Project Assistant - Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness

City of Boston Residency Required

Mission Statement

The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The BPHC sets an expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselves accountable to establishing a culture of anti-racism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus, programs, and offices.

Job Description

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), one of the oldest health departments in the United States, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the Mayor of Boston. Public service and access to quality health care are the cornerstones of our mission - To work in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. The Commission's more than 40 programs are grouped into six bureaus: Child, Adolescent & Family Health; Community Initiatives Bureau; Homeless Services; Infectious Disease; Recovery Services; and Emergency Medical Services.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Center for Behavioral Health & Wellness "The Center," established in 2022 at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), was created in response to the growing need for evidence-based, effective, and meaningful behavioral health resources. The Center aims to promote and coordinate behavioral health and wellness programming across Boston. Envisioning a community where all can achieve their ideal behavioral health and wellness, through just, trauma-informed, and intersectional approaches. The Center focuses on reducing behavioral health inequities by addressing barriers that impede this vision.

The Project Assistant will support the Center at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The prioritization of behavioral health by the BPHC is driven by findings from the Boston Community Health Needs Assessment (2019) and Community Health Improvement Plan (2020), and more recently, a response to the widespread behavioral and mental health needs emerging from the COVID pandemic. Disparities in behavioral health outcomes are most acute among Boston residents and communities impacted by racism and other systems of oppression.

Ideal candidates will have a desire to support BPHC's mission, and those who enjoy working both independently and as part of a team and thrive in roles with multiple tasks and deadlines in a large office environment interacting with different team members and Departments across BPHC.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support including preparing correspondence and reports and maintaining Center staff schedules and appointments, setting up and supporting online meetings.
• Oversee managing the internal (intranet) and external Center webpages. As such, responsible for checking that information is up to date and that all links/helplines are working. Check information monthly. Add information as requested.
• Responsible for overseeing and updating the intranet site for the Center, as such, also responsible for adding resource flyers to this site and other helpful information. Able to learn the platform (drupal) that hosts the website.
• Take meeting notes in thorough, organized manner and share notes to all members present in a timely manner.
• Maintain project-related files and update files in a clear, organized and timely manner.
• Draft memos and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to project deliverables and communications including writing, formatting, editing documents; developing report outlines; creating project visuals; and drafting content for reports or presentations.
• Responsible for tracking mental/behavioral awareness dates every month as part of annual oversight and social media outreach efforts of the Center. For this work, draft social media posts on Canva and other formats as needed, in collaboration with Director and other Center members. Submit in timely manner to BPCH Communication department for review/edits.
• Responsible for tracking the Center's budget. High level of detail needed to track purchases. Will coordinate with Center Director, Center team members and BPHC Finance Department to ensure information up to date, appropriate.
• Provide online research support for project teams.
• Assist with grant development activities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of project progress.
• Track timelines of multiple, fast-moving projects.
• Create and distribute updates on progress to BPHC staff, and external partners frequently.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS/AA degree in Public Health, Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, or another related field, or 1- 3 years of equivalent work experience.
• Prior administrative/office support experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and strong teamwork skills, including ability to communicate across different team members and BPHC departments and bureaus to complete project tasks in a timely manner
• Commitment to promoting racial equity.
• Knowledge or/and experience in public health, behavioral and mental health programming a plus or an interest in learning.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Must be able to establish and meet priorities in a busy environment.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent typing and computer skills (MS Office, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and desire to learn new applications. Experience with design software (i.e., Canva) a plus.

Additional Information

• City of Boston Residency Required; Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Dorchester, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway-Kenmore, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mid-Dorchester, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, Roxbury, South Boston, South End, West End, West Roxbury, Wharf district.
• A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for.
• This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties.
• Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification.
• This is a grant funded position.
• The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply.
• This position requires the Child Protective Service Background verification.
• The advertised shift and schedule are subject to change at the departments discretion.

Shift

35 Hours/Week

Hybrid schedule is subject to BPHC's temporary teleworking policy

Pay Range

$50,000 - $55,000/Annually