Departmental Specialist - Tobacco Health Strategy and Policy Specialist

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. For more information, please visit MDHHS Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

The Tobacco Health Strategy and Policy Specialist for the Tobacco Section is the sole source of policy expertise in the Tobacco Section. The tobacco health strategy and policy specialist is responsible for all duties related to policy for the tobacco control program, which is highly political, and is responsible for numerous bill analysis annually. This position supports the Smoke Free Air Law enforcement program the Tobacco Section is legally mandated to provide.

The Smoke Free Air Law enforcement program receives considerable annual political focus and receives numerous legislative inquiries and FOIA requests annually and bills introduced. A comprehensive tobacco control program must include specialized policy efforts at the local, state and national level to be successful in reducing tobacco use rates. This specialized policy role is critical to the Tobacco Section’s success in reducing tobacco use rates.

This position tracks tobacco-related bills, budget introductions, and policies at the local, state and national level. This position develops summaries of bill updates, budgets, policy work and creates bill analysis working closely with MDHHS Legislative Affairs and Legal Services. This position supports funded and unfunded coalitions and local organizations in their policy strategies. This policy specialist position supports the Michigan Indoor Smoke Free Air Law program in the Tobacco Section related to legislative and executive inquiries, bill analysis, and completing required statutory requirements.

As the tobacco policy specialist, this position leads policy work that is critical in a comprehensive tobacco control program. This includes providing direct policy tasks, coordinating and collaborating with community coalitions working on state and local policies, collaborating with national partners working toward policy change, supporting tobacco section staff on policy strategies and policy technical assistance local partners may need. This specialist provides contract oversight and technical assistance to community contracts that address strategic policy objectives.

The National and State Tobacco Control grant through the CDC has significant required policy activities as part of a comprehensive tobacco control program that this position is responsible.

The Tobacco Section utilizes a community driven approach and requires all staff to partner and collaborate with community members who are the experts in their community. This position must utilize a framework in the development and implementation of partner relationships that allows partners to identify their community needs and desired methods to address them including programs, strategies, and training to ensure we are working collaboratively and successfully to reduce high tobacco use and prevent tobacco use.

As requested, we provide technical assistance, data, and suggestions to help community partners achieve their goals.

Position Description

Job Specification

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major

Bachelor's or master's degree in health policy, public policy, political science, public administration and policy, or public health policy.

Four years of professional experience, including two years equivalent to the experienced (P11) level or one year equivalent to the advanced (12)…