Lead Policy & Prevention Specialist – Chronic Disease Prevention

Overview

Lead Policy & Prevention Specialist – Chronic Disease Prevention

Are you a public health professional who thrives at the intersection of strategy, collaboration, and community impact? This is a high visibility role where your expertise in chronic disease prevention will shape programs, connect divisions, and drive meaningful change across a broad portfolio.

What makes this role unique

This position serves as a key organizational resource responsible for developing education and resources, ensuring alignment across divisions, advancing foundational prevention strategies, and building internal and external capacity related to chronic disease prevention.

What we’re looking for

Strong leadership and facilitation skills, with experience coordinating across teams and partner organizations
Advanced understanding of chronic disease prevention and health behavior change
Ability to synthesize complex data and translate it into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of making public health concepts accessible
Strong organizational and project management skills with a proven problem-solving approach

 

What will set you apart

Experience providing training, technical assistance, or internal capacity building
Experience developing educational resources and communicating complex public health concepts to diverse audiences
Demonstrated experience leading programs, strategies, or cross-functional initiatives

Before you apply This role calls for a candidate who is comfortable working across both high-level strategy and hands-on execution. You’ll be an organizational expert on chronic disease prevention, which means being a resource to many people at once. If you’re energized by being a connector, a capacity builder, and a strategic thought partner across a large public health division, this is your role. APPLY TODAY!!!

Hiring Range: $70,500.00 – $80,000.00 annually

This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm or 7:30am – 4:00pm, subject to change.
Telework eligibility may be considered upon successful completion of a 90-day introductory period.

Please be advised this position may close without advance notice, should we receive a sufficient number of qualified applications.

This position assesses community needs and develops targeted work plans, health promotion materials, communication strategies, and educational approaches to address public health issues with diverse groups and community partners.  Provides training, guidance, and mentorship and contributes subject matter expertise through consultation with agency staff. Responds to individual and community needs for health promotion/education outreach activities for various target demographics utilizing credible public health resources. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function. This position may be dependent on variable funding sources, including categorical grants.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Serves as team lead, including training staff, orienting new employees, and providing guidance, mentorship, and consultation to staff in various programs across the agency. Collaborates with the Division Manager to resolve complex problems and issues.
Assists Division Manager in developing and monitoring budgets; ensures grant reporting requirements are completed by set deadlines; collaborates and works closely with other programs, community agencies/partners, and grant funders.
Assesses individual and community needs for target populations and effectively advances programs and services.
Works with key stakeholders and community partners to advocate for programs and policies that advance public health. May facilitate specific workgroups, partnerships, and collaborations to support and advance work. Participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings to address the needs of the program and assists in the development and coordination of strategic program plans.
Collaborates with other staff to manage coalitions, including strategic efforts, meeting planning and facilitation, general coalition building, recruitment and relationship maintenance, and coalition communication.
Builds, leads, and/or facilitates community coalitions, partnerships, and collaborations to support and advance program efforts. Works with key stakeholders and community partners to advocate for programs and policies that advance public health.
Conducts research on evidence-based programs for the purposes of program planning and development.
Develops and monitors program components (goals, objectives, strategies, interventions, and activities) in a structured format using evidence-based strategies to address health education and public health objectives.
Makes recommendations for evidence-based strategies to improve public health and policy development.
Plans programming for target populations using a variety of educational approaches, including small and large group presentations, and development and implementation of earned and paid media campaigns.
Engages a variety of community stakeholders to increase support for program initiatives by providing education and training. Uses community input to develop, improve, and evaluate program activities, services, and policy initiatives.
Assesses community readiness for program/policy implementation. Assesses community partner readiness to meet program goals and drafts written agreements when needed.
Develops, coordinates, and maintains relevant health and wellness program resources, including communication materials. Evaluates the effectiveness of programs and educational materials using a variety of evaluation tools.
Responds promptly to community members seeking health promotion information and resources.
Represents El Paso County Public Health as a member of councils and coalitions.
Assists in budget development, expenditure monitoring, and informing program fiscal needs.
Participates in the agency’s emergency planning and response activities.
Takes personal responsibility to provide exceptional customer service in order to promote and maintain a positive Public Health image, constructive working environment, and foster pride and professionalism in the workplace and community.
Promotes overall public health within the community.
Performs other duties as required.
Supervision Exercised: This classification requires functioning as a lead worker performing essentially the same job duties as those directed and includes overseeing work quality, training, instruction, and scheduling work. May include providing input on hiring/disciplinary action and work objectives/ effectiveness, performance evaluations, and realigning work as needed.
Supervision Received: Receives general supervision. This classification typically performs job duties by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. Periodic direction, guidance, and coaching from supervisor may be expected. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.

Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of and ability to independently research program subject matter.
Knowledge and understanding of agency policies and procedures.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to include presentations for large audiences. Ability to write and maintain clear, concise, and accurate records and reports.
Skill in demonstrating a cooperative, professional attitude to develop and maintain a positive, collaborative team environment; cultivate relationships both within and outside the organization.
Skill in using a computer and various software packages, including Microsoft Office.
Ability to lead and train others; ability to objectively assess the performance of others.
Ability to communicate, motivate, and organize projects among a broad spectrum of people, frequently under deadline pressure.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, co-workers, federal, state, and local authorities, and other agencies. Ability to provide excellent customer service.
Ability to prioritize and organize multiple tasks and complete projects in a timely manner. Ability to respond in a flexible manner and reprioritize work as situations change.
Ability to demonstrate sound judgment and critical thinking. Ability to identify problems and work to resolve them.
Ability to maintain the security of sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Required Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree with a major in health education, public health, health promotion, public policy, nursing, social work or related field.Four years of related professional experience may substitute for the required degree.
Three years of professional-related experience.
Preferred Education & Experience
Master’s degree in health education, public health, public policy, or related field.
Previous leadership experience.
Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, including reading, writing, speaking, and translation.
Demonstrated experience leading programs, strategies, or cross-functional initiatives.
Experience developing educational resources and communicating complex public health concepts to diverse audiences.
Experience providing training, technical assistance, or internal capacity building.
Licenses/Certificates
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
If a nurse, must have current Registered Nurse licensure to practice in the State of Colorado; nurses with compact licensure must meet all licensure requirements set forth by the Colorado Board of Nursing within ninety days of employment.
If a nurse, must possess and maintain a valid CPR Certification.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.

Work Conditions
Duties are conducted in an office and field environment. Work environment may include potential exposure to second-hand smoke and other environmental hazards. Local travel is required; work may be assigned in various locations. Will be required to work evenings and weekends as business needs dictate.  Public Health employees are responsible for providing proof of vaccinations and/or tuberculosis testing as applicable to the specific position and must provide proof of completion of required vaccinations/testing or proof of initiation within sixty days of hire date.