Career Center

**Must be currently based in or planning to relocate to a U.S. territory in the Atlantic (No relocation allowance)

The Association of State & Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has been awarded funding to provide partner capacity assistance to island jurisdictions developing plans and implementing activities carried out under CDC-RFA-OT21-2103: National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities. The health equity strategist hired will work directly with the U.S. territories in the Atlantic region, providing in-region support for these plans. The individual will provide subject matter expertise through technical assistance, capacity-building, and research activities related to health equity, community engagement, and building community-based public health approaches and workforce. The aim is to support efforts to address the social determinants of health and their impact on community health and well-being.

The health equity strategist will help connect jurisdiction-specific plans and activities to convenings across the region and with the broader fields of health equity and community-based public health.  This person will facilitate further definition and development of health equity strategies that are contextually and culturally relevant to island jurisdictions; and will provide on-the-ground support, assistance, and logistics, acting as a critical bridge between partner and jurisdiction activities.

The strategist will establish partnerships with applicable governmental and non-governmental agencies; and review and analyze national and local public health policies and their potential impact to provide recommendations to agency leaders. All work will be done while upholding ASTHO???s values of leadership, integrity, collaboration, respect, diversity and inclusion, and responsiveness.

The consultant will primarily:

• Provide health equity and population health subject matter expertise to the U.S territories in the Atlantic region and stakeholders to address health disparities for COVID-19 and other public health issues.
• Provide substantive technical assistance to jurisdictions on decisions related to health equity.
• Serve as a liaison between ASTHO and the health departments in the Atlantic region and their communities to maintain routine situational awareness.
• Advise and assist with coordination of health equity-related program and policy work to advance health equity best practices and policy development in the U.S. territories in the Atlantic region.
• Support the development of an evidence-based health equity strategy and implementation plan for U.S. territories in the Atlantic region to operationalize effective strategies to reduce health disparities among populations that are underserved and are at high risk related to COVID-19 and other infectious and non-infectious diseases.
• Develop Key Performance Indicators to measure performance and progress internally and externally to address COVID-19 and advance health equity.
• Develop and assure that health equity work includes a basis in public health science and evidence, or is informed by evidence, where such evidence exists.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and policy resource on health equity, social determinants of health, population health, community coalition and organizing, and other related areas.
• Collect, analyze, and compare applicable data and trends to formulate reports on observations, conclusions, and recommendations for addressing health disparities.
• Foster stronger partnerships with applicable federal, territorial, and non-governmental agencies, including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and other community partners and stakeholders.
• Represent ASTHO at meetings and conferences as requested.
• Collaborate with other ASTHO health equity strategists assigned to the project.

Skills and Experience Needed:

• Must be currently based in or planning to relocate to a U.S. territory in the Atlantic (No relocation allowance)
• Master???s degree in public health, public administration, health policy, social work, or related field preferred.
• Four years of experience working in public health, public administration, health equity, health policy, social work, or related field with a focus on health equity preferred/
• Experience applying health equity principles to public health planning, program development, data analysis and application, partnerships with communities, etc.
• Experience developing, implementing, and evaluating health equity programs/initiatives and/or community-based public health strategies preferred.
• Experience building programs and strategies to work with at-risk and underserved populations within the jurisdiction or region.  
• Experience implementing these strategies with leadership, staff, stakeholders, and communities preferred.
• Experience in project management, strategic planning, and partner relations.
• Governmental (federal, state, or local) agency experience is a plus.
• Deep contextual knowledge of the jurisdiction or region.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Understanding of public health functions, systems, and infrastructure.
• Knowledge of population health, health equity, and health disparities is desirable.
• Knowledge of public health systems change at the territorial or federal level is desirable.
• Knowledge of community engagement policy, frameworks, and strategies is desired along with community-based public health approaches.
• Ability to analyze programs for innovative practices and translate these into synthesized products and outcomes for territorial health equity programs.
• Ability to develop accountability measures to analyze progress, evaluate outcomes, and sustain success.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate tactfully and diplomatically with coworkers, management, funders, health officials, partner agencies and organizations, and the public.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative networks.
• Ability to manage and develop multiple projects independently and in a team environment and complete assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Ability to work in a virtual office environment, adapting to a variety of software platforms.
• Adept in Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and other virtual platforms.
• Ability to travel within and around the service area.
• Depending on travel restrictions related to COVID-19 or other factors, the role will likely require up to 15% off-island travel with reasonable accommodations. (Funds are available for travel expenses.)

About Us: ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. ASTHO is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia with a regional office in Atlanta, GA. ASTHO was incorporated on March 23, 1942 with the goal of helping health officials navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape and remains a strong voice in governmental public health.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: ASTHO is?an all-encompassing diverse and inclusive organization?that respects and celebrates every person???s strengths,?assets,?and?values, eliminating inequities and biases in all facets of activities and operations. ASTHO is committed to leading organizational change efforts that support racial healing, racial justice, and transformation within state and territorial public health agencies.

Mandatory Vaccination Policy: As a Public Health organization, ASTHO accepts the responsibility to follow CDC guidelines and advisories relating to the health of all. ASTHO has adopted a mandatory vaccination policy applicable to all ASTHO employees to safeguard the health of our employees from the hazard of COVID-19.