PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION SPECIALIST – 40001000

Durham County Government employs approximately 1,900 employees that work towards providing needed services throughout the community. With a wide array of services, Durham County Government is at the heart of a rapidly growing and diverse area offering residents, employees and visitors exciting opportunities to live, work, grow and play. For more information about Durham County Government, visit www.dconc.gov .

Department

PUBLIC HEALTH

Date Posted

MARCH 7, 2025

Closing Date

APRIL 12, 2025

Hiring Range

$55,366.00 – $74,711.00

Position Number

40001000

Job Type

FULL-TIME

General Overview

This is advanced professional level work which incorporates all aspects of health education, including community assessment; program planning, implementation, and evaluation; provision of technical assistance to other organizations. Position may be involved in the grant writing for the area of responsibility and are responsible for ensuring that health education activities are documented and reported appropriately and are communicated through the agency management structure.

Position reports to a higher-level Public Health Educator or administrator. May coordinate the work of student interns, volunteers, and/or contract employees.

Responsibilities

• Conducting and/or developing health promotion and disease prevention initiatives in the Durham community, faith-based organizations and worksites;
• Implementing general chronic disease prevention activities with special emphasis on worksite wellness, physical activity, tobacco cessation and policy/environmental change activities;
• Reviewing trends and working with a team for effective methods to make an impact;
• Facilitating evidence-based educational programs.
• Conducting worksite wellness activities which include group fitness classes.

TYPICAL TASKS

• Plans, organizes and conducts comprehensive health education services in the area of assignment.
• Organizes community groups to identity and address relevant health problems.
• Leads regular group fitness classes for County employees.
• Plans and conducts programs designed to promote and stimulate community awareness of and interest in public health issues and their involvement in health education activities.
• Researches and writes grants in the area of assignment to maximize the program’s ability to provide needed services to the community.
• Applies basic evaluation skills to measure effectiveness of health education initiatives and methodologies within the area of assignment using surveys and various techniques such as administering pre/post test.
• Interprets data in a limited programmatic area.
• Provides consultation and technical assistance to enhance program effectiveness.
• Within assigned area of responsibility, may coordinate and work closely with a community coalition or council with the purpose of promoting health services.
• Develops, selects, assembles, determines the appropriateness of and distributes health educational and informational materials to local agencies, organizations, and other individuals and groups to advise on methods for developing interest and participation in public health programs.
• Prepares and selects appropriate educational materials to address specific health problems.
• May provide individualized education to change specific health behavior(s).
• May make recommendations as to budget and other needs within the specific program area.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of the programs within the assigned area of responsibility; of the principles and practice of public health and public health education; and of community structure and leadership patterns.
• General knowledge of community health and human service systems; of modem educational theory and techniques of public health education; and of display techniques.
• Considerable skill in the development, selection, and use of effective educational materials.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency staff community organizations and the public.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and to adopt effective course of action.
• Ability to stimulate interest and cooperation among various groups in carrying out health education programs or activities.
• Ability to speak effectively in public and to express ideas clearly in writing.
• Ability to safely and effectively engage a variety of participants in a range of group fitness classes.

Education And Experience

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a major in health education and one year of experience in public health education or a related field; graduation from a four-year college or university and two years of experience in public health education; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

Seeking a credentialed and experienced group fitness instructor.

Required

To further the mission of the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) to partner with our community to advance health equity, protect the environment, and promote health and wellness for all , DCoDPH is implementing the employee vaccination and tuberculosis screening policies. All DCoDPH employees are considered healthcare personnel (HCP) working in a health care setting with the potential for exposure to patients and/or infectious materials and, therefore, are required to comply and provide documented proof of the following:

• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccination/immunity
• Varicella-Zoster Virus (Chicken Pox) vaccination/immunity
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
• Tuberculosis (TB) baseline screening within the last twelve (12) months prior to employment
• Hepatitis B vaccination/immunity – only required for DCoDPH employees with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposures.

Identified DCoDPH HCP with potential Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) exposure have an additional requirement for the Hepatitis B vaccination. Required vaccination, serological testing to determine immunity, and baseline tuberculosis screening are available for all Public Health employees who elect to become DCoDPH patients upon request and at no cost.

Proof of vaccination and tuberculosis screening must be provided to Human Resources within seven (7) business days prior to the date of employment.

Durham County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer