Health Program Specialist 1THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLEJob Summary The Division of Public and Behavioral Health's Bureau of Child, Family, and Community Wellness, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is recruiting for a Health Program Specialist 1, located in Carson City NV. The WIC program is a supplemental food program designed to safeguard the health of income-eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. In this role, you will bridge the gap between store operations and community health, ensuring families have seamless access to essential nutrition resources. This position is responsible for WIC vendor authorization, monitoring, and training, as well as managing long-term relationships with WIC vendors. You will also directly assist participants with WIC shopping questions and issues. To ensure fruitful and efficient outcomes for everyone involved, you will actively monitor and analyze redemption data to identify and remove participation barriers. Additionally, this position will fulfill Federal reporting requirements, investigate discrepancies, and resolve transaction issues. Effective oral and written communication skills are essential in ensuring excellent customer service is provided to food partners, WIC stores, participants, and clinic staff. The WIC Program provides an atmosphere of teamwork, friendly co-workers, and a positive work environment. Health Program Specialists plan, develop, implement, and evaluate health services and activities; conduct research and analyze health data and statistics; develop goals, objectives, program requirements and procedures; provide technical information regarding specialized health related conditions; and participate and provide support to various committees, advisory boards, and other work groups. Duties are related to one or more specialized health programs which operate on a statewide basis and focus on the prevention, early detection, treatment, education and tracking of data relevant to a specific communicable or chronic disease, maternal and child health, nutrition and other conditions which impact the health of under-served or target groups within the general population. Essential Qualifications Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a public health, health science, social or behavioral science or closely related field applicable to the program area and two years of professional health-related experience which included at least two of the following areas: researching, collecting and analyzing data and statistics, developing objectives, protocols and procedures; providing health education services to target groups or the general public; evaluating program effectiveness and accomplishment of desired outcomes to meet federal, agency, or other standards and guidelines; providing prevention, identification or treatment services to individuals or populations who have been diagnosed or are at risk of contracting life and health threatening diseases and/or conditions; and/or investigation and prevention of communicable or chronic diseases; OR Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in public health, health science, social or behavioral science, or closely related field and three years of professional experience as described above; OR graduation from high school or equivalent education and four years of professional experience as described above; OR one year of experience as a Health Program Specialist Trainee II in Nevada State service; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.
Job Duties:
Research, collect, and analyze health data and statistics; identify health issues, trends, and prevalence of specific diseases and conditions; assess community, regional, and statewide needs and resources; develop recommendations for program development and expansion, resource allocation, and interventions for at-risk populations. Develop objectives, protocols, and procedures for assigned health program areas; establish performance indicators and benchmarks to evaluate program effectiveness and accomplishment of desired outcomes; develop quality assurance measures to ensure adherence to federal, agency, or other standards and guidelines; establish program eligibility requirements and approve program participation and reimbursement for services as required. Develop outreach strategies for target and at-risk populations; collaborate with individual community members and other public and private services and groups to develop and provide a community outreach coalition; serve on committees and represent the division on advisory boards to promote awareness and network with special interest groups. Serve as a consultant and technical advisor in an assigned program specifically designed to provide prevention, identification and treatment services to individuals either diagnosed or at risk of contracting life and health threatening diseases and/or conditions; provide technical assistance to staff and service providers to ensure program activities comply with established regulations, policies, procedures and program parameters; visit service providers to establish and maintain provider networks, monitor compliance with program requirements, and develop and implement corrective action plans as required. Promote statewide wellness through public education, outreach and coordination of preventive/specific health care services; conduct or assist in conducting public education, outreach campaigns and promotional activities to publicize disease prevention and health awareness; coordinate informational and educational conferences and meetings related to program area; develop educational and promotional materials, bulletins and newsletters as required; prepare press releases and public service announcements and legislative testimony as required. Prepare funding requests and monitor expenditures; assist in preparing budgets; prepare grant applications to secure and maintain funding including writing and amending program descriptions and compiling required financial data; participate in planning and needs assessments for future funding cycles; develop, prepare, and administer agreements and contracts as required; prepare and submit narrative and statistical reports related to program activities as required. Perform related duties as assigned. Under general direction, incumbents plan, implement, develop, and evaluate an assigned program area and perform duties described in the series concept. Incumbents may supervise lower-level professional, technical and/or administrative/clerical staff as assigned to include performance evaluations, work performance standards, scheduling, work assignment and review, training, and discipline. This is the journey level in the series.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
This job specification lists the major knowledge, skills and abilities of the job and is not all inclusive. Incumbent(s) will be expected to have knowledge, skills and abilities from a previous level. Working knowledge of: health care delivery systems; standards of care; prevention, detection, treatment, transmission and progression of communicable diseases, chronic diseases, and other health conditions; oral communication skills sufficient to make presentations to groups of program participants, co-workers, the general public and others; writing skills sufficient to develop narrative reports, instructional materials, brochures, pamphlets, and newsletters. General knowledge of: program evaluation methods and techniques; public health; commonly prescribed medications, typical side effects and drug interactions. Ability to: collect, analyze, and interpret data; interpret, apply, and explain complex health policies, regulations, and program requirements; prepare reports and grant applications; participate in developing and monitoring the budget for an assigned program and/or grant; develop and conduct public education and information campaigns to publicize and promote good health habits and health awareness; work cooperatively and collaboratively with health care providers, patients, community groups and other agencies; and all knowledge, skills, and abilities required at the lower level.
Benefits
Benefits include:
Health Insurance: Medical, dental, life, and disability insurance programs for employees and their dependents/family are offered through the Public Employees' Benefits Program (PEBP).
Vacation:
Accrual of three weeks of annual leave each year. Sick Leave: Accrual of three weeks of sick leave each year.
Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year.
Retirement:
Participation in the Nevada Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Employees do not contribute to Social Security but will contribute to PERS if their position is at 50% or more full-time equivalency. For more information on how PERS service may impact Social Security benefits, visit the SSA publication (Download PDF reader).Deferred Compensation: The State offers a voluntary Deferred Compensation Program. No Nevada state income tax. Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Eligible due to public sector employment. Longevity Payments Eligibility: Employees who have received a performance rating of "standard" or better and have completed eight (8) or more years of continuous service are eligible for longevity pay. Additional benefits may apply to employees covered under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), depending on their designated bargaining unit. For more information, visit the Labor Relations Unit (LRU).For more details about your rights and responsibilities as a State of Nevada employee, please review the State of Nevada Employee Handbook (PDF) (Download PDF reader).*** State Holidays The holiday schedule for State employees is established by the Legislature. The following are legal holidays: January 1.............................................. New Year's DayThird Monday in January.................. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Third Monday in February................ Washington's Birthday Last Monday in May........................... Memorial DayJune 19................................................ Juneteenth DayJuly 4.................................................... Independence DayFirst Monday in September.............. Labor DayLast Friday in October....................... Nevada DayNovember 11...................................... Veterans' DayFourth Thursday in November........ Thanksgiving
