Information Specialist (Rural Health Information Hub)

Salary/Position Classification: $42,000 plus/Annual (salary is negotiable based on qualifications and experience). This is a full-time, benefitted, exempt position.

Benefits: Includes single or family health care coverage (premiums paid for by the university), basic life insurance, EAP, retirement plan, tuition waiver, annual and sick leave. Optional benefits available: supplemental life, dental, vision, long term care insurance, flexible spending account, supplemental retirement plans.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Requires travel occasionally to national, regional, or local events/meeting. Working from home or remotely is not an available option for this position.

Position Details: Complete Position Description is available as an attachment in the bottom right corner of this position announcement.

The Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the University of North Dakota is seeking experienced and talented applicants to serve as an Information Specialist for the Rural Health Information Hub (www.ruralhealthinfo.org), a federally-funded web-based information center dealing with rural health issues.

• The position will be responsible for tracking rural health and rural health policy issues, synthesizing the information, and creating un-biased web-based products to help users keep abreast of issues and easily find additional resources to meet their information needs.
• Will work with content experts from various organizations to identify and develop priority content.
• Serves as a resource to other staff on a defined set of rural issues.
• The Information Specialist will search daily for resources pertinent to rural health.
• Use critical thinking skills to analyze resources, determine which would be of interest to RHIhub users, and index them in a Content Management System for inclusion on the RHIhub website.
• Position will share responsibility for answering requests for information to the RHIhub Call Center, receiving information requests through a variety of methods, such as e-mail, phone, and social media.
• Must respond to requests in a timely manner with relevant information identified through conducting searches of RHIhub’s website, the Internet, appropriate bibliographic and informational databases, as well as by contacting identified experts in the field.
• Assist users in navigating the complex web of Federal agencies, foundations, and other relevant organizations.
• The position will assist with promoting the activities of RHIhub by networking and building relationships with key rural health organizations, presenting at conferences and via webinar/video, and exhibiting on behalf of the project.
• The Information Specialist must collaborate effectively with project staff to meet shared goals and be dedicated to quality work.

Competencies Required:

• Strong searching skills including web-based searches.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong aptitude with technology and demonstrated ability to learn/use new computer software applications.
• Excellent writing skills, with demonstrated ability to write for the web.
• Demonstrated verbal skills and excellent interpersonal communications skills.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to be self-directed.
• High level of attention-to-detail and the ability to generate high quality and timely work products.
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task, take initiative, and to work as part of a team.
• Willing and able to travel occasionally to national, regional, or local events/meeting.
• Will use their experience with synthesizing complicated information from multiple sources into cohesive and plain language.
• Demonstates ability to apply creativity and logic to create solutions, locate specific information and to research issues.
• Works in a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines and achieving project objectives.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree. Major field of study or degree emphasis in public administration, health policy, business, public policy, public health, communications, journalism, library and information science or degree related to information dissemination, rural health, population health, or health policy. Will consider other applicable degrees not listed.
• 3 years of similar experience (for Bachelor’s degree applicants only), may be a combination of volunteer or paid. Work experience requirement will be waived if applicant has Master’s degree.
• Experience or training with doing advanced web-based searches.
• Experience working with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience writing web-based or professional documents. Can be related to academic coursework.
• Experience presenting to groups.
• Requires writing samples to be submitted at time of application (details provided below).
• Cover letter, Resume and completed Application.
• Successful completion of Criminal History Background Check.

Required Writing Samples: (Please contact Naomi Lelm at (701) 777-0679 with questions. Samples must be attached to application.)

• Sample web page copy (not an article) that uses web-writing best practices to convey information on a policy topic with which the applicant is familiar, 250-500 words.
• A brief summary describing the content of this publication: http://www.ncsl.org/documents/health/RuralHealth_PolicyOptions_1113.pdf, 30-80 words. See examples:
  • https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/4792
  • https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/resources/6604
• An email written in a professional style that provides an answer to a request for information on a topic with which the applicant is familiar (that is, write a question and then answer it).

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (work experience requirement waived). Will consider recent or Spring 2018 Master’s level graduates.
• Experience with U.S. rural health issues through education or work experience.
• Experience or training related to organizing information, and utilizing a website to disseminate information.
• Experience providing customer service.
• Experience or training in using HTML.
• Experience with using a web-based interface for entering information into a database.