Innovator Agent

About the role

This hybrid Innovator Agent position is based in the Central Willamette Valley and Central Oregon Coast regions. The agent works with Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) to elevate local voice, advance health equity, strengthen Tribal relationships, improve mental health and substance use services, integrate social determinants of health, and support statewide initiatives such as Oregon’s 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waiver. The role involves translating statewide priorities into local action, sharing successful practices across CCOs, and acting as a quasi‑local expert to connect OHA, community organizations, and CCOs.

Responsibilities

• Understand the health needs of the region and the strengths and gaps of health resources within the CCO.
• Articulate regional needs and gaps to OHA to inform statewide policy, legislation, and systems change.
• Identify best practices and strategies for health care transformation in Oregon and nationally.
• Support uptake and innovation of these practices locally through policy and practice research and implementation.
• Prioritize elevating Oregon Health Plan member voice within CCO operations.
• Connect OHA to better understand local community strengths, needs, and gaps.
• Link CCO, OHA, and community initiatives to foster coordination.
• Act as a quasi‑local expert, using relationships to connect OHA, local community organizations, and the CCO.
• Share innovation and successful practices with other CCOs, OHA, and national audiences.
• Lead OHA’s strategic priority of eliminating health inequalities by translating statewide priorities to local adaptation and implementation.
• Ensure communities facing health inequalities due to race, ethnicity, language, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, or other socially determined circumstances are engaged in CCO and community health work.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Public Administration, Behavioral or Social Sciences, Finance, Political Science, or any degree demonstrating the capacity for the required knowledge and skills; plus five years of professional‑level evaluative, analytical, and planning work.
• OR any combination of experience and education equivalent to eight years of experience that typically supports the knowledge and skills for the classification.

Skills

• Spanish‑English bilingual communication – ability to communicate professionally in both languages and experience using bilingual skills to serve or engage Spanish‑speaking communities.
• Health equity experience – developing, implementing, or supporting programs, policies, services, or initiatives that advance health equity or reduce disparities among underserved or historically marginalized populations.
• Medicaid or health care system knowledge – demonstrated knowledge or professional experience with Medicaid, the Oregon Health Plan, coordinated care, health care delivery systems, behavioral health, public health, or related programs.
• Community & stakeholder engagement – experience building and maintaining relationships with community organizations, health care organizations, government agencies, CCOs, local governments, Tribal partners, or other external stakeholders.
• Policy analysis & development – experience researching, analyzing, interpreting, developing, or implementing public policy, legislation, regulations, programs, or organizational policies.
• Cross‑system collaboration – experience bringing together multiple organizations, programs, or stakeholder groups to address complex issues, resolve differences, develop shared solutions, or achieve common goals.
• Strategic problem solving – ability to analyze complex or ambiguous issues, identify barriers or opportunities, evaluate potential solutions, and develop recommendations or action plans for leadership or decision‑makers.
• Regional engagement & travel – ability to work independently across multiple communities and organizations, manage a regional workload, and travel weekly throughout the Central Willamette Valley and Central Oregon Coast; a government vehicle is provided for required work‑related travel.
• Public health experience – professional experience working in public health programs, services, initiatives, systems, policy, community health, population health, disease prevention, health promotion, or related work.

Benefits

• Excellent, low‑cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits such as life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Pay

Salary range: $7,537 – $11,098 per month. If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range increases by 6.95%.