Associate Director, Rural Health Transformation Program

About the job

Description

The Associate Director will lead implementation of UNE’s Population Health work under Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a five-year statewide effort supported by CMS. The Associate Director will drive two major workstreams—Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce expansion and Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs)—turning statewide strategy into coordinated action, measurable results, and sustainable change.

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is a major federal initiative designed to strengthen rural health systems, improve access to care, address workforce and population health challenges, and develop sustainable models that improve health outcomes in rural communities. In Maine, the University of New England (UNE) plays a key implementation and capacity-building role, supporting the state’s RHTP priorities through initiatives focused on population health, evidence-based practices, community health workers, and school-based health centers. UNE brings its academic expertise, statewide partnerships, evaluation and implementation capabilities, and experience working across Maine’s health and social service systems to help translate RHTP investments into measurable, sustainable improvements in rural health. UNE is specifically supporting Maine DHHS in expanding the rural CHW workforce and implementing evidence-based approaches, that improve population health. UNE’s role includes partnership, contract (state-wide communications plan and chronic disease dashboard) and subrecipient management, technical assistance, implementation monitoring, work planning, evaluation and learning, reporting, and sustainability planning.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role. The Associate Director will manage complex partnerships, subrecipients, budgets, deliverables, and performance while working across Maine DHHS, UNE, healthcare systems, Tribal Health Centers, Public Health Districts, community organizations, and other RHTP partners. The Associate Director will supervise a small team of staff and will work in concert with the Director of Finance and Research Administration. The Associate Director will be a core member of the Center for Public Health Practice and the newly launched David Evans Shaw Institute for Public and Planetary Health.

What Success Looks Like

• Implementation stays on track, with clear priorities, accountable stakeholders, and timely delivery.

• CHW,EBP investments, and technical contracts are coordinated, evidence-informed, community-responsive, and positioned for sustainability.

• Stakeholders have the support and clarity they need to succeed.

• Data and learning drive continuous improvement and demonstrate measurable progress.

• RHTP investments translate into lasting improvements in rural health systems and population health.

Core Competencies

Strategic leadership • Program execution • Partnership management • Problem solving • Communication • Accountability • Equity and community engagement • Adaptability

Key Working Relationships

UNE RHTP leadership and project teams; Shaw Institute leadership; Maine DHHS and Maine CDC; RHTP initiative leads; community-based organizations; healthcare providers and health systems; Tribal Health Centers and Wabanaki Tribal Nations; Public Health Districts and District Coordinating Councils; and evaluation, data, finance, procurement, and communications teams.

Position Impact

This is an opportunity to help shape one of Maine’s most consequential rural health transformation efforts. The Associate Director will connect strategy, implementation, partnerships, accountability, and learning to turn significant federal investment into practical, measurable, and lasting improvements for rural Maine.

Responsibilities

Lead Project Implementation

• Provide day-to-day senior management of Initiative One and translate RHTP goals, DHHS requirements, workplans, and budgets into action.

• Coordinate CHW and EBP workstreams and technical contractors, track milestones and deliverables, manage risks, and keep implementation on schedule.

• Identify barriers early, resolve issues with partners, and ensure alignment with federal, state, UNE, and RHTP requirements.

Advance CHW Workforce Expansion

• Support statewide efforts to expand, train, integrate, deploy, and sustain CHWs in rural Maine.

• Manage relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, Public Health Districts, and Tribal Health Centers.

• In conjunction with the Director of Finance and Research Administration, oversee subrecipient deliverables, performance, reporting, technical assistance, and implementation monitoring.

• Support strategies for sustaining CHW roles beyond RHTP funding, including organizational, partnership, workforce, and reimbursement models.

Drive Evidence-Based Practices

• Provide thought leadership in the identification, selection, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability of EBPs relevant to rural Maine.

• Coordinate EBP workplans with Maine DHHS and engage communities, public health partners, healthcare organizations, and other stakeholders.

• Manage proposal solicitation and review processes and develop investment recommendations based on evidence, rural relevance, feasibility, evaluation, budget, and sustainability.

• Build a statewide view of EBP activity, identify gaps, and reduce duplication across programs.

Manage Partners, Performance & Accountability

• Serve as a primary point of contact for subrecipients and implementation partners; establish clear expectations, milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements.

• Monitor program and financial performance, identify risks, and work with UNE finance and administration staff to maintain strong compliance and documentation.

• In conjunction with the Senior Research Associate, create project monitoring and reporting systems to track program implementation and performance data to report outcomes, identify opportunities to strengthen delivery, and support continuous program improvement.

• Meet all DHHS and CMS reporting requirements and create concise dashboards, presentations, briefings, and other materials for technical and nontechnical audiences as required.

Build Relationships & Drive Sustainability

• Build trusted relationships across government, healthcare, academia, Tribal organizations, and community partners.

• Represent UNE in meetings, workgroups, steering committees, and other RHTP forums.

• Translate complex policy and implementation issues into clear recommendations and action.

• Embed sustainability from the start and identify opportunities to strengthen financing, workforce, delivery, partnerships, and policy infrastructure.

Qualifications

Master’s degree or doctoral degree in public health, health administration, public administration, healthcare, business, social services, or related field—or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience managing complex health, public health, healthcare, community development, or social services programs.

• Demonstrated success managing multi-partner initiatives with government, healthcare, community, or other external stakeholders.

• Experience managing multiple workstreams, budgets, deliverables, deadlines, and grant, contract, or subrecipient relationships.

• Strong understanding of public health systems, healthcare delivery, population health, and health equity.

• Ability to turn strategy into action, solve complex problems, exercise sound judgment, and communicate effectively with senior leaders and diverse audiences.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with federal health programs, particularly CMS, CDC, or HRSA.

• Experience with rural health, Maine DHHS/Maine CDC, Tribal organizations, or Maine community-based organizations.

• Experience with CHW workforce development or community health systems.

• Experience with evidence-based practice implementation, implementation science, evaluation, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement.

• Experience developing sustainable financing or reimbursement models for health programs.

Vaccination Statement (PLEASE NOTE)

Employees in clinical settings must meet the State of Maine’s immunization requirements for clinical activity.

Additional Note

This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or STEM OPT extension.