ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead (Remote NC)

LOCATION: Remote – must live or near the following North Carolina counties: Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, or Union. This person is required to maintain residency in North Carolina or within 40 miles of the NC border. This work may require travel across these counties.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is statewide program administered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The purpose of the RHTP is to create sustainable improved access and outcomes to NC citizens living in rural communities. This program is funded by the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

The ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead reports to the ROOTS Hub Implementation Manager. The ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead is responsible for supporting the implementation and operational oversight of Initiative 1 within NCDHHS’ defined region 3 comprised of Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties. Initiative 1 focuses on establishing and strengthening the ROOTS Hub infrastructure to connect medical, behavioral health, and social service systems to improve healthcare access and care coordination for rural populations. ROOTS Hub activities will focus on rural counties within region 3, while this does not preclude cooperation or expansion of efforts to urban counties where priorities align, funding will be prioritized for rural counties.

This position provides leadership and coordination across healthcare providers, community-based organizations, local health departments, behavioral health entities, social service agencies, and regional implementation partners to support integrated systems of care and improve community access to services. The ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead serves as a strategic implementation partner to the ROOTS Hub Implementation Manager and supports operational planning, stakeholder engagement, reporting, governance activities, community engagement, and implementation monitoring related to Initiative 1 objectives and deliverables.

The ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead is responsible for close collaboration with the ROOTS Hub Implementation Manager and coordination with region 3 lead anchors (App State/AppWell/Office of Rural Promise, Partners Behavioral Health Management, Cabarrus Health Alliance and Catawba County Public Health), tribal representatives where applicable and tailoring NCRHTP initiatives and activities to meet region 3’s rural health needs and the NCRHTP performance objectives:

• Build rural community hubs
• Create models and capacity for expanded primary care and prevention and chronic disease management
• Build a robust workforce and care team models
• Ensure fiscal sustainability of rural health providers through innovative fiscal models

The ROOTS Hub Initiative 1 Co-Lead will play a critical role in ensuring the effectiveness of the Rural Health Transformation Program. This position requires the following skills: high degree of emotional intelligence, discretion, independent judgment, strong written and verbal communication skills tailored to a wide range of stakeholders and community partners, strong project management and performance improvement skills, and experience in contributing to large scale multi-pronged implementation plans and budgets.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Initiative Implementation and Operations:

• Lead day-to-day implementation activities related to Initiative 1 priorities and deliverables
  
• Support development and operationalization of regional care coordination and referral infrastructure
  
• Coordinate implementation activities among healthcare, behavioral health, and social service partners
• Monitor implementation milestones, timelines, deliverables, and operational performance
• Identify implementation barriers and recommend operational improvements
• Establish ROOTS Hub that connects medical, behavioral health, and social services to improve availability and access to healthcare in rural communities
• Coordinate within the organization and with lead anchor partners to ensure all RHTP responsibilities and requirements are met
• Supporting the ROOTS Hub Implementation Manager to track Vaya’s RHTP plan’s compliance and performance against program-related deadlines and milestones
• Support development of program-related reports as outlined by Requirements from NC DHHS
• Support region 3 anchors and RHTP subrecipients, implementation partners, and community-based organizations in understanding contracting, invoicing, documentation, reimbursement, reporting, and compliance expectations

Stakeholder and Community Engagement:

• Facilitate Hub governance operations, including preparation of agendas, meeting materials, decision logs, feedback-to-decision documentation, escalation items, and follow-up actions for the Hub Governing Body, Regional Decision Council, and related advisory or review functions
  
• Facilitate collaboration among providers, community organizations, and regional partners
  
• Participate in community engagement activities and ensure community voice is incorporated into implementation planning
  
• Support coordination of advisory groups, implementation workgroups, and regional meetings
  
• Partner closely with project team, finance department, lead anchors and community stakeholders to ensure the milestones and deliverables for RHTP
• Foster relationships with rural communities and disproportionately burdened populations
• Ensure Hub implementation reflects community voice, rural priorities, lived experience, disproportionately burdened communities, and regional needs assessment findings, including documentation of how community feedback informs Hub priorities and implementation decisions
• Supporting project plan and provide regular updates to ROOTS Hub Implementation Manager regarding RHTP successes and challenges
• Attend and/or lead RHTP Initiative 1 related meetings
• Participate in community health assessments to support the development of needed services

Reporting, Compliance and Governance Support:

• Assist with program reporting, documentation, and performance tracking requirements
• Support compliance with NCDHHS requirements and Hub governance procedures
• Prepare meeting materials, implementation updates, and operational summaries
• Maintain records related to implementation activities and partner coordination

Strategic Coordination and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with Initiative Leads, Hub staff, and implementation partners to ensure alignment across initiatives
• Participate in strategic planning and continuous improvement activities
• Serve as Initiative 1 subject matter expert as requested

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Knowledge of healthcare systems, behavioral health systems, social determinants of health, and community-based services
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Ability to coordinate activities across multiple organizations and stakeholders
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to facilitate meetings and collaborative discussions
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of rural health challenges and population health principles
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn additional software systems

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in public health, healthcare administration, social work, business administration, public administration, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience project managing large and complex engagements
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience coordinating across different types of stakeholders
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in an organization or field that demonstrates an understanding of the healthcare systems, Medicaid and/or Medicare payer systems, clinical and social needs on communities’ and/or populations’ access to health services.

Preferred work experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience serving or working on behalf of Medicaid and/or Medicare beneficiaries. Population health experience and experience with physical health, behavioral health, I/DD and TBI populations preferred.

Preferred licensure/certification:

• Certifications in use of project management methodologies preferred
• Certification in quality and process improvement preferred

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparation and analysis of documents; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.
• Physical activity in this position includes crouching, reaching, walking, talking, hearing and repetitive motion of hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Sedentary work with lifting requirements up to ten pounds, sitting for extended periods of time.
• Mental concentration is required in all aspects of work.
• This work may require travel across the award site(s).

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: The person in this position is required to reside in North Carolina or within 40 miles of the NC border.

SALARY: Depending on qualifications & experience of candidate. This position is exempt and is not eligible for overtime compensation.