This is an exciting opportunity to join the leadership of a large well-established urban public health department. The Director of Education and Community Engagement (ECE) leads the ECE Division and its staff in all areas of infectious disease related to education and community outreach, in order to reduce risk of illness and promote health of residents in Boston.
Strengthened by the Boston Public Health Commission's two hundred years of leadership in public health, our Infectious Disease Bureau strives to reduce the impact of infectious diseases, prevent morbidity associated with these diseases, and create healthier lives for the residents of Boston.
Work within the Infectious Disease Bureau includes disease surveillance, investigation of cases and outbreaks, funding a continuum of HIV/AIDS-related education and care through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, and community and provider education related to other communicable diseases.
From sexually transmitted infections to tuberculosis to new emerging diseases, we address a range of issues related to preventing and treating infectious diseases.
- Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
- Manages the development of education, outreach, and treatment strategies that promote resident engagement, increase community awareness of communicable diseases, foster an understanding of community concerns and priorities, and advance shared strategies to prevent and mitigate disease transmission. This includes but is not limited to:
- Models and implements the BPHC Core Values in daily work and interactions with colleagues, clients, community partners.
- Overseeing the development of prevention, education, and treatment initiatives to the reduce risk of illness and promote health of residents in Boston.
- Oversee the development and implementation of equitable community engagement strategies for the Bureau, by utilizing BPHC's Principles and Framework for Equitable Community Engagement, and serves as IDB rep on BPHCs cross-departmental ECE model practice coordinating team.
- Develops strategies that support community residents and partners to co-lead the development and dissemination of core ID public health messaging
- Overseeing the development of resident and community partner coalitions by ensuring ID Bureau has ongoing and robust relationships with residents and community partners through the development of or joining of local resident led coalitions, advisory groups etc. to ensure Bureau has timely understanding of resident needs and concerns and opportunities for partnership- and strategies to address them
- Managing the development of communication materials and strategies tailored to specific cultural and language needs of Boston residents, including young people and seniors.
- Collaborate with and develop mechanisms for ongoing communication with Infectious Disease Epidemiologists, Office of Research and Evaluation, the Office of Public Health Preparedness, and other clinical staff to stay abreast of current infectious disease surveillance data and inform education and outreach strategies.
- Work internally and in partnership with the Office of Communications, Office of Racial Equity and Community Engagement and community partners to develop timely communication strategies that educate residents about the status of infectious diseases and strategies to prevent them. This includes but is not limited to crafting and overseeing the development of immediate digital media messages and infographics and overseeing the development of ongoing social media and print campaigns. Messages must convey up to date science and local epidemiology and be culturally and linguistically relevant and responsive to community needs.
- Supervises activities of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part A Boston Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA) Planning Council.
- , Oversees program planning, implementation, and budget for the Ryan White Case Management Training Program. Supervises program manager and approves training curriculum, annual training calendar, and program evaluation.
- Acts as a liaison within BPHC and with external agencies on a regular basis, including but not limited to community-based organizations, healthcare partners and providers, community organizers and advocacy groups and community advisory committees.
- Oversees the use of performance and quality metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of ECE Division initiatives in reducing risk of illness, promoting health of residents in Boston and advancing health equity.
- Meets regularly with the ID Bureau Director and IDB Medical Director regarding all aspects of Division operations, including but not limited to matters regarding division staff and other confidential matters, and functions as part of the ID Bureau Leadership Team.
- Networks with community-based agencies, organizations, and residents to identify communicable disease concerns and priorities within our local communities and to develop prevention, education, and treatment initiatives to the reduce risk of illness and promote health of residents in Boston.
- Educates the community to raise awareness about communicable disease prevention and treatment.
- Reviews local infectious disease surveillance data to inform the priorities of the Education and Outreach Program in conjunction with the IDB Director.
- Represents the IDB on committees and work groups as requested by the IDB Director.
- Seeks funding and writes proposals for a wide range of infectious diseases. Serves as the Principal Investigator on grants as directed.
- Works with Grants Development to respond to new funding opportunities. Oversee, manage, and monitor grant funding to support community engagement activities.
- Represents the IDB at collective bargaining sessions as a management representative as requested by the IDB Director. May represent management in grievance and arbitration processes.
- Works in a confidential capacity. Operates independently. Uses independent judgment and discretion to make decisions affecting the department and staff as it relates to unit operations/services and BPHC policy. Makes and recommends management and personnel decisions for, including but not limited to promotion, transfer and assignment of staff, and imposition of discipline. Performs other duties as assigned.
- Additional responsibilities to be determined in discussion with the ID Associate Bureau Director and ID Bureau Director.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
- Commitment to health equity and racial/social justice issues.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in public health or social services or a related field with increasing leadership responsibilities, or a bachelor's degree and 5 years of comparable experience, or a master's in public health or related field plus 3 years comparable experience.
- Prior supervisory experience required, including experience with direct reports and managerial experience.
- Community engagement experience and expertise in preparing public health and/or clinical materials and knowledge of public health communications, including social marketing to influence behavior change preferred.
- Experience managing complex public health or social service initiatives that require collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
- Experience and skill in interpreting and applying public health data and methodologies for needs assessment, program development, evaluation, and community education.
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse racial/ethnic, cultural, socio-economic, and LGBQ/T populations, including youth and adults, and the ability to form effective partnerships with community partners and key stakeholders.
- Strong facilitative leadership skills and commitment to collaborative processes with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong personnel management skills and commitment to staff growth and professional development. Experience leading a diverse staff.
- Experience and skill in budget development and management across multiple funding streams.
- Strong project and time management skills, and attention to detail. Demonstrated ability to balance working independently and collaboratively to produce high-quality work and consistently meet deadlines.
- Knowledge of Boston neighborhoods and communities a plus.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Valid driver's license and a car required.
