Program assistant Jobs in Boston, MA

Primary purpose
Supports key initiatives in the Health and Human Services Department including programming, communication, and outreach.

Supervision:
This position requires excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to interact professionally with culturally diverse individuals, excellent organizational and communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
This position reports to the Director of Public Health Services.
None.

Job Environment:
Most work is performed under typical office conditions. Other settings include community-based settings and outdoors environments. Some work may be done remotely. May work evening or weekend hours for meetings and events.
Frequent contact with the general public, other city departments, outside agencies, businesses, and other governmental organizations.
Communication is by means of in person meetings, telephone, online meeting platforms, personal discussion and email correspondence and involves discussing routine and confidential information, requiring patience, courtesy, and judgment.
Has access to confidential and sensitive information. Errors in judgment could result in significant delay or loss of services, legal ramifications, negative health outcomes, adverse public relations, and monetary loss.

Essential Functions

• Assists in planning, implementing, and evaluating the impact of public health and human services programs.
• Assists in creating communication, outreach, and educational materials to engage and inform lay and professional audiences.
• Assists with the preparation of plans, reports, memos, and press releases.
• Participates in meetings of coalitions, task forces, and committees, including scheduling and taking minutes.
• Use a health and social equity lens to assess and understand community health status, needs, and priorities for public health and human services programming.
• Follows and adheres to departmental, City, and other government rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Performs other related job duties as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications
Education, Training, and Experience:
• High school diploma. Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Valid Massachusetts driver’s license preferred.

Knowledge, Ability, and Skills:
General knowledge of public health and human services principles.

Ability to organize time, work independently and accomplish tasks despite frequent interruptions. Ability to maintain detailed and extensive records and to prepare reports from same. Ability to operate various types of office equipment. Ability to maintain confidentiality of information. Ability to work effectively under time constraints to meet deadlines. Ability to be a strong team player. Ability to organize clerical and statistical records. Ability to deal tactfully and appropriately with the general public and City departments in an effective manner. Ability to absorb and learn quickly and maintain a departmental sense of urgency. Ability to comprehend the scope of laws, rules, and regulations.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under pressure. Excellent written and oral communication skills essential. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Expertise and skill in using personal computers and common computer programs (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel), basic graphic design programs such as Canva, and social media platforms.

Physical Requirements
Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, equipment, machinery or controls, and reach with hands and arms as in picking up/accessing paper, files, and other common office objects as well as equipment and supplies relating to programs and needs in the HHS Department. Lifts and/or moves objects weighing up to 20 pounds. Manually operates all office equipment and other necessary equipment. Needs to operate a computer keyboard at an efficient speed.

Performance Standard
Employees at all levels are expected to effectively work together to meet the needs of the community and the City through work behaviors demonstrating the City’s values. Employees are also expected to lead by example and demonstrate the highest level of ethics.
(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

This is a non-benefited position