Careers

Description:

SUMMARY:

We are seeking up to two enthusiastic students who are interested in learning about public health evaluation to join our team. These students will have the opportunity to provide evaluation support for a funded project from the Department of Health and Human Services focused on improving health literacy related to COVID-19 within racial and ethnic minority populations.  As part of the expectation of this grant to support minority populations, students who are currently enrolled in a Minority Serving Institution are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you are a minority student or are interested protecting the health of underrepresented populations or promoting health equity and eliminating health disparities, this opportunity provides hands-on training and a unique experience to support a team that will partner with diverse communities in King County for public health program evaluation.

This position is anticipated to start in October and is anticipated for 1 year, with the possibility of an extension for another year based on continued enrollment in school.  Students may work between 10-20 hours per week and may be negotiated based on academic needs. 

NOTE: Students must be currently enrolled in school. 

ABOUT THIS POSITION:

The Assessment, Policy Development, and Evaluation unit (APDE) of Public Health – Seattle & King County is building opportunities to increase the knowledge, diversity, and skills of students in public health (including by sexual orientation, gender, people with disabilities, socioeconomic status (SES), and those from underrepresented racial and ethnic populations).  Our goal is to support the long-term investment and training of a diverse public health workforce, improve the representation of underrepresented populations in public health, and increase the quality and cultural competency of public health services.  

This opportunity will provide professional and personal development as well as exposure to various aspects of public health evaluation and health literacy efforts in partnership with seasoned staff mentors.  The primary focus of the work will be to support evaluation of health literacy efforts that aim to improve communication strategies and materials with populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Students will also have the opportunity to learn more about collaborations across epidemiologists, program managers, community and academic partners, and other King County agencies. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Gain exposure to the design and implementation of health literacy efforts focused on improving communication strategies to be more accessible to communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
• Gain an understanding and appreciation for the roles, duties, and responsibilities associated with working in public health evaluation.
• Participate in program planning, implementation, and evaluation of health programs within a Public Health Department.
• Gain hands-on experience developing surveys and topic guides, conducting interviews and survey data collection, and analyzing results.
• Gain experience collaborating with diverse community-based organizations and other health-related agencies in King County.
• Opportunities for public speaking and presentations to internal teams and external health-related collaborators.
   

WE ARE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS WHO:

• Have an interest in the public sector, and are considering a professional career in evaluation, epidemiology, health education, health communications, health promotion or other related public health field.
• Are proactive learners who are curious about how to create and improve upon processes.
• Can work autonomously and on a team, where they’re willing to pitch in to help team members wherever they can.
• Can connect and work collaboratively with internal and external customers from diverse backgrounds.
• Are proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite, and proficient with (or willing to learn) Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Can work and thrive in a virtual setting.
• Have predictable and reliable attendance.
• Have strong time management skills that allows for you to successfully complete tasks.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.
• Ability to uphold our Division’s values.

FOR QUESTIONS OR TO APPLY, PLEASE SEND 1) Current Resume & 2) Answers to supplemental questions below to:  Joie McCracken, jmccracken@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-0907.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

1) Are you able to provide proof of current school program enrollment?

• Yes
• No

2) Are you attending a minority serving institution?

• Yes
• No

3) What is your experience with communities who experience health disparities?

4) Why you are interested in this opportunity and have you taken any relevant classes in social science, research, and/or public health (including epidemiology, qualitative research, or evaluation)?

5) Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with Microsoft Excel?

• None, but willing to learn.
• Very limited. I have completed training but have not used it much.
• Beginner. I can: create, open, and save spreadsheets; cut, paste, and delete cells; enter numbers; change font size, margins, and paper size; print and use the print preview.
• Intermediate. In addition to the beginner-level skills, I am also able to: use the insert and auto-sum function; replace text; change the format of numbers to currency, percentage, etc.; set print areas; protect cells; display charts, audit and validate data; create formulas; set up filters, link data, use statistical functions.
• Advanced. In addition to the beginner and intermediate-level skills, I am also able to: create macros, perform horizontal lookups, create functions and formulas, use pivot tables, use solver, use goal seek.

6) Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill and comfort level with presenting to non-technical and/or community audiences?

• None, but willing to learn.
• Beginner. I have created/contributed to sections of a presentation for someone else to present.
• Intermediate. In addition to the beginner-level skills, I have also: created the presentation with support and co-presented.
• Advanced. In addition to the beginner and intermediate-level skills, I have also: independently created presentation materials (including gathering & analyzing content) and delivered the presentation.

7) Which of the following choices most closely describes your skill level with writing for non-technical and/or community audiences?

• None, but willing to learn.
• Beginner. I have created/contributed to sections of a written documentation with limited experience writing about data, findings, and conclusions.
• Intermediate. In addition to the beginner-level