State of Maryland

A Community Health Educator V is the second administrative level of work directing the planning, development, implementation, promotion and evaluation of Statewide community health education programs designed to further public awareness and understanding of the factors influencing health status and community health education activities and services; and coordinating community health education efforts with other functions of Statewide health programs.  Employees serve as a Division Chief in the Center for Health Promotion in the Maryland Department of Health.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Community Health Educators and other professional and support staff.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Director or Deputy Director of the Center for Health Promotion.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the classification specification.

Directs the planning, development, implementation, promotion and evaluation of Statewide community health education programs;

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of lower-level Community Health Educators and other professional and support staff;

Provides advice and guidance to health education staff in analyzing educational problems and in defining educational goals, target groups, desired behavioral changes and communication methods;

Develops and implements in-service education for health education staff throughout the State and coordinates educational activities of the health education unit with other staff members;

Coordinates community health education efforts with other functions of Statewide health programs;

Incorporates research findings on health education and behavioral change into health education activities;

Provides reports on health education to State, federal and local agencies;

Represents health education interests at meetings and conferences at international, national, State and local levels;

Responds to legislative proposals from the health education perspective;

Plans, prepares and manages the division budget;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the philosophy, principles, practices, objectives, programs and functions of community health education and environmental change;

Knowledge of educational theories, methods and techniques including techniques used to influence attitudes and behavior;

Knowledge of the principles of program planning and evaluation;

Knowledge of the principles, procedures, policies and practices of organization, management and public administration applicable to health programs;

Knowledge of local, State and federal programs and responsibilities in health education;

Skill in planning, coordinating, supervising and evaluating the work of lower-level Community Health Educators and other professional and support staff;

Skill in planning, developing, implementing and promoting community health education programs;

Skill in analyzing and evaluating community health education programs and recommending improvements;

Skill in making public presentations on community health issues;

Ability to coordinate community health education efforts with other health programs;

Ability to incorporate research findings on health education and behavioral change into health education program activities;

Ability to communicate effectively;

Ability to plan, prepare and manage a budget;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials and staff of government agencies, members of community organizations and individuals for the purpose of planning, developing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating community health education programs and services.

Education:   A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health Education, Community Health Education or Health Science.

Experience: Three years of experience in planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating public health education programs, including one year of experience managing community health education projects and one year of experience at the supervisory level of planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating community health education work.

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute a Doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health, Public Health Education, Community Health Education, Health Science or Public Health Policy and one year of experience managing community health education projects and one year of experience at the supervisory level of planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating community health education work for the required education and experience.

2. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Health Education, Community Health Education or Health Science and four years of experience planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating health education projects, including one year of experience managing community health education projects and one year of experience at the supervisory level of planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating community health education work for the required education and experience.

3. Candidates may substitute a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 18 credit hours in Public Health, Community Health Education, Health Science or related behavioral science and five years of experience planning, developing, implementing and promoting health education projects, including one year of experience managing community health education projects and one year of experience at the supervisory level of planning, developing, implementing, promoting and evaluating community health education work for the required education and experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at a rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher as a commissioned officer in Health Educator and Community Health classifications or Health Educator and Community Health specialty codes in the Public Health field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience and education.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated as Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professionals classes. As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.