Job/Position DescriptionUnder the direction of the Manager IV, the Program Specialist V (The Regional Community Engagement Specialist) will be part of the team that will support the Office of Border Health and Community Health Improvement Program initiatives to reduce the burden of health disparities, including COVID-19, among vulnerable populations in Texas. The RCES will be part of a high-level, multi-disciplinary team that will travel across Public Health Region (PHR) 11 to build relationships with selected communities, listen to and document community needs, and develop and expand collaborative partnerships with existing community or social service delivery programs. The RCES will focus on underserved counties and will be responsible for identifying and developing cross-sector partnerships and leading the community engagement activities, including conducting listening sessions, focus groups, and interviews with community members and facilitate coalition building in selected communities. The RCES will assist in identifying opportunities to improve health and lead community health improvement activities to strengthen community capacity to face future public health emergencies. The RCES will also assist in conducting interviews, focus groups, listening sessions, and/or town halls with community and partner organizations; This position will be part of the team that will build relationships and partnerships through community-based participatory engagement and neighborhood development techniques. The RCES will be part of the regional teams that frequently communicate and collaborate closely with DSHS PHR 11 programs, partners, stakeholders, and the public. The RCES must have critical thinking skills necessary to operate with extensive latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment.Essential Job FunctionsCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT and#150; The RCES will act as a lead team member of the Health Disparities Program staff and will take part of becoming educated on the selected communities and will collaborate with the regional team and Manger IV to develop a community engagement plan before engaging community and partner organizations. Assist in the development of work plans, goals and objectives and the completion and monitoring of efficiency procedures for those work plans to improve the health conditions and reduce health disparities in communities. Assist Manager V in monitoring the spending and budget for specific projects concerning the Health Disparities Program. The RCES will assist in the implementation and management of community engagement activities to understand community challenges, barriers, and priorities through conducting and facilitating listening sessions, town halls, focus groups, and interviews. The RCES will also assist in convening meetings and provide high-level technical assistance to collaboratively address challenges and barriers with active involvement from community members, partner organizations, and other stakeholders. CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS and#150; The RCES will assist in identifying and engaging cross-sector community partners interested in addressing community needs and reducing health disparities, including but not limited to healthcare, public health, government agencies, social services, community-based organizations, professional groups, community leaders, and businesses to establish cross-sector community partnerships. The RCES may consult with other public and private agencies to help identify any partnership training needs and to discuss collaboration https://jobshrportal.hhsc.state.tx.us/ENG/CareerPortal/job_profile.cfm?szOrderID=587499 Copy the URL in the preceding sentence to an Internet Explorer browser to apply to the job directly through the Texas Health and Human Services Career Portal.