Program Coordinator (DOH/PHD#11090)

Salary: $24.88 - $37.32 Hourly / $51,755 - $77,633 Annually. This position is a Pay Band C6.

About the role

This position is mission critical to the Governor’s Priorities to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes by providing access to care and services in support of health equity for New Mexicans. The Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) within the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) exists to support the Community Health Workers/Representatives (CHW/R) profession and workforce development by leading strategic partnerships and capacity-building initiatives with organizations employing, training, and mentoring or advocating for Community Health Workers (CHWs) statewide.

The position exists through annual legislative appropriations to meet state-mandated statutes: Senate Bill (SB) 58 enacting the Community Health Workers (CHW) Act and NMSA 1978 State-Tribal Collaboration Act. The Office of Community Health Workers seeks to become a statewide convener for and is charged with workforce development through integration of Community Health Workers/Representatives into New Mexico's health and social service care teams and networks. This role will coordinate, direct, and deliver training, community outreach, and networking opportunities; develop social service and health care networks to support state health equity initiatives; and provide technical assistance to support state Community Health Worker/Representatives re/certification to individuals, communities, and organizations/providers in northern New Mexico and indigenous communities statewide.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, facilitate, and market Community Health Worker (CHW) state certification in the Southern communities of New Mexico.
• Support CHW workforce recruitment efforts and activities during community events and/or via community requests in the Southern communities of New Mexico.
• Identify, coordinate, facilitate, and deliver content-specific trainings for Community Health Workers/Representatives (CHW/Rs) monthly and/or conduct ad hoc presentations on various community issues and public health topics and trends in Southern communities of New Mexico.
• Develop and strengthen new and current social service and health care networks for Community Health Workers (CHWs), including CHW organizations/providers within Southern New Mexico, rural and underserved areas, including bordering states, cities, and towns.
• Engage, develop, and foster collaborative working relationships and networks with Southern communities to align efforts that address social determinants of health, assist in resource allocation to improve health outcomes, and develop technical assistance supports for Southern New Mexican communities, including bordering states.
• Develop workplans for state certification and recruitment activities; professional development and training, community outreach and networking, and technical assistance supports for organizations/providers in the Southern communities of New Mexico.
• Plan and implement components of the statewide Office of Community Health Workers strategic plan: regulations and workforce development, health and social care integration, organizational data systems and CHW/R engagement, and workforce sustainability; including data collection and reporting plans for indigenous, rural and underserved, and Southern New Mexico communities.

Customers

• Individuals and statewide, rural, frontier, and indigenous communities and regions
• Community Health Workers/Representatives
• Community Health Workers Affiliate organizations/providers
• Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Indian Health Service Units
• Hospitals/Clinics
• Public Health Offices
• Community Based Organizations
• Public School Systems
• Higher Learning Institutions
• Managed Care Organizations
• Other health care and social service providers and networks

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the CHW Southern Coordinator requires a unique blend of cultural humility, structural knowledge, and operational expertise tailored to the unique landscape of Southern New Mexico. The ideal candidate will possess the following key characteristics:

• Expertise in New Mexico's Medicaid and Certification Ecosystem: The ideal candidate has a firm grasp on Medicaid Reimbursement Pathways and is capable of training clinics, community health centers, and community-based organizations on how to utilize New Mexico's Medicaid standing orders, including navigating billing procedures so CHWs can successfully bill for services.
• Deep Knowledge of State Certification Standards: The Southern Coordinator will be well-versed in the New Mexico Department of Health Office of Community Health Workers (OCHW) certification process, helping workers accumulate the required Core Competencies and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for state certification and recertification.
• Competence in Rural and Frontier Delivery Models: Southern New Mexico spans vast geographic distances. The coordinator must be proficient in delivering both asynchronous (self-paced) online training and virtual communities of practice, effectively balancing these with vital, trust-building in-person site visits. This position requires frequent regional travel.
• A Lived Understanding of Southern NM Geographic & Social Realities: The coordinator will understand the day-to-day realities of frontier and border healthcare, where a CHW's daily responsibilities range from health literacy coaching and chronic disease management to navigating unpaved rural roads, supporting agricultural workers, addressing social drivers of health, and assisting families in isolated colonias.
• Ability to Nurture Strong Local, Academic, and Non-Profit Partnerships: The candidate should have a proven track record of building collaborative relationships with regional educational institutions (such as NMSU and community colleges), CHW professional associations, local healthcare systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and community-based non-profits across the southern counties.
• Linguistic Competency and Cultural Integration: Fluency in English and Spanish (bilingual) is essential to effectively communicate, train, and build strong relationships with Spanish-speaking Community Health Workers, promotores, and the communities they serve.

Requirements

• Associate's Degree and two (2) years of experience in program administration or project management in areas related to the purpose of the position.
• Any combination of education and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling four (4) years may substitute for the required education and experience.
• Valid Driver's License
• Defensive Driving Certificate
• Background Investigation

Working Conditions

This position requires splitting time between an urban administrative office and hands-on, field-based community engagements across the state. When not traveling, work is based at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) complex in Albuquerque, operating in a standard office/cubicle setting.

• Frequent in-state travel to rural clinics, isolated community spaces, and cultural gathering locales, often involving multi-hour trips one-way, sometimes navigating unpaved roads and unpredictable seasonal weather.
• Balancing office deadlines with distant site visits requires excellent self-management and calendar flexibility, including early departures or overnight stays.
• High adaptability to switch between formal, bureaucratic data-tracking and policy discussions to deep listening, cultural humility, and peer-level collaboration in communities.
• Exposure to visual/video display terminal (VTD) and extensive personal computer and phone usage.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs (usually outreach materials), bending, stooping, and reaching during on-site visits.
• Handling multiple projects and meeting numerous deadlines.

Pay

$24.88 - $37.32 Hourly / $51,755 - $77,633 Annually