Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Public Health Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

Are you passionate about creating healthier, more equitable communities? This role requires a dynamic and mission-driven Public Health Coordinator to be the backbone of our community wellness initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will plan, implement, and evaluate public health programs that address a wide range of community needs. You will be a connector, an educator, and a strategist, working hands-on with community members, local organizations, and healthcare providers to foster a culture of health. If you are a proactive problem-solver with a gift for communication and a deep commitment to social impact, this is your opportunity to lead meaningful change.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Community Health Educator
Public Health Intern or Fellow
Program Assistant or Associate
Research Assistant (in a public health setting)

Advancement To:

Public Health Program Manager
Director of Community Health
Epidemiologist
Public Health Policy Advisor

Lateral Moves:

Grant Writer / Development Officer
Healthcare Administrator
Corporate Wellness Consultant

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, develop, and implement evidence-based public health programs and interventions from conception through evaluation to address identified community health needs.
Conduct comprehensive community health needs assessments (CHNA) and asset mapping to identify health disparities, service gaps, and prioritize community challenges.
Coordinate and facilitate a wide range of community outreach activities, including health fairs, screening events, workshops, and educational sessions to promote health and prevent disease.
Develop, disseminate, and evaluate culturally competent and accessible health education materials, presentations, and digital campaigns for diverse audiences.
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key community partners, stakeholders, government agencies, schools, and healthcare providers to foster a collective impact model.
Manage all aspects of program logistics, including event scheduling, resource allocation, and detailed budget tracking, to ensure projects are delivered on time and within financial scope.
cv- Collect, analyze, and interpret both quantitative and qualitative public health data to monitor program progress, measure health outcomes, and inform continuous improvement.
Prepare detailed and compelling narrative reports, grant proposals, and formal presentations for funders, executive leadership, and community stakeholders.
Ensure all program activities strictly comply with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., HIPAA), as well as all organizational policies and procedures.
Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor community health workers, interns, and volunteers who are integral to program delivery.
Serve as a primary point of contact and a trusted subject matter expert for public health inquiries from the community and partner organizations.
Facilitate coalition meetings, advisory boards, and stakeholder workgroups to foster synergy, collaboration, and shared accountability on public health goals.
Contribute to local emergency preparedness and response planning, participating in drills and real-time public health crisis response as directed.
Advocate for policies and systemic changes that promote public health, reduce health inequities, and address the social determinants of health.
Evaluate the effectiveness, reach, and impact of public health programs using established performance metrics and robust evaluation frameworks.
Coordinate complex multi-site or multi-agency projects, ensuring consistent program implementation and clear communication channels across all partners.
Provide targeted technical assistance and capacity-building support to community-based organizations to enhance their public health programming and infrastructure.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and perform exploratory data analysis to identify emerging health trends and patterns.
Contribute to the departmental strategy for health data collection, management, and utilization for evidence-based decision-making.
Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to define clear data requirements for program monitoring and impact evaluation.
Participate in regular team meetings, strategic planning sessions, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Program Planning & Evaluation: Expertise in using logic models and frameworks (e.g., RE-AIM, PRECEDE-PROCEED) to design and assess health programs.
Grant Writing and Reporting: Demonstrated ability to write successful grant proposals and manage complex reporting requirements for various funders.
Data Collection & Analysis: Proficiency in collecting and analyzing data using statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, R) and survey tools (e.g., Qualtrics, SurveyMonkey).
Community Needs Assessment: Skilled in quantitative and qualitative methods for assessing community health status, behaviors, and needs.
Budget Management: Experience in developing, monitoring, and reporting on program budgets.
Health Communication: Ability to create clear, accessible, and culturally appropriate health education materials and digital content.
Technical Proficiency: High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and familiarity with public health databases or CRM software.

Soft Skills

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building: Exceptional ability to build rapport and maintain trust with diverse populations, community leaders, and professional partners.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Superior written, verbal, and public speaking skills, with the ability to translate complex health information for lay audiences.
Cultural Competency & Humility: Deep understanding of and respect for diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, and a commitment to health equity.
Project Management: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying challenges, analyzing root causes, and implementing effective solutions.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A natural collaborator who thrives in a team-oriented setting and can also work independently with minimal supervision.
Adaptability & Resilience: Flexible and composed when faced with changing priorities, unexpected challenges, and the dynamic nature of public health work.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university.

Preferred Education:

Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Health Science (MHS), or a Master's degree in a related field.
Certification as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Public Health
Community Health Education
Health Sciences
Sociology or Social Work
Nursing

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2-5 years of professional experience in public health, community health, program coordination, or a related non-profit or government setting.

Preferred:

Direct experience managing grant-funded programs and working with community-based coalitions.
Proven track record of implementing and evaluating health programs for underserved populations.
Bilingual/multilingual skills are highly desirable and may be required for specific community-focused roles.