Director of Health Equity and Access to Care

JOB SUMMARY

Student Health and Wellness (SHaW) is seeking a full-time Director of Health Equity and Access to Care to advance health equity, inclusive communication, and access to health and wellness resources for minority students on all five campuses at the University of Connecticut (UConn). Recognizing that minority and marginalized students nationally are significantly less likely to describe their campus as inclusive and are less likely to seek mental health resources, this position will be responsible for developing and implementing a strategy of health equity, inclusive communication, and culturally competent care. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Health Equity and Access to Care is a leadership position within SHaW that will identify appropriate steps to support the health, mental health, and well-being of marginalized students in order to optimize the impact of health services and programs that serve them. As part of SHaW’s leadership team, the incumbent will play a major role in personnel decisions, including hiring, retention, and training. The Director will be responsible for developing and implementing evidence-based initiatives, oversight of an inclusive health education and communication strategy, and review of SHaW policies to promote health equity and reduce health disparities. This position will oversee 2-4 direct reports with expertise in health equity and marketing/communications. The Director needs to demonstrate and support an understanding, sensitivity, and appreciation for health equity, social justice, inclusive communication, and cultural humility.

SHaW is committed to diversity and inclusion, competence in working with culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and awareness of how issues of difference, power, and privilege manifest in higher education environments. The ideal candidate promotes health equity and reduces health disparities by demonstrating and supporting an understanding, sensitivity, and appreciation for health equity, social justice, cultural humility, and inclusiveness.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide vision, guidance, development, and assessment of culturally competent policies, programs, initiatives, and strategies aimed at reducing disparities in health outcomes for minority students.
• Strategically examine and address barriers to access to SHaW services for minority students; advise on the creation of accessible mental health and medical services for minority students.
• Identify gaps in the types of services available on campus and help establish relationships with community-based resources accessible to minority students to help fill the gaps.
• Identify strategic partnerships between culturally relevant campus and community-based programs and services.
• Responsible for the prioritization of SHaW’s diversity and health equity initiatives and for communicating to and inspiring SHaW staff to support and encourage actionable efforts that advance inclusive excellence.
• Create and oversee the implementation of a SHaW strategic student communications plan to promote inclusive, welcoming, affirming, and accessible services on all five UConn campuses to better connect with a diverse audience. Tailor SHaW messages to address various cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic factors to ensure content is relevant and resonates with a broader range of students.
• Utilize UConn-specific survey data and focus groups to better understand minority student needs, challenges, and health disparities that affect their health, mental health, and overall well-being; create strategies to address these needs and challenges.
• Provide a variety of different culturally relevant programs focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of marginalized students, students of color, international students, LGBTQI+ students, and students with intersecting identities.
• Develop and facilitate workshops for SHaW staff on such topics as the social determinants of health, implicit bias, institutional racism, systemic barriers to health equity, and strategies to shift practice in clinical settings.
• Engage in the development of inclusive leadership, cross-cultural team skills, and culturally competent care across all areas of SHaW. Work in collaboration with SHaW Executive Team to provide coaching and strategic direction for increasing historically underrepresented minorities into leadership roles throughout SHaW.
• Represent SHaW and the health equity issues of our students at departmental and interdepartmental meetings and at meetings with external stakeholders; work in collaboration as a content expert for the Division of Student Life and Enrollment and with the UConn Office of Diversity and Inclusion to ensure alignment of goals.
• Collaborate internally across SHaW on health equity policies, reviewing existing policies from a lens of health equity and social justice; create new policies, where needed.
• Participate in the evaluation of SHaW recruitment efforts to create a process that helps to recruit and retain candidates who are proficient in providing multiculturally competent mental health, medical, and support services.
• Monitors, evaluates, and keeps informed of cutting-edge standards of practice in the college health field and keeps abreast of pertinent regulations, laws, publications, and information, especially as it relates to diversity and inclusion in healthcare settings.
• Performs other related duties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
2. A minimum of 8 years related work experience.
3. Demonstrated managerial leadership experience, including a minimum of 3 years of direct supervisory responsibilities.
4. Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, competence in working with culturally and ethnically diverse populations, and awareness of how issues of difference, power, and privilege manifest in higher education environments.
5. Demonstrated planning, strategy development, and organizational skills.
6. Proven track record establishing and maintaining effective work relationships.
7. Highly effective interpersonal skills, supervision, and leadership skills that will allow effective interaction with students, parents, faculty, staff, medical, mental health, and other professionals.
8. Experience in a progressively responsible administrative role that required planning, evaluating, and directing the day-to-day administration.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience working in a higher education, human services, and/or in a healthcare environment with a track record of collaboration and innovation in addressing health disparities.
2. Experience with marketing and/or communication planning.
3. Experience advancing policy, systems, and environmental change to address health inequities.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, permanent position. The University offers a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits, including employee and dependent tuition waivers at UConn, and a highly desirable work environment. For additional information regarding benefits visit: https://hr.uconn.edu/health-benefits/.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #498652 to upload a resume, cover letter,  contact information for three (3) professional references, as well as a separate diversity statement demonstrating your experience with and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. 

The review of applications will begin immediately, the position will remain open until filled.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.

The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.