Job Description

Overview

The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) is seeking a Community Health Educator (CHE) who will help support the mission of the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement (CCEE) of ensuring DF/HCC activities reduce the burden of cancer for Massachusetts residents and beyond through community outreach and engagement efforts. Under the direction of the Program Manager and CCEE Leadership, the Community Health Educator (CHE) will be responsible for coordinating and implementing cancer related health education and community related activities across the state, with a particular focus on regions most impacted by cancer disparities. This position will also support the communication efforts of CCEE by ensuring effective and appropriate cancer information is shared with the public. Additionally, this position will play an integral role in developing and fostering meaningful and lasting relationships with community partners across the state of Massachusetts.

The Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement (CCEE) is responsible for the Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) component of Dana/Farber Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC). CCEE partners with organizations across the state to address cancer disparities and increase access to cancer care. It works to connect DF/HCC research faculty directly with communities to bridge the gap of access between researchers/providers and community members. CCEE believes that the bi-directional relationship between communities and institutions that provide cancer care is essential to reducing cancer disparities in our state.

This position’s work location is hybrid with two or three days per week remote. The selected candidate may only work remote days from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).  

Candidate will  be required to travel evenings and weekends using own vehicle to travel to sites such as Lawrence, New Bedford, Fall River, Springfield, Worcester, etc. 

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals. 

Responsibilities

Health Education - 50%

• Deliver both in-person and virtual cancer-focused educational outreach and activities such as workshops, presentations, training, etc. across the state
• Develop health education presentations and materials responsive to community needs in collaboration with DF/HCC researchers
• Ensure cancer education is responsive to health literacy guidelines and is culturally and linguistically appropriate for each audience
• Identify new opportunities to deliver cancer education that respond to priorities and outreach gaps
• Regularly look at industry best practices regarding education across the cancer care continuum
• Identify and participate in events that involve community engagement opportunities
• Assist with the recruitment of community members for community engagement activities and events
• Identify, develop, and disseminate health promotion and cancer education materials
• Assist with other health education activities as needed

Administrative Support - 30%

• Coordinate event logistics such as ensuring all tabling supplies are available, scheduling, zoom monitoring, etc.
• Convene event planning meetings and follow up on next steps
• Support activities across the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center to promote community outreach and engagement
• Track and inventory CCEE promotional supplies
• Support the Program Manager with meeting logistics, agenda development and meeting minutes
• Collect, monitor, and report event and other community outreach and engagement metrics
• Develop and disseminate products that will synthesize  and summarize CCEE initiatives in a way that informs the activities of community partners working to address cancer disparities.
• Participate in other CCEE activities including conferences, projects, and staff meetings
• Support Program Manager with the development of project protocols, IRB applications and modification requests, progress reports, and presentations

Partnership Development - 20%

• Identify and develop meaningful new partnerships across the state to increase DF/HCC cancer education impact
• Support coordination of Community Advisory Board Meetings
• Collaborate with partners to ensure cancer education delivery aligns with community needs and priorities
• Help build capacity in community-based organizations and health centers for cancer education and resources
• Engage community key partners/champions in outreach and community-based research efforts focused on cancer control
• Attend partner’s community events in support of their efforts and represent DF/HCC’s commitment to community involvement
• Participate in community meetings, coalitions, and boards, with the goal of expanding DF/HCC COE work across the state
• Maintain CCEE relationships with the community by identifying ways to engage regularly with ongoing partners and collaborators

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in public health, health education, community organizing, social science, or a closely related field. Equivalent experience may be considered.
• 5 years of work experience in public health, or other health- related fields (not including internships)
• 4- years’ experience in conducting health education and outreach among diverse communities
• Experience with community engagement in underserved communities
• Experience building community partners/forging new relationships to achieve a common goal
• Experience with social media platforms and other marketing and communication efforts
• Experience developing health education promotional materials
• Strong personal initiative and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with a team, following project plans and center priorities
• Excellent communication and diplomatic skills to forge and maintain relationships with community partners
• Ability to anticipate problems/issues and take the appropriate initiative to find solutions
• Ability to plan, coordinate, direct, and/or perform numerous and varied tasks simultaneously and efficiently
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams); Virtual Platforms (Zoom, Teams); Canva, Adobe Acrobat Pro; Ability to learn new software as needed.
• Knowledge of public health issues, systems of care, treatment modalities, etc.
• Ability to set and manage priorities and adhere to critical deadlines

Preferred Education/Certification

• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or similar certification
• Preferred Experience (s)
• Prior experience working with communities in Massachusetts
• Experience with project coordination
• Experience in health education curriculum development

Preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Bilingual fluency in Spanish/English, including writing, reading, and speaking
• Knowledge of cancer as a disease process
• Specialized knowledge or training in health disparities/health equity/ social determinants of health
• Knowledge of culturally and linguistically appropriate health education approaches
• Knowledge of health literacy approaches

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply. 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

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