SENIOR HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST

Linn County; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

IPERS retirement pension

Wellness program

Free on-site fitness centers

Job summary

Linn County seeks a public health professional to lead the development and implementation of the Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The role uses data-driven strategies and evidence-based practices to guide policy, systems, and environmental changes, while ensuring inclusive community engagement across diverse populations.

The position requires a Master’s in Public Health and at least three years in public health, with CHES credential within a year of

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Health or related field.
• 3+ years of public health experience.
• Experience planning and implementing CHA/CHIP is preferred.
• CHES credential within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and implementation of the CHA and CHIP using data-driven strategies.
• Evaluates activities and outreach; initiates quality improvement processes when necessary.
• Monitors, tracks, and reports on progress for community projects and health initiatives.
• Participates in project improvement teams focusing on community integration and care coordination.
• Plans, designs, and facilitates meetings and team-building events.
• Represents Linn County Public Health at coalitions and policy discussions.
• Promotes Health in All Policies across departments and sectors.
• Delivers accessible, culturally responsive health education initiatives.

Skills

Data-driven decisions

Project coordination

Community engagement

Grant writing

Education

Master's degree in Public Health

Job description

Linn County is committed to creating a Customer-Center Culture placing our internal & external customers at the center of everything we do! Why do we do this? We get that question a lot. The answer is simple: We want our customers to have a positive experience. Our co-workers are customers too. Exceptional internal customer satisfaction leads to exceptional customer satisfaction for the public!

Why work at Linn County?

• Competitive wages with annual pay increases & annual cost of living increase (depending on budget)
• Medical, dental, vision, short & long term disability, and supplemental life insurance
• Iowa Public Employee's Retirement Pension Plan (IPERS)
• Wellness program offering credit on insurance premiums to eligible employees
• Free on-site fitness centers
• 100% County paid basic life insurance
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Training & professional development opportunities

Hourly Wage:

$34.56

About The Role

Leads the development and implementation of Linn County's Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The position uses data-driven strategies and evidence-based practices to recommend and guide policy, systems, and environmental changes, while ensuring inclusive community engagement and effective communication across diverse populations and sectors.

Essential Functions

• Applies evidence-based research and data-driven decision making to plan, development, and implement the CHA and CHIP based on relevant measurable, practical outcomes for disease prevent and improved health outcomes.
• Evaluates activities and outreach for community health in order to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of the services; initiates quality improvement processes when necessary.
• Monitors, tracks, and reports on progress for community projects, including health initiatives supporting defined populations and systems designed to improve community health outcomes.
• Participates in project improvement teams focusing on community integration, health strategies, and care coordination.
• Plans, designs, and facilities meetings, workshops, and team-building events that support project goals.
• Acts as an impartial guide to help community groups set goals, address local issues, and reach consensus.
• Fosters communications, builds inclusive, cross-sector community relationships, and encourages participation in community programs or initiatives.
• Recommends policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes based on evaluation findings.
• Communicates public health information via various formats including social media.
• Writes and manages grants aligned with CHA/CHIP.
• Conducts literature reviews and applies best practices to programming.
• Represents Linn County Public Health at community, state, and national coalitions, work groups, and policy discussions.
• Promotes Health in All Policies across departments and sectors.
• Delivers accessible, culturally responsive health education initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

• Master's degree in Public Health, Community Health, Community Development, Health Promotion, Health Education, or related field required.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in public health or related field required.
• Experience in planning, development, and implementation of Community Health Assessments/Community Health Improvement Plans is highly preferred.
• Must be able to obtain a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential within one year of hire.

Shift

Monday - Friday

8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Linn County offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday and sick leave as well as medical, dental, life, long-term disability (LTD) insurance and wellness incentives.

Briefly describe your experience in planning, developing, and/or implementing community health assessments (CHA)/community health improvement plans (CHIP). If you do not have any experience with this, please indicate N/A.