives to improve community health and rural health service systems.
Conduct rural health needs assessment, identify priority needs, and develop efforts to address them.
Evaluate current activities and programs and make recommendations for revisions.
Participate in collaborative local, state, regional, and national initiatives.