Community Health Specialist III – Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Program

Job Description

Summary

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:
Deschutes County Health Services supports over 400 staff in Behavioral and Public Health programs working to promote and protect the health and safety of the community in a broad variety of community-based settings.

This position is part of the Public Health service area, which works to keep people healthy and safe by striving to improve and protect the health of people in Deschutes County. This work includes: disease prevention, surveillance and control; food and consumer safety; assuring clean and safe drinking water; ensuring access to essential health services; providing education about healthy lifestyles; implementing strategies to reduce and prevent high-risk behaviors among youth; and responding to pandemics and emerging threats, outbreaks and other events.

ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. W e enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team.

ABOUT THE JOB:

Deschutes County is seeking a strategic, compassionate, and experienced Community Health Specialist III to lead the County’s Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Program.

Operating from a foundational public health approach, this position sets strategic program direction, drives Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes, and serves as the County's subject-matter expert. You will bridge macro-level regional/state planning with micro-level community engagement, cultural responsiveness, and crisis response.

This position is located in Deschutes County and may be eligible for hybrid of in-office/remote work as allowed by policy and approved by the supervisor.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & PSE Development:
  
  • Program Strategy: Design, implement, and evaluate long-term mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives.
    
  • Policy & Systems Impact: Lead Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) changes to address root causes and mitigate health disparities across Deschutes County.
    
  • Data & Analytics: Monitor, analyze, and report on community health data to track trends, measure program efficacy, and inform strategic planning.
    
• Suicide Death Response & Intervention Planning:
  
  • Mandated Response Role: Serve as the designated lead responder for every suicide death in Deschutes County.
    
  • Support Plan Development: Consult on, develop, and coordinate immediate, intermediate, and long-term community postvention and support plans.
    
• Collaboration & Community Engagement:
  
  • Multi-Agency Partnerships: Collaborate extensively with city, county, regional, and state partners—including the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), law enforcement, local elected officials, faith communities, and business leaders.
    
  • Media & Public Relations: Serve as a designated subject-matter expert and media spokesperson on mental health awareness and suicide prevention (as directed by leadership).
    
  • Education & Training: Deliver and coordinate community trainings, navigate crisis/support systems, and connect individuals and families to appropriate resources.
    
• Cultural Responsiveness & Supervision:
  
  • Equity-Centered Practice: Drive and support culturally responsive program delivery across county divisions, regional networks, and the public.
    
  • Functional Supervision: Provide technical and functional leadership, guidance, and mentorship to staff, community partners, and volunteers (without formal direct-report supervision).
    

Although preferred, it is not a requirement that the applicant arrive to the role with extensive expertise in mental health promotion and suicide prevention. Professional development is provided to assist in developing this content expertise.

What You Will Bring:

Knowledge of or experience with:

• County policies and procedures.
• Public health protocols and compliance standards for public health issues.
• Research and statistical evaluation, analysis, principles and methods.
• Community outreach and determination of health needs.
• Customer service and public relations methods and practices.
• Applicable federal, state and local compliance laws and statutes.
• Prevention strategies, including negotiation, communication, development, and surrounding impacting factors.
  
• Incident Command Structure.
  

Skill in:

• Interpreting and applying County, state and federal statutes, codes, rules, and regulations.
  
• Coordinating staff or volunteers and delegating tasks and authority.
  
• Researching, investigating, evaluating, and creating strategic plans.
  
• Coordinating efforts and the utilization of resources.
  
• Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
  
• Assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands.
  
• Effective verbal and written communication.
  
• Interacting effectively with diverse cultures and belief systems.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, agencies and the public at all times.
• Independently solving problems, identifying resources, and thinking critically.
• Organizing, leading, and executing the effective delivery of the program and projects assigned.
• Conducting community-based strategic planning processes and delivering data-driven decisions.
• Motivating and inspiring others to work well in a team environment.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function.

Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.

Review the full job description by clicking HERE.

Compensation

$8,416.28 to $11,278.63 per month for a 172.67 hour work month. Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This union-represented position is available immediately.

Attention all candidates: please make sure your application includes all job history, education, training, certifications, licenses, and other relevant experience, as this information will be used to determine your starting salary range in accordance with Oregon Pay Equity. Resumes will not be reviewed.

BENEFITS:

Our robust healthcare package covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE for full benefit details.

This position is open until filled. First review of applications will be November 30, 2026.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Public Administration, or other health related field;
• AND five years of related experience;
• OR any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills and knowledge to perform the job.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience and/or training in the following or equivalent program areas, to support skill and knowledge areas of this position's program: Incident Command Systems (ICS), Question Persuade and Refer (QPR); Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Be Sensitive Be Brave, Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), and CONNECT (postvention training).

Necessary Special Requirements

Driving is a requirement for this position. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.

Must have dependable transportation and be able and willing to drive throughout Deschutes County in sometimes adverse weather conditions.
Physical Requirements. Must have the ability to work in an office that is environmentally controlled; possess sufficient hand coordination to perform keyboarding and data entry; arm/hand movements to retrieve work materials and operate a variety of general office equipment. The position is frequently required to sit, walk, stoop, bend, kneel, reach, stand, grasp, talk, hear, see, and may occasionally lift up to 10 pounds. Requires sufficient ambulatory ability to drive throughout Deschutes County including in sometimes adverse weather conditions.

Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive healthcare package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, Deschutes County provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

When Are you Eligible:
If you are hired on the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first of that month (immediate benefits, either that day or back to the first of the month if the first is on a Saturday or Sunday). If you are hired after the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first day of the following month.

Employer paid benefit offerings include:

• Life Insurance for employee and dependents
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
• Time Management Leave

Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:

• 125 Flexible Spending Program
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance

To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit our Benefits page and click on Employee Benefits or click HERE for full benefits guide.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous