DPH Community Engagement Coordinator

DPH Community Engagement Coordinator

Location: Boston, MA
In order to be considered for a position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the location specified without relocation support or visa sponsorship now or in the future, unless explicitly noted otherwise in the position overview. If a position does not specify a location, applicants whose primary residence is a location where JSI is registered to conduct business will be considered: U.S. Locations: AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, PA, RI, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, DC, and WI. Global Locations: Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Haiti, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and U.S.
Position Category: Direct hire, paid in US
Salary Range: $92,416 - $117,727 commensurate with experience and location.
Description

Organizational overview JSI is dedicated to strengthening health and education systems to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We believe all people should have what they need to live their healthiest lives and reach their full potential. To accomplish this, JSI works hand-in-hand with government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to design pragmatic strategies for complex problems. We drive measurable impact in public health, health care, and education to enhance the well-being of people in the United States and around the world. As a global organization, JSI has designed, delivered, and scaled programs in more than 50 countries worldwide. In the U.S., JSI has worked in evaluation, training and technical assistance, policy, and strategy in all 50 states and has teams in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, DC, Georgia, Colorado, and California. Position overview Within JSI, the Health Services Division evaluates and strengthens the public health and publicly funded health systems in the United States. Seconded to the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) within the MA Department of Health, the Community Engagement Strategist (CES) leads complex projects and/or activities within an assigned portfolio, centering substance use or other needs related to social determinants of health or wellness, focusing primarily on populations disproportionately impacted by substance use and drug policy, and producing high-quality project deliverables under the guidance of leadership. This position develops and implements standards to be used in community facilitation, provides guidance to community members and external partners and confers with BSAS management on best practices in the community engagement space. This position develops and maintains strong relationships to drive innovative public health solutions. The Community Engagement Strategist collaborates with and across multidisciplinary project teams to deliver high-quality project outcomes. This full-time position hybrid. While day-to-day functions of this position can be performed remotely, regular in-person meetings and events in Massachusetts are expected at least twice a month. This position reports to an Associate position within JSI's HSD.
Responsibilities

Coordinates and monitors program activities, coordinates technical activities, ensuring adherence to timelines, work plans, and high-quality standards. Proactively communicates with internal colleagues and external partners.
Designs and serves as primary contact for community engagement, technical assistance, and facilitation activities across one or more program activities, collecting information related to those activities through individual or organizational engagement in community settings and virtually, including providing guidance and documenting engagement activities and topics through reports.
Conceptualizes and creates project deliverables independently. Creates complex deliverables such as detailed policy analyses or training modules, ensuring alignment with project objectives. Actively seeks and applies innovative approaches to enhance the effectiveness and impact of project deliverables, working both independently and within team settings.
With support from methodological experts, assist in data collection and data analysis initiatives.
Analyzes and understands problems, synthesizing information from multiple sources. Actively refines and adjusts strategies through iterative discussions. Adaptively addresses evolving technical challenges and changes in the field ensuring that project deliverables remain relevant, accessible, and effective.
Conducts engaging in-person and virtual meetings with community members, partners, and internal teams, being attentive to participant experience. Synthesizes main concepts and provides thoughtful responses in real time. Facilitates effective, inclusive community dialogues, including planning, implementation, and follow-up where appropriate.
Synthesizes and delivers complex information to diverse audiences in a clear and engaging manner.
Actively fosters a working environment that supports professional growth and operational excellence. Integrates knowledge of community needs into BSAS, DPH, and unit planning efforts. Proposes solutions when presenting challenges. Provides proactive and responsive communication to division and unit leadership.
Maintains awareness of developments in substance use/mental health and community engagement to enhance skills and leadership capabilities. Receives, seeks out, and provides feedback in order to continuously improve.
Qualifications

Education, experience, skills, and competencies
Requires a Master's degree with at least 3 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree with at least 6 years of relevant experience or equivalent experience. Relevant degrees include but are not limited to cultural and ethnic studies, sociology, counseling, social work, applied humanities, and public health. Relevant professional licensures include but are not limited to recovery coach, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, certified alcohol and drug counselor, and peer roles and are preferred.
Lived experience with substance use services is preferred.
7+ years of relevant progressive experience and demonstrated relationships with community members and organizations from historically marginalized communities in Massachusetts that intersect with substance use.
Demonstrated understanding of the social determinants of health and their connection to substance use, mental health, and community engagement.
Demonstrated experience independently managing projects with guidance from leadership.
Proven experience utilizing community engagement activities to inform strategy and contribute to program design.
Demonstrated subject matter expertise in substance use, mental health, and community engagement through independent development of high-quality work products grounded in knowledge of the field.
Developed proactive problem solving, organizational, project management, and time management skills with meticulous attention to detail with maturity of judgement; ability to thrive in a self-directed, fast-paced environment, and operate with a high sense of urgency and ownership.
Advanced communication skills, including technical writing skills, and ability to work with various stakeholders. Demonstrated expertise in strategic and adaptive thinking, including synthesizing information across multiple sources, leveraging emotional intelligence and a nuanced understanding of the audience(s) and context to modify communication approaches, and adjusting to changing program requirements.
Demonstrated experience in actively adapting to changing project conditions, applying learned insights to navigate new challenges with curiosity and resilience.
Demonstrated competence in facilitating groups, including synthesizing ideas across diverse perspectives and willingness to adjust perspective based on new information.
Proficiency in Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, including virtual meeting and facilitation tools.
Language
Fluent oral and written English communication skills. Fluency in a second language relevant to project work/project development is preferred.
Travel expectation
Willingness and ability to travel in Massachusetts, if necessary (average of 10%).
Work environment
Mostly operates a computer and visits accessible community sites.
Ability to maintain a comfortable and ergonomic posture while working or bending, sitting, kneeling, lifting, driving.
Work authorization/visa requirements/sponsorship
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without visa sponsorship now or in the future.
Other duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 06/19/2026. No phone calls please. Principals only please.