Rapid Response to Recovery (RRR) Initiative Coordinator

Position Title: Rapid Response to Recovery (RRR) Initiative Coordinator

Salary: $80,000 - $95,000, depending on experience (plus benefits)

Position End Date: 6/30/2026

Location: Kentucky Department for Public Health (hybrid)

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations, and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the sole entity authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private‑sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission.

Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched approximately 1,000 programs and raised over $740 million. The CDC Foundation managed over 300 CDC‑led programs in the United States and in more than 130 countries last year.

The CDC Foundation is seeking a Rapid Response to Recovery (RRR) Initiative Coordinator to support the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH). The RRR Initiative Coordinator supports the statewide launch, rollout, coordination, and continuous improvement of a behavioral health initiative focused on delivering more coordinated, person‑centered crisis care through creating additional EmPATH units in Kentucky hospitals, expanding mobile crisis teams, and increasing telebehavioral health care capacity.

RRR is one of the five new initiatives launching under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a statewide effort to strengthen rural health access and outcomes. This role will help translate RHTP’s broader vision into effective, on the ground implementation for RRR’s behavioral health focus.

The RRR Initiative Coordinator is a member of the A3 Transformation Team (Aspire → Activate → Attain), which functions as RHTP’s central “nerve center” for disciplined execution across all five initiatives. The current work environment is primarily hybrid (2‑3 days a week in office). This role may require statewide travel.

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health administration, behavioral health, or a related field
• 3+ years’ experience in program coordination, behavioral health, or public health initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and coordinate cross‑sector teams
• Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proficiency with project management tools and Microsoft Office Suite

• Experience supporting state‑level health transformation, CMS demonstration projects, or large‑scale grants
• Knowledge of rural health systems, behavioral health crisis response, and telehealth models
• Familiarity with technology‑enabled care coordination and data interoperability
• Familiarity with Kentucky’s public health ecosystem, rural community needs, and social determinants of health

• Support the RRR Initiative Lead in managing the launch and expansion of EmPATH units, mobile crisis teams, telebehavioral health hubs, and technology platforms
• Coordinate day‑to‑day operations, ensuring timelines, deliverables, and milestones are met across all pilot sites and regions
• Assist with the development and refinement of implementation plans, tracking progress, and identifying operational challenges

• Assist with the identification and selection of pilot sites and partners for new program components
• Coordinate logistics for pilot launches, including training, resource allocation, and stakeholder onboarding
• Track pilot outcomes and support the scaling of successful models to additional regions

• Facilitate communication and collaboration among hospitals, behavioral health providers, EMS, community organizations, and state agencies
• Support the organization of statewide meetings, EmPATH Consortium activities, and stakeholder advisory groups
• Assist with relationship management and outreach to ensure alignment and engagement across all partners

• Assist with initiative governance, including documentation,…