What are the responsibilities and job description for the SENIOR HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST position at Linn County?
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
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Read the full job description here: Senior Health Education Specialist Job Description
Learn more about Linn County Public Health here: Linn County Public Health Website