Rooted in Health; RIH Initiative Lead

Position Title

Rooted in Health (RIH) Initiative Lead

$120,000 - $130,000, depending on experience (plus benefits)

6/30/2026

Kentucky Department of 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 mission‑driven and highly organized Rooted in Health (RIH) Initiative Lead to support the Kentucky Department for Public Health. The RIH Initiative Lead will guide the statewide launch, rollout, coordination, and continuous improvement of an oral health initiative focused on expanding dental workforce capacity, creating new teledentistry infrastructure, and improving oral health access through innovative delivery models.

RIH 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.

The RIH Initiative Lead 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 policy, health administration, dental hygiene, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in healthcare program management, oral health systems, or public health leadership.
• Strong knowledge of oral health delivery models, workforce development strategies, and telehealth integration
• Proven ability to manage large, complex oral health programs and coordinate across diverse stakeholder group
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills; ability to engage providers, academic institutions, and community leaders

• Advanced degree in public health, health policy, health administration or related field
• Experience with rural health systems and culturally responsive engagement strategies
• Understanding of teledentistry platforms, health IT interoperability standards, and mobile care delivery models
• Certification in quality improvement or healthcare management (e.g., CPHQ, PMP)
• Familiarity with Kentucky’s public health ecosystem, rural community needs, and social determinants of health

• Lead the development of RIH’s statewide vision, strategic priorities, and implementation approach, ensuring alignment with RHTP and state maternal health goals
• Translate statewide strategy into a clear implementation plan, defining key milestones, performance measures, and long‑term sustainability pathways
• Ensure alignment with state and local efforts, integrating policy developments, partner perspectives, and emerging opportunities
• Provide strategic advisement to RIH programs, translating insights into recommendations that strengthen program direction and impact

• Assess and strengthen readiness among counties and regions for RIH’s geographic scaling, including operational feasibility
• Build and maintain relationships with statewide partners and institutions (e.g., University of Kentucky, LHDs, etc.) to support alignment and coordination
• Prepare the operational, workforce, and programmatic infrastructure needed to support future phases RIH implementation across rural communities

• Build and steward key partnerships across state agencies, health systems, LHDs, educational institutions, K-12 schools, and…