State Director of Rural Health

Job Description

The State Director of Rural Health leads the Indiana Alliance of YMCAs' implementation of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) grant awarded by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). This position directs statewide implementation, program delivery, staff and/or contractor supervision, evaluation, and grant compliance to advance community-integrated health in partnership with Indiana YMCA’s.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Public Health, Community Health, Health Promotion, or a related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in public health, grant management, or community health, including experience leading statewide, regional, or multi-county programs, and a strong commitment to the YMCA philosophy and values.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale federal or state grants (including budgeting, invoicing, and compliance reporting), and proven abilities in partnership development, conflict resolution, and public relations.
• Proven track record building and sustaining partnerships across healthcare systems, government agencies, cooperative extension programs, and community-based organizations.
• Working knowledge of cardiometabolic health, chronic disease prevention, and evidence-based public health interventions; familiarity with rural Indiana health needs strongly preferred.
• Skills in strategic planning, program evaluation, group facilitation, consensus-building, and communication; proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and comfortable with data collection and reporting systems.
• Supervisory experience with the ability to hire, train, and manage geographically dispersed and remote staff and contractors.
• Able to travel regularly and extensively across Indiana's 64 rural counties to support partners, sites, and events.
• Must be able to stay current with trends and evidence-based practices in the field of public health and community engagement.
• Must have or the ability to obtain required training and certification, including but not limited to CPR and First Aid.
• Completion of all position-specific and mandatory YMCA training within specified deadlines.

Essential Functions

• Grant leadership & compliance: Serve as the statewide lead for execution of the grant, ensuring completion of the chart of work, deliverables, and milestones outlined in the IDOH statement of Work. Oversee accurate data collection, record-keeping, and outcome monitoring to measure statewide program impact and fidelity. Manage all grant reporting requirements, including timely and compliant monthly, quarterly and annual reports to IDOH. Oversee monthly invoicing to IDOH and grant-related financial tracking and manage the grant budget in partnership with Indiana Alliance of YMCA’s leadership.
• Strategic planning & partnerships: In partnership with steering committee, assist local Y’s with building, expanding, and strengthening collaborative relationships with trusted partners, including healthcare systems, clinics, schools, community hubs, primary care providers, Area Agencies on Aging, local health departments, and Purdue Extension. Guide and facilitate comprehensive strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation activities across the life of the Grant. Prioritize SNAP recipients and SNAP-eligible communities across Indiana's 64 rural counties in program planning and delivery.
• Program delivery: Direct the planning and delivery of in-person and virtual, multi-level, evidence-based interventions across the lifespan, within Ys and other community-based settings. Coordinate with Purdue Extension on nutrition literacy and education outreach, ensuring alignment with approved curricula and key messaging. Lead the design and execution of a rural 5-2-1-0 social marketing campaign communicating actionable guidance on healthy eating, screen time, physical activity, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Develop and oversee deployment of a wearable device strategy, including procurement, distribution, and use in support of real-time engagement, behavior change, and data collection. Advance evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs and community-integrated health activities across YMCA and partner programs and settings.
• People & partnership management: Hire, train, schedule, and supervise grant-funded staff and contractors, including regional or community health coordinators, to implement grant activities. Execute effective communication strategies to support statewide coalition engagement and visibility. Monitor progress and ensure alignment with Healthy Living Initiatives priorities and objectives. Perform other duties/assignments as needed at the Indiana Alliance of YMCAs.

Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies

• Change Leadership: Facilitates, co-creates, and implements equitable change for the good of the organization and/or community.
• Engaging Community: Builds bridges with others in the community to ensure the Y’s work is community-focused and welcoming of all, providing community benefit.
• Collaboration: Creates sustainable relationships within the Y and with other organizations in service to the community.
• Communication & Influence: Listens and expresses self effectively and in a way that engages, inspires, and builds commitment to the Y’s cause.
• Critical Thinking & Decision Making: Makes informed decisions based on logic, data, and sound judgment.
• Innovation: Creates and implements new and relevant approaches and activities that improve and expand the Y’s work and impact in the community.
• Program/Project Management: Ensures program or project goals are met and intended impact occurs.
• Emotional Maturity: Demonstrates ability to understand and manage emotions effectively in all situations.