Address: 801 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034

All AHCCCS Employees must reside within the state of Arizona.

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000

Grade: 27

Position will remain open until filled.

This position is responsible for supporting the agency's efforts to inform, consult and collaborate with external stakeholders. The Community Engagement Officer will work across AHCCCS' divisions to help identify, prepare for and respond to community input on a variety of issues including but not limited to program development, reimbursement rates, policy changes and strategic planning. They will serve as a key liaison between the agency and external stakeholders, and they will work closely with the Communications Team to promote a positive brand for the agency. They will manage two direct reports: the Tribal Liaison, who leads the Tribal Relations team; and a Community Liaison, who will engage with external stakeholder coalitions and provide support to AHCCCS-hosted community forums.
The Community Engagement Officer position reports directly to the Deputy Director of Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs and maintains a close working relationship with the agency's leadership team.

Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
• Community Engagement - Develop and carry out opportunities for the agency to present, be featured, and/or participate in external forums for the purposes of developing partnerships, fostering transparency and building trust. Develop and monitor methods to track meaningful progress in the agency's community engagement work. Supervise the Community Liaison, including the Liaison's work to oversee operations of the State Medicaid Advisory Committee (SMAC), collect and promote AHCCCS-hosted forums, and participate in external coalitions focused on health and health care.
• Tribal Relations Management - Serve as supervisor to the Tribal Relations team, working with Tribal Nations and Tribal health providers across Arizona to ensure that AHCCCS' work is reflective of and responsive to the insights and needs of Tribal members. Work with the team to plan and host quarterly Tribal Consultations, strengthen relationships with Tribal partners, and identify opportunities to address health challenges facing Tribal communities. Review direct staff's position descriptions and update as needed.
• Community Engagement Strategy - Develop, implement and refine stakeholder engagement protocols and processes across the agency. Work with their Deputy Director and other members of the leadership team to identify opportunities to embed and codify stakeholder input and consultation processes. Work with the Office of Continuous Improvement to weave stakeholder involvement throughout the agency's strategic plan.
• Coordinate Agency Responses to Stakeholder Inquiries - Work with internal teams and subject matter experts to develop written responses to stakeholder inquiries and surveys. Collect relevant information from internal colleagues and develop a written response to the inquiry.
• Direct Participation in External Forums and Coalitions - Serve as an agency representative when presenting to external stakeholders and/or regularly attending externally-hosted coalitions that benefit AHCCCS members.

Knowledge:
• State government and health care issues facing the Medicaid program and its members
• Tribal government and Tribal sovereignty, including challenges and opportunities facing Tribal members.
• Key health and health care stakeholders in Arizona.
• Opportunities and forums for AHCCCS to share and collect information
• Strategic planning processes and the importance of community input
• Change management models and theories that support collaboration and group progress.

Skills:
• Managing group dynamics
• Messaging, writing and oral presentation skills
• Leading with diplomacy and empathy when working with a variety of stakeholders who may have competing interests.
• Group facilitation techniques
• Team leadership and strategy
• Managing constructive criticisms
• Recognizing opportunities and strategies to improve public affairs.
• Strong customer service and communication skills to advise senior leadership on stakeholder engagement strategies
• Microsoft Office Suite

Abilities:
• Collaborate as a member of an effective team
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency management, representatives of other State agencies and Tribal governments, business and community leaders, health care providers, advocates, the public and other stakeholders encountered in the course of work
• Create and deliver high quality written communications and presentation materials
• Adapt to various audiences
• Make independent decisions concerning community outreach strategies and their effectiveness
• Delegate and manage multiple assignments in an effective manner while under strict deadlines
• Represent the agency effectively in public settings on a variety of issues

Arizona Drivers License.

Minimum:
• Five years of work experience serving in an external affairs/public relations/community engagement role.

Preferred:
• Bachelor's degree or Master's in a related field (e.g., public relations, public affairs, communications, public policy or political science).

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.

• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.

Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.