Community Affairs Associate

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description
The Community Affairs Associate will partner with the Director of Strategy and Innovation and the Bureau Director within Strategic Partnerships by advancing community health initiatives, especially organizing local health coalitions and implementing community outreach and overdose prevention programs. This role will engage directly with community partners and stakeholders, periodically offering direct services to community members who experience issues related to housing and substance use.

In the role, the Community Affairs Associate will provide guidance and training to various grantees in the Community Affairs portfolio, such as programs funded by opioid settlements. The position will support grantee management, including collaborating with programs around invoicing, data collection, field inspections, and addressing ongoing opportunities and challenges.

The ideal candidate is someone with experience and strong interest in community health and organizing and advocacy, as well as the subject areas of substance use and harm reduction. The position will also join the Community Affairs Manager in periodically providing direct support to community members experiencing substance use and housing-related issues, such as referring them to services and shelter options. Therefore, RSB values any candidates who also have direct services/clinical experience in addition to the macro experience. An educational background in social work or public health will prepare an individual to succeed in the role, but experience and education in other related fields may also apply.

Duties

Works to help BPHC advance as an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by the BPHC Anti-Racism Policy.

Community Organizing and Engagement

Contribute to managing a local health coalition, supporting collaboration and engagement among community partners, service providers, and stakeholders

Organize convenings and co-facilitate stakeholder dialogues, manage followup actions, and track deliverables for community health projects and activities

Partner with the Director of Strategy and Innovation and the Bureau Director in liaising with neighborhood leaders, both gathering and communicating information about resources and emerging trends

Direct Client Support

Provide support to community members impacted by substance use or housing, leveraging skills like motivational interviewing and active listening

Refer community members to services and shelter options, maintaining an understanding of the landscape of Boston programs

Performing "warm handoffs" to better ensure individuals are connected to services

Periodically conduct follow ups with some clients who have acute needs, checking in on their success and connecting them with any other supports as needed

Grantee Management

Align with the Director of Strategy and Innovation and the Bureau Director's vision for how the BPHC-funded programs can be successful, both within their individual scopes and also in collaboration

Organize and communicate with community partner programs around invoicing, data collection, and field inspections, including programs funded by opioid settlements

Provide ongoing guidance and training as defined by the grantees and Director of Strategy and Innovation and the Bureau Director

Contribute to community partnership initiatives by exploring beneficial partnerships

Evaluation

Collaborate with the Director of Strategy and Innovation and the Bureau Director to collect and analyze data from a range of community affairs projects, including performance metrics, events retrospectives, and listening sessions or surveys

Develop written deliverables and presentations for internal and external stakeholders

Perform other duties as required

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience

Master's degree in Social Work, Public Health, or a related field with a strong focus on community health and substance use recovery OR a bachelor's degree and two years of experience OR five years of experience.

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

Experience working with diverse community stakeholders, especially Black and Latinx communities

Experience in community organizing, advocacy, grant management, and/or public health programming

Experience researching, collecting, analyzing, and communicating public health data, including both quantitative and qualitative data

Strong competency in tracking deliverables and supporting a range of program operations, including meeting facilitation, event organizing, grants management, and storytelling

Skilled at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships

Capable of working independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities simultaneously

Committed to maintaining confidentiality in accordance with laws. Has experience working on sensitive projects

Effective at working and collaborating with other RSB and BPHC staff members, as well as community partners

Proficient in synthesizing and presenting information clearly in written, verbal, and slide deck forms

Experienced in preparing written deliverables, drafting letters, and assembling memorandums in a clear, coherent, and concise manner

Proficient in Windows Office Package (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, etc.) and Google Workspace, with a demonstrated ability to learn new software applications and technology

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of issues Boston communities face related to substance use and homelessness, especially the neighborhoods of Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston, Mattapan, and the South End

Existing relationships with community organizations, groups, leaders, and/or businesses in Boston

Training and experience with direct services clinical work, in addition to more macro skills

Licensing for professions that serve people who use drugs and experience homelessness, including Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Recovery Coach, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor.

Bilingual ability, with professional competency in Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, or Haitian Creole.

Experience with more specialized technologies such as using Excel for data analysis or Canva for designing materials

Additional Information

City of Boston residency is required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.

A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.

Certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.

Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.

Certain positions at the BPHC may be Grant Funded.

The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.

Certain positions at the BPHC may require Child Protective Service Background verification.

The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Shift
Monday - Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Some nights and weekends participating in community events.

This position is dependent on grants / external funding sources.

Pay Range
$50,000 - $60,000 Annually

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