The Vermont Department of Health seeks exceptional candidates for the position of Health Equity Director. As a leader at the Department, the Director will play a key role in the promotion of health equity, helping to foster a commitment to and culture of anti-racism and anti-oppression, and lead department-wide processes to support the reduction of health inequities. The Director will lead the Office of Health Equity Integration (OHEI) whose vision is a transformed public health system that is just and equitable. The OHEI team designs and supports activities that aim to address the root causes of health inequities through systems change approaches within and outside of the Department. This includes a focus on partnerships and community-led approaches; place-based initiatives; equity in workforce development and capacity building; organizational infrastructure that supports equitable policies and practices; equitable data collection, sharing and use; and equitable finance systems. The Director will support the integration of the Department’s health equity vision, mission and strategy into the work of the many divisions and units and with partner organizations. The Director will assist the OHEI team and Department leadership with the development and implementation of the organizational health equity goals and objectives to meaningfully measure progress and ensure that the organization functions in a way that is visibly and effectively promoting health equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression.
Responsibilities:
• Provide leadership and support to the Office of Health Equity Integration.
• Provides counsel to the Department’s leadership and upper-level management on all health equity issues.
• Work with the Department’s divisions and members of the Commissioner’s Office to: identify and address systemic inequities.
• Provide support to all Health Department’s health equity and anti-racism workgroups and advise on best practices when reviewing policies, practices, and procedures for health equity.
• Actively advocate and promote health equity as a key component of the Department’s mission.
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) on internal and external committees and task forces including those that address objectives relative to health equity, antiracism and accessibility. The ideal candidate will have:
• Demonstrated significant experience in health equity, as well as having experience in the broader area of anti-racism, anti-oppression and accessibility.
• Strong understanding of public health principles.
• Ability to develop strategic alignment with cross-sector community partnerships.
• Good organization, time management, interpersonal, relationship and team-building, delegation, problem-solving, and strong leadership skills are a must.
• Ability to understand and use qualitative and quantitative data to identify key areas of focus and educate community partners on use and importance of data to guide work.
• Capacity to make effective presentations and articulate the department positions and policies on a wide range of health equity issues. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ability to engage in difficult conversations and navigate conflict within and outside of the department.
The Vermont Department of Health is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the department’s diversity and commitment to fostering an environment of mutual respect, acceptance, and equal opportunity. We’re seeking people of all genders and backgrounds who are dedicated to improving economic, social, and health conditions for all Vermonters; and committed to a vision of Vermont that embraces all its citizens. Our work is best when a rich array of voices is included, and a shared mission and values exist. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, immigrants, and people from all economic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The Vermont Department of Health’s (VDH) mission and vision is to protect and promote the best health of everyone living in Vermont by ensuring healthy communities. VDH is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, accessible, and welcoming environment that acknowledges, respects, and celebrates every person’s lived experience. VDH believes this diversity should exist across the breadth (functions) and depth (hierarchy) of the Department. VDH is committed to leading organizational change efforts that address avoidable inequities and injustices (both historical and contemporary), as we work towards the elimination of health and health care disparities. In concert with the Office of Health Equity Integration (OHEI), VDH utilizes a health equity approach to examine our internal structures, policies and procedures, including the distribution of power. VDH is committed to addressing the upstream contributors to health and health care disparities for individuals living in Vermont.