RURAL HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER in Columbus, Ohio at Ohio Association of Community Health Centers

WHO WE ARE: For over 40 years, the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) has passionately pursued its mission of ensuring access to high-quality affordable health care for all Ohioans. Measuring success by lives that have been served, OACHC is committed to supporting the largest primary care network in the state of Ohio. The Health Center Program’s model provides high quality, comprehensive care, eliminates barriers and health disparities, and enables communities to shape their own healthcare journey. OACHC is the primary source for training and technical assistance (T/TA) for all of Ohio’s Community Health Centers.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: Under the direction and leadership of the Integrated Health Program Director, the Rural Health Program Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for OACHC’s rural health transformation initiatives within Ohio’s Community Health Centers.

The Rural Health Program Manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing rural health transformation projects, including chronic disease initiatives, Lifestyle Medicine training and related learning activities, health center technical assistance, data collection and analysis, grant reporting, deliverables, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability planning. The position ensures that projects are implemented effectively, meet funder requirements, demonstrate measurable outcomes, and align with OACHC’s strategic priorities and the goals of the Rural Health Transformation Program.

QUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: The ideal Rural Health Program Manager embodies the Mission, Vision, and Ideals of OACHC. A strong value for cross-functional adaptability, along with the ability to act as a lead staff member for OACHC’s funded projects and manage all activities in the provision of integrated health, key to success in the Rural Health Program Manager role. This role displays sound judgment, relates well to the public and staff, has a professional demeanor, prioritizes customer satisfaction, and is well organized. A successful Rural Health Program Manager will operate in a manner consistent with OACHC’s Core Ideals (Strategy, Innovation, Collaboration, and Continuous Improvement). A passion for Community Health Centers and integrated, whole-person care is at the heart of this mission-minded role.

EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Master’s degree (or equivalent) preferred, bachelor’s degree acceptable with relevant experience, in public health, community health, nursing, social work, counseling, or related field. Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience is required with demonstrated outcomes-based achievements. Strong preference given to candidates with experience with Community Health Centers or membership associations. Experience with integrated health and grant writing experience is highly desirable.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent organization skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals, organizations, and professional groups.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining a high level of accountability.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, validate, and communicate clinical, operational, and program performance data.
• Experience managing multiple grant-funded projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated knowledge of quality improvement and practice transformation principles and processes.
• Demonstrated grant writing, reporting, and project management skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain project workplans, timelines, deliverables, and performance measures.
• Ability to identify implementation challenges, assess risks, and develop practical solutions.
• Proficiency in developing professional materials and content for digital and print platforms.
• Strong computer skills, particularly Microsoft Office applications and online collaboration tools.
• Ability to manage project information and maintain accurate, current documentation.
• Ability to accurately document meeting discussions, decisions, action items, and follow-up.
• Ability to track project risks, goals, milestones, outcomes, and deliverables.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as an engaged member of the Integrated Health Team.
• Professional demeanor and positive, service-oriented approach when interacting with members, partners, funders, and colleagues.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Ohio and occasionally nationally.
• Collaborates effectively as an engaged member of the Integrated Health Team.
• Demonstrate and use knowledge of quality improvement and practice transformation processes.
• Demonstrate and use grant writing/reporting and project management skills.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work with Senior Quality Advisor and Integrated Health Program Director to manage and oversee content development and format for internal and external meetings, including member meetings and peer learning networks.
• Facilitate or assign facilitation of meetings. Oversee meeting follow up, reminders, and speaker coordination.
• Collaborate with Integrated Health Program Director, Senior Quality Advisor, Chief Quality Officer, and Chief Medical Officer to strategize for and manage meetings to increase FQHC member engagement.
• As assigned, attend local, statewide, and national meetings to remain acquainted with recent news and developments related to position responsibilities.
• Development of grant and project reports, including compilation, submission, and outcomes.
• Responsible for grant and project data analysis.
• Manage and oversee grant and project workplans, deliverables, and communication with funders.
• Serves as the primary resource for participating health centers by troubleshooting implementation challenges and identifying solutions.
• Responsible for communicating with Health Centers around deliverables and big picture changes on grants and projects
• Provide individualized coaching and technical assistance to health centers.
• Manages all day-to-day aspects of Rural Health Transformation chronic disease project strategy, planning and development. Provides leadership, guidance, and innovation to ensure quality, integrity, and continuous improvement of organizational programs.
• Ensure that OACHC staff are aware of rural health transformation project progress and enhance the integration of this project internal to OACHC across other teams where there is potential intersection of work.
• Work with Senior Quality Advisor and team to enhance the integration of all areas of RHT into the larger Integrated Health and quality portfolios of work across OACHC and the network.
• Collaborate with Senior Quality Advisor, CQO, and CMO to develop and maintain OACHC data infrastructure.
• Partner with community organizations for webinars, networking calls, and conference sessions.
• Perform related responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Quality Officer.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including prolonged computer use, occasional lifting of materials up to 20 pounds, and travel to meetings and conferences.