City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Public Health Community Engagement Specialist (PHCES)

Under minimal supervision and considerable latitude, this position is designed to create transformative and strong partnerships with the community, foster engagement that empowers residents to adopt healthy behaviors, and support community-lead solutions.

1. Assists with the planning, development, and implementation of citywide public health initiatives and projects to help reduce health disparities and improve population outcomes.
2. Helps facilitate community involvement in public health education activities, manages events, and builds strong relationships with residents, and community-based organizations, governmental agencies, and philanthropic partners in Austin and Travis County.
3. Develops participatory approaches and deeper understanding of community health problems, needs, and programs.
4. Works collaboratively with other departments, team members, residents, mass media, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to increase awareness of public health programs, resources, services, events, and activities.
5. Research best practices from reputable organizations, seek community inputs, and applies evaluation methods to track and plan to improve program outputs and short-term outcomes.
6. Develops a contact list platform or database of communities, stakeholders, partners, resources, services, events, and activities
7. Delivers presentations, attends meetings, and distributes educational materials to promote health equity and improve population health outcomes.
8. Develop and implement a proactive community engagement strategy to share information and co-create strategies to address pertinent public health problems.
9. Plans forums, walking tours, conferences and other community events and meetings with City staff.
10. Establishes and updates public health goals and objectives, recommends action plan to improve accessibility and quality of services, and reports on progress/findings.

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.

• Knowledge of community organizing and neighborhood development techniques.
• Knowledge of city practices, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Behavioral Theory
• Skill in planning, organizing, and time management.
• Skill in data analysis, problem solving, and summary of key findings and conclusions.
• Skill in using computers and related software.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in interpersonal communication.
• Ability to review and research large volume of materials and summarize in easily comprehensible formats for City staff.
• Ability to develop new initiatives and work with service providers to plan and coordinate services.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other city employees and the public.
• Ability to work with community representatives to identify and address local needs.
• Ability to use conflict resolution and negotiation.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to work well with individuals from a variety of different backgrounds and experience, including community leaders, residents, service providers, local officials, and elected representatives.

• Graduation from a four (4) year college or university with major coursework in Public Health, Sociology, Communications, Political Science, or a closely related field plus three (3) years of experience involving the development and coordination of public information or community outreach or organizing programs, or;
• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a related field plus one (1) year of experience involving the development and coordination of community outreach or organizing programs, or;
• Experience may substitute for education up to the maximum of four (4) years.

• Valid Texas driver's license