Community Engagement Specialist Jobs

Apply By:
08/16/23
Division:
Public Health Division
Management Level:
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40
Benefit Eligibility:
This position is eligible for Standard Benefits which includes dental, medical, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, and tuition reimbursement.
Description:
Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is currently seeking a full-time Community Engagement Specialist to work with the Jefferson County Tobacco Prevention Initiative, supporting similar tobacco prevention work in Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties and working collaboratively with the Food Policy and Systems Team’s Food in Communities program. Collaboration with these and other JCPH and community programs involves authentic community engagement practices. The Food in Communities Program works collaboratively with the Tobacco Prevention Initiative to support community engagement and healthy retail policy. The goal of this collaboration is to advance equity-, justice- and community-centered policy, systems, and environmental change to improve the social determinants of health.
This grant-funded position is made possible by voter-approved Amendment 35 grant dollars which prioritizes advancing health among people experiencing health disparities and inequities. The majority of this Amendment 35 funding supports evidence-based tobacco control activities across Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin County. This position is also funded for up to eight hours/week with Amendment 35 Cancer, Cardiovascular, Pulmonary Disease (CCPD) grant dollars to support the Food in Communities Program at JCPH. The Food in Communities Program collaborates across multiple organizations to expand access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food through policy, systems, and environmental change.
The Community Engagement Specialist works independently and as part of multiple teams to address community health by reducing tobacco/nicotine initiation, use and exposure through community-level systems and policy change interventions. This position also works to support and build mutually beneficial relationships to leverage solutions to public health concerns such as food and housing insecurity through community-centered and community-driven approaches. Work may occur in various community, educational and provider settings using authentic community engagement approaches to improve community health and reduce inequities.
Creating health equity, where everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, is a guiding principle of JCPH. All positions within the agency are expected to contribute toward achieving health equity in Jefferson County. The Community Engagement Specialist will be expected to use health equity practices to inform the development and implementation of project strategies and activities. JCPH is also committed to its staff's diversity and providing culturally responsive programs and services that help reduce health inequities in Jefferson County. As such, JCPH welcomes and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and abilities to apply for positions within the agency. JCPH aspires to conduct its work in accordance with its core values: leadership, integrity, respect and compassion, teamwork and collaboration, innovation and personal and professional development.
Please note this is a grant-funded position that is currently approved through the end of June 2026 with an expectation that we will seek continued funding for this position.
This full-time position has the flexibility to operate on either a four or five-day work week. This position is hybrid, with remote work and in-office work as needed to meet the needs of the grant. This could include travel to community meetings across the three-county region and participating in community outreach events which occasionally occur outside of regular business hours.
Target Hire Range: $27.39 – $30.45 USD Hourly
Compensation will be determined based on education, experience, and skills.
Benefits: Jefferson County offers a generous benefits package that supports your personal and professional life. Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, retirement matching, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, flexible schedules, remote work options and more. For more information, click here for our Total Rewards summary.
Essential Duties:
Work closely with and support the Tobacco Policy Specialist and other team members with advancing equity-centered, community-driven policy change through community outreach, education, engagement, partnership-building and strategic communications in schools and community settings.
Assess and respond to community tobacco control and health promotion needs by developing and delivering population-based interventions which positively impact systems and policies resulting in community norms and behavior change.
Build partnerships with priority community groups, organizations, schools, community members and other stakeholders to support community health, address inequities and health disparities and reduce tobacco use/exposure through policy, systems and environmental change strategies.
Convene and support stakeholder groups (including youth and adult community groups, organizational leaders and elected officials) with identifying and addressing priority community health and tobacco prevention/policy needs.
Support and collaborate with the Food Policy and Systems Team’s Food in Communities program to advance access to local, fresh, and culturally relevant food through community engagement and assessing a healthy retail and built environment policy strategy
Create and conduct presentations and trainings to support health and human services providers, community leaders and others in effective tobacco control strategies.
Use basic design software such as Publisher, Powerpoint, Canva, etc., to create flyers, presentations, etc., to meet the needs of a variety of target audiences, including diverse, language-limited populations.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection activities.
Ensure all interventions are culturally appropriate and responsive.
Work with the team to assure effective equity- and justice-centered tobacco control practice integration.
Attend community events; coordinate and implement outreach activities to promote tobacco control, public health and community health resources within the community, with an emphasis on health disparity-impacted communities (those with greater health burdens, including low-income communities, racial or ethnically diverse communities, populations affected by unmet mental health needs, etc.)
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Research shows that women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! A true passion and excitement for making an impact is just as important as work experience.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree AND
Three (3) years of work related-work experience, or any combination of education and experience on a year-for-year basis; (paid or voluntary; professional, personal and/or lived experience)
OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
Additional knowledge, skills and abilities that lead to success in this role include:
One or more years’ experience working with diverse communities and/or coalitions or doing community-centered work that prioritizes equity and justice.
Commitment to equity, anti-racism and reducing health disparities.
Bilingual (Spanish language preferred)
Experience working in tobacco prevention/control, food systems or other public health areas using evidence-based approaches to policy, systems and environmental change.
Strong communication and technical writing skills
Experience conducting presentations and trainings for diverse populations.
Experience with tobacco policy advocacy/change campaigns at the municipal level
Understanding of risk communication and the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate communication strategies.
Experience working with diverse communities/groups with which organizations have not effectively or authentically engaged
Experience conducting outreach activities
Experience participating in or leading community coalitions, community organizing activities or similar groups of people to advance community initiatives
Experience with policy change initiatives/campaigns
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage complex projects while meeting deadlines.
Ability to work independently, generate ideas and follow through with them.
Demonstrated commitment to equity and racial justice.
Experience with creating effective educational and health communication products.
Experience working in a public health, community-based, educational or non-profit setting and having knowledge of and ability to apply best practice approaches to partnering with and addressing community needs.
Experience with Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Additional Information:
Offer of employment contingent on upon successful completion of criminal history, MVR check, education verification and references.
Please note that supplemental questions requiring a written response will serve as a writing sample.
How to Apply:
Applications will be accepted electronically at Jefferson County Colorado Career Opportunities.
Applicants complete an online form and have the option to provide a resume and detailed cover letter that describes why you are the best candidate for the position. Applications are reviewed for minimum qualifications listed in the qualifications section of the job bulletin, and applicants are contacted directly by the hiring team regarding next steps. To view the status of your application or direct communication from the hiring team, please log into your candidate portal.
For more details on the recruitment process, please visit https://www.jeffco.us/1860/FAQs
Questions:
County Recruitment Team: 303-271-8400 or [email protected]
Library Recruitment Team: 303.275.6168 or [email protected]
Sheriff Recruitment Team: 303.271.5332 or [email protected]
Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Experience:
Work Experience: Minimum three years
Certifications:
Languages:
Category:
Administrative, Business Programs and Services