The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC) is seeking a Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist to join the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) team.

Job overview: This position will build relationships among statewide American Indian (AI) tribal communities and partners to promote cancer health equity through education, improving access to cancer care and clinical trials, outreach and supporting research by using bidirectional engagement strategies.  

Outreach and Engagement Overview: The UNMCCC Community Outreach and Engagement is committed to building on a 50-year legacy of deep engagement with New Mexico communities. We are working to make cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship services more accessible to everyone in our state. Our goal is to serve as a bridge between the UNMCCC and the communities we serve.

UNMCCC overview: The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 146 board-certified oncology specialty physicians along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists, social workers, and clinical research staff), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state and partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. The UNMCCC treated 13,578 patients in 105,748 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital in 2021. A total of 1,361 patients participated in cancer clinical trials, including 544 (40%) patients who participated in clinical trials testing new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The UNMCCC also has a very active cancer research program with 103 cancer research scientists who are supported by more than $36 million annually in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects. UNMCCC cancer physicians, scientists and staff provide education and training experiences to more than 500 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery each year. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu.

Team culture: The COE team and the UNMCCC is committed to addressing issues of cancer health equity and disparities that impact American Indian communities. We work hard to create an environment that values collaboration, mutual respect and an opportunity for all team members to share their experiences and perspectives. The Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist will work closely with tribal communities, statewide initiatives and programs and the many researchers and staff based at the UNMCCC and UNM Health Sciences Center.

Duties & responsibilities: The Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist will work primarily with the Associate Director and Senior Program Manager and Community Advisory Board to identify community priorities and needs and coordinate engagement efforts. Regular engagement activities include the following:           

·         Establishes and maintains trusting relationships with AI community stakeholders;

·         Engages and solicits community participation by identifying AI community needs with regard to cancer health disparity priorities and needs;

·         Creates opportunities for bidirectional communication and collaboration among UNMCCC researchers, care teams and programs, and AI communities;

·         Coordinates and develops presentations and interactions with statewide AI agencies, organizations, health boards, and community groups to promote and deliver culturally-relevant cancer prevention education, outreach, research opportunities and strategies to improve cancer care access and participation in clinical trials;

·         Support and promote community-based research efforts to increase participation in cancer control focused research;

·         Support community led advocacy efforts through data gathering and interactions with key stakeholder partners and organizations;

·         Plans and coordinates outreach events such as health fairs, meetings, community events as needed;

·         Create summaries of community priorities and requests and communicate these to UNMCCC members, programs and initiatives;

·         Develops and oversee the production of educational content and outreach materials (brochures, pamphlets, PowerPoint presentations, web-based materials) for distribution to AI communities and at special events

·         Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess personal and professional maturity, have highly developed interpersonal skills, and have experience working with AI communities and across tribal settings. The candidate will have the ability to: work effectively and maintain regular communication with a variety of UNMCCC/UNM and community stakeholders, adapt to changing priorities, work independently, and multitask.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

·         Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of groups across diverse communities;

·         Ability to plan, develop, organize and implement community educational and outreach programs related to cancer prevention;

·         Networking and relationship building/management and initiative skills;

·         Knowledge of equity and diversity issues for American Indians. Must be able to interpret community needs and deliver culturally appropriate education/outreach activities;

·         Ability to travel throughout New Mexico;

·         Knowledge of community health services and social services support agencies, resources and networks that serve the American Indian communities.

·         Knowledge and familiarity with AI communities and sensitivity to AI needs required.

Conditions of Employment

·         Statewide travel is essential part of this job. Ability to legally operate a vehicle is a requirement for this job.

To be considered for an interview, in addition to a resume, please upload a cover letter describing how previous work experience and training has prepared you for the specific duties and responsibilities of this position.

See the Position Description for additional information.

• Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
• If located at the UNM Children's Campus, successful candidate must pass a comprehensive post-offer, pre-employment criminal and New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) fingerprint background check, and a continued successful status will be verified by periodic future background checks.

High school diploma or GED; at least 6 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

1.      Experience with clinical or community-based behavioral research; general knowledge of research methodology, principles and procedures;

2.      Prior experience conducting data collection using established research protocols including qualitative and quantitative methods;

3.      Experience creating and/or adapting research materials to ensure cultural appropriateness and responsive to the needs of individuals with varying levels of health literacy;

4.      Experience in community engagement techniques, especially with American Indian communities in New Mexico or other U.S. regions;

5.      Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of groups;

6.      Ability to plan, develop, organize and facilitate community educational and outreach programs related to Center needs;

7.      Networking and relationship building/management skills;

8.      Experience conducting community engagement with American Indian communities in New Mexico; general knowledge of Tribal research approval processes;

9.      Prior experience presenting information to community audiences and techniques to interpret community needs, determine relevant priorities and deliver culturally appropriate education/outreach activities;

10.  Experience with basic data entry and database platforms; ability to assist with creating summary reports and present updates to key stakeholders;

11.  Proficiency in any of the indigenous languages spoken in New Mexico is helpful, though not required;

12.  Experience working in the area of cancer prevention, cancer health equity research, education and/or health promotion with Native American/American Indian/Indigenous populations and tribal communities.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html . Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.