Director Community Affairs

Job Summary

This role leads comprehensive community engagement strategies, encompassing employee volunteer programs, strategic community partnerships, resource allocation, and grant management. The position demands operational expertise in program management and a strategic understanding of community relations and stakeholder engagement. Responsibilities include managing a significant annual budget, leading a team, and representing the organization within the community, with a focus on improving the health of all individuals, particularly underserved populations. This role requires significant interaction with internal and external stakeholders, including hospital CEOs, government officials, and community leaders.

Essential Responsibilities

• Perform management responsibilities, including hiring and termination decisions, coaching and development, rewards and recognition, performance management, and staff productivity.
• Plan, organize, staff, direct, and control the day-to-day operations of the department. Develop and implement policies and programs as necessary.
• Oversee budgetary responsibility and authority.

Grant Management & External Relations

• Manage foundation grants and sponsorships, including applications, compliance, reporting, and cultivating relationships with grantors.
• Develop and implement clear grant administration policies.
• Negotiate and administer contracts and grants.
• Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and conferences.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Identify and cultivate new grant and sponsorship opportunities.
• Serve on key community boards and committees.
• Advise senior management on emerging community issues and opportunities.

Community Health & Employee Programs

• Oversee the development, execution, and evaluation of community health programs and events.
• Develop and implement effective community health strategies that improve health outcomes, especially for uninsured, underinsured, underserved populations, and at-risk communities.
• Manage program planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• Mentor the team responsible for community health and employee program execution, ensuring efficient operations and compliance.

Internal Collaboration

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal stakeholders (Sales & Marketing, Provider Relations, Social Determinants of Health, Government Affairs, Senior Markets, Human Resources, Creative Services, Legal, etc.) to ensure alignment between community engagement initiatives and organizational goals.
• Serve as a team leader on key Community Engagement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned or requested.

Education

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Business Administration, or a related field; or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred:

• A Master’s degree in a related field.

Experience

Minimum:

• 7 years of experience in healthcare, human services, community affairs, philanthropy, or a related field.
• 5 years in a management or leadership role.

Preferred:

• 10 years of experience in a healthcare environment.
• Experience managing large budgets.

Licenses or Certifications

Required:

• None.

Preferred:

• None.

Skills

• Extensive knowledge of and experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector.
• Strong, established involvement in the community.
• Proven track record of successful grant management and fundraising.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in grant management, measuring, and reporting impact.
• Budget management and financial analysis expertise.

Language (Other than English)

• None.

Travel Requirement

• 0% – 25%.

Physical, Mental Demands, and Working Conditions

Position Type: Office-based.

• Teaches / trains others regularly: Frequently.
• Travel regularly from the office to various work sites or from site-to-site: Occasionally.
• Works primarily out-of-the-office selling products/services (sales employees): Never.
• Physical work site required: Yes.

Lifting:

• Up to 10 pounds: Constantly.
• 10 to 25 pounds: Rarely.
• 25 to 50 pounds: Never.

Disclaimer

The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement

This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the Code of Business Conduct and company policies.

As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. All employees must comply with the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy.

Furthermore, all employees are responsible for adhering to the company’s Code of Business Conduct, applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, company policies, and training requirements.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and against all individuals based on race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other category protected by applicable law.

EEO is The Law.

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