Jobs in Philippines

Job Title: Senior Program Officer – Fluoridation and Prenatal Initiatives**

Department: WDS Foundation

Reports To: Dianne Riter – Program Manager

FLSA: Exempt

SUMMARY:

Take responsibility for executing the Foundation’s oral health improvement strategies for fluoridation of public water supplies and addressing the oral health of pregnant women. Work with local community coalitions on campaigns to fluoridate their drinking water and/or counteract any attempt to stop fluoridating drinking water, strategically provide evidence-based information on this issue to elected officials and others, and work with others around the country on national efforts to create a receptive environment for local efforts. Identify and act on opportunities and manage projects with local communities and partner organizations to expand access to dental care for pregnant women and increase public and health professional awareness of the importance of oral health for pregnant women. Work as a member of the Foundation’s team of professional staff to create vision and commitment to action. This position is part planner, part activist, requiring the ability to ask, listen and act.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Fluoridation Initiative

Develop an understanding of the fluoridation initiative; the underlying theory of community change and the research underlying the theory; understand the science behind the case for fluoridation and the technical execution issues managed by water providers; be sufficiently knowledgeable so as to be able to speak credibly about both topics with external parties. Develop ongoing working relationships with the national advocates and foundations that work to increase fluoridation, accessing their expertise as appropriate. Stay knowledgeable about the activities and tactics of the anti-fluoridationists locally and nationally. Work with national partners to identify and execute strategies that will create a receptive environment nationally. Work to implement the fluoridation initiative by identifying and assessing a community’s readiness to initiate an effort to fluoridate their drinking water, and making recommendations about executing a successful local campaign. Work to influence decision makers at all levels – creating vision and commitment. Seek out/ build strong relationships with others who are key to success. Work with targeted community leaders, elected officials and others to produce strong and viable local coalitions to support efforts on fluoridation or other public policy adoption and execution. Balance patience and the need to “cut bait” and decide to abandon a community effort and try elsewhere. Scan for opportunities to execute the goals of the fluoridation initiative and be prepared to act quickly to take advantage of opportunities. Be prepared to quickly develop and execute plans to defend fluoridated communities against efforts to remove fluoride from the drinking water. Manage and be responsible for the effectiveness and reach of the fluorideworks website.

Prenatal Initiative

Develop and execute the prenatal strategy by identifying geographic areas or individuals where change is deemed to be possible. Work to influence those capable of making the desired change – creating vision and commitment to improving oral health. Develop an understanding of the assigned strategy (one or more), what the underlying theory of change is; become knowledgeable so as to be able to speak credibly with external parties. Scan for opportunities and develop project ideas to improve oral health of pregnant women. Determine feasibility of project execution, using trial and error. Balance patience and the need to “cut bait” (i.e. abandon and try elsewhere). Evaluate current efforts with local communities and draw on lessons learned from previous efforts for new strategy development and execution. Identify and build strong relationships with individuals and organizations who are key to WDSF’s success. Pursue collaboration opportunities with partner organizations.

Overall

Manage projects and contracts with local organizations, ensuring accountability and progress through project life. Develop and manage the initiative’s Five Year Work Plans and annual budgets. Provide staff support to Foundation Committees, individual Trustees and the Foundation’s CEO. Represent the Foundation in external audiences; prepare and deliver presentations as needed. Work to engage Foundation Board members in targeted efforts.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactory. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Able to assess a community’s readiness for a local campaign, including community grassroots/campaign organizational opportunities to promote fluoridation.

Ability to identify community leaders and activists to help achieve a successful community decision on fluoridation. Willingness to influence those with the power to make change, to engage them in the oral health issue, to support them in taking leadership. Ability to analyze professional documents, to access and synthesize research on oral health issues so as to make it useful and relevant to target audiences, including health professionals and decision makers. Ability to identify factors in the environment or community context that either help or hinder healthy decisions by individuals. Ability to work with individuals and organizations, at the local and national level to build support for identified program and policy goals. Ability to juggle multiple topics/tasks and to balance the need for planning and relationship building with the need for results. Ability to manage change and ambiguity in a way that retains focus on goals and results. Conduct oneself in external settings in a way that reflects positively on WDS Foundation as an organization of professional, confident and sensitive staff. Ability to seek direction/approval from management on essential matters and discern parameters so as to maximize independence and consistent support from management. Basic financial analysis skills: ability to understand how an initiative might be financed, what the cost-benefit relationships are, opportunity for financial sustainability, as well as internal budgeting and expense tracking. Ability to see how one’s work intersects with that of other Foundation activities – manage in a mutually supportive manner. Make appropriate use of knowledge/ expertise/ connections of other Foundation Staff.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

A bachelor's degree (B. A. or B. S.) and five years experience with progressively responsible experience is required. An advanced degree, particularly in public affairs, public health, public administration or business is desirable. Demonstrated campaign or related grassroots organizing and policy analysis experience. Demonstrated project management and community development experience. Experience in a health care or public health environment is also a plus. **

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and memos. Ability to prepare and edit simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information to others, including other employees, Trustees, external partners consultants and vendors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to perform simple mathematical operations and understand budgets.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exits. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

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