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Why join Harvard Medical School?
Harvard Medical School's mission is to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.
You’ll be at the heart of biomedical discovery, education, and innovation, working alongside world-renowned faculty and a community dedicated to improving human health. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to shape the future of medicine.
About the Department:
The Family Van is a mobile clinic founded in 1992 that works with low-income Boston communities to improve the health and well-being of residents and their families. By taking preventive health care directly to medically underserved neighborhoods, The Family Van improves health outcomes among people whose needs are not fully met by the traditional health care system. This innovative model of health care delivery is grounded in clinical evidence and has demonstrated improvements in important health outcomes.
Job Description
This individual works under the supervision of the Associate Director of Health Equity Programs at The Family Van and focuses on providing services in the community sites and on the mobile unit (the majority of hours take place in person in the community) allowing us to provide care to more community members. The candidate for this role is a community-oriented individual with strong interpersonal skills, ensuring clients feel respected, cared for and valued. This person works as part of our larger team of Community Health Workers and is an early career role for a future health care professional.
Position Description Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Deliver culturally relevant health and wellness screenings, education, and referrals in community-based settings (e.g. housing developments, schools, supermarkets, libraries, food pantries, consulates, shelters, local businesses, and community centers), and at events, (at least 6 events each year) including screenings for blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, anxiety and depression, cognitive health, cancer screening recommendations, nutrition, environmental education, substance use, and social service supports.
- Provide Direct Service (from above) coverage on The Family Van mobile unit during staffing absences or as needed based on community event schedule.
- Refer clients to appropriate health and social services, conduct follow-up to ensure access, and facilitate participation in chronic disease management of common chronic conditions.
- Support team in mentoring students and interns on-site, offering guidance and ensuring quality service delivery.
- Provide outreach to potential and existing clients and community organizations.
- Communicate regularly with the supervisor regarding site needs, event logistics, and community feedback, supply and material inventory, and assisting with gathering supplies as needed.
- Share trends in community needs and contribute to program efficiency and service goals.
- Attend community meetings as needed.
- Document client interactions and maintain accurate and confidential records using web-based technology.
- Support program goals and grant deliverables as needed, (clients surveys, team training, client engagements opportunities).
- Assist with student trainings.
- Welcome and engage with community members and van visitors.
- Attend staff meetings, training courses and professional development.
Additional – and opportunity for overtime as needed:
- Opportunity for extra paid hours as needed for special events, summer internship programming, and training.
- Support interns' day to day activities including neighborhood tours, community and mentorship workshops and training.
- This role may result in flexed schedules to cover for weekends and evening work and based on other staff PTO and community site needs.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
- 3 years' experience working in a health care or social service position. Education may count toward experience.
- High school diploma or GED.
Additional Qualifications and Skills:
- Experience working with diverse communities, people with mental illness and/or substance use disorder as well as immigrants and their families, LGBTQ persons, people with limited financial resources, formerly incarcerated persons, and those without health insurance.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a customer-focused team environment required.
- Basic computer skills (Email, Word, Internet).
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Fluency (written and oral) in English.
- Fluency in a language other than English, such as Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic or other strongly preferred.
- It is also strongly preferred to have someone with strong ties to the Roxbury or Dorchester communities.
Additional Information
- Term: This is a term position with an end date of June 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension, contingent upon work performance and continued funding to support the position.
- Standard Hours/Schedule: Please note this is a part-time, 20 hours (.5 FTE) per week position. Tuesday - Thursday 5.5 hours/day, Friday 3.5 hours/day. Opportunity for extra paid hours as needed for special events, summer internship programming, and training. This role may result in flexed schedules to cover for weekends and evening work and based on other staff PTO and community site needs.
- Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
- Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
- Other Information: Please note that we are currently conducting a majority of interviews and onboarding remotely and virtually. We appreciate your understanding.
- Staying Informed About Your Application: Due to the high volume of applications, we may not always be able to reach out right away, but you can track your status anytime through the Careers@Harvard portal.
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Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 053. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Generous paid time off including parental leave
- Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
- Retirement plans with university contributions
- Wellbeing and mental health resources
- Support for families and caregivers
- Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
- Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.