Children and Families Communications Specialist (Public Affairs Specialist 3)

Responsibilities

• The primary purpose of this position is to lead strategic planning, development, and execution of community communications for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), ensuring members, families, providers, Tribes, CCOs, and community partners receive clear, accurate, and culturally responsive information.
• This position provides direction to the OHP Community Communications team, supervises public affairs staff, and oversees member- and provider-facing materials that support understanding of OHP benefits, system navigation, and policy changes.
• The position also oversees public affairs activities for Medicaid’s Children & Families Policy Team, including EPSDT and other children’s Medicaid services.
• The role establishes communication standards, manages budgets, evaluates communication effectiveness, and provides consultation to Medicaid leadership on communication impacts of policy decisions.
• This position will collaborate with diverse populations most harmed by social injustice and inequities and will demonstrate the ability to build and steward positive, collaborative and partnership-based relationships with diverse community groups including communities of color, immigrant groups, the disability and neurodivergent communities, veterans, older adults, individuals identifying as LGBTQIA2S+ and other communities that have been traditionally marginalized.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, public relations, marketing, journalism, behavioral science, social science, or related field AND five years of professional level experience in public relations or public affairs; OR
• Eight years of experience directly related to the position under recruitment. Five of the eight years must have been at the professional level.

Preferred

• Demonstrated ability to read, write, speak and interpret English and one of the 5 most common languages in Oregon other than English (Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean) with full proficiency.
• Experience leading or supporting the development and implementation of policies and programs at the community, state, and/or national level that advance health equity (address systemic health disparities, expand culturally responsive and inclusive services, factor in social determinants of health) and elevate the voice of community and those with lived experience.
• Knowledge of health services delivery systems, particularly the Oregon Health Plan/ Medicaid administration in Oregon, including experience working with Coordinated Care Organizations, social safety net programs, health service providers or community-based organizations.
• Knowledge and experience supporting and leading implementation of federal policies for children covered by Medicaid.
• Ability to foster inter-and cross-agency collaboration and to facilitate coordination of community centered policies, programs, and continuous quality strategies.
• Strong oral and written communication skills across a variety of forums; experience communicating qualitative and quantitative information, verbal and written, that are accessible to and understood by audiences with different levels of comprehension or interest and that are culturally responsive, inclusive, and appropriate.
• Experience presenting and articulating the value and relevance of research and evaluation data to facilitate quality assurance, strategic planning, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including ability to effectively manage multiple project timelines and priorities and promote human-centered change management.

Benefits

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/ Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.