American Indian Community Specialist, Planner Senior State

Overview

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position exists in the American Indian Community Initiatives Unit in the Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII) to coordinate and manage OSHII’s grants related to tobacco and obesity prevention in partnership with Minnesota Tribal Nations and urban American Indian (AI) communities for physical activity, healthy eating and commercial tobacco use prevention and cessation. These programs work to reduce disparities among populations disproportionately affected by commercial tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke, and obesity.

American Indian communities include Tribal governments, urban American Indian agencies, and their staff. State funded programs currently include the Tribal Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), and the Commercial Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Grant (Tribal Tobacco).

• Provide consultation, guidance, and support to Tribal SHIP/Tribal Tobacco Grantees.
• Provide Indigenous evaluation and research support to the American Indian Community Initiatives Unit Supervisor. Co-lead the surveillance and monitoring and evaluation deep dives of the Tribal Grants programs.
• Provide grant administration for funded American Indian/Tribal grantees, so that grantees are successful in achieving outcomes related to physical activity, healthy eating, and commercial tobacco use.
• Work closely with Lead CS and Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Contractor to facilitate grantee access to technical assistance providers that meet their identified needs to implement effective health improvement initiatives addressing tobacco use prevention.
• Establish and maintain a respectful working relationship with grantees and other stakeholders in an effort to address health disparities among American Indians in Minnesota.

In accordance with HR/LR Policy #1422 Telework, this position is eligible for up to 50% telework for applicants who live in Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location. Candidates residing outside of Minnesota further than 50 miles of the assigned work location at the time of application must be able to relocate to Minnesota within 30 days of their start date.

The telework policy may exempt employees who live more than 50 miles from their primary work location from the 50% in-office requirement, depending on job requirements, helping the State of Minnesota access top talent across the state.

MDH relies heavily on grant funding, in addition to state appropriated dollars. As an agency, we continually monitor funding levels and navigate some degree of uncertainty related to grant cycles and the impact of the grant funding on program priorities.

This position is currently funded and approved to be filled. While the position is funded at this time, future funding is dependent on the continuation of our funding sources. The Minnesota Department of Health works proactively to sustain programs and maintain our workforce, to avoid reductions in force to the very best of our ability. In the event of a loss of funding resulting in a necessary workforce reduction, that process is governed by our collective bargaining agreements and compensation plans.

Three (3) years of experience administering, coordinating, or supporting public health, community health, Tribal health, health improvement, or related grant-funded programs.

• Experience conducting or supporting program evaluation, research, surveillance, data collection, performance measurement, or outcome monitoring activities.
• Experience administering grants, contracts, or funded programs, including activities such as monitoring progress, reviewing deliverables, managing budgets, processing reimbursements, ensuring…