Cancer Community Health Educator

Advertising Summary: A successful Community Health Educator from Williamsburg or Gloucester and surrounding areas, will integrate seamlessly into the Massey COE education, screening and navigation team. The Community Health Educator will have the opportunity to contribute to highly meaningful work helping to identify those who need cancer screening and supporting people to access the screening care.

Unit: Massey Comprehensive Cancer Ctr MBU

Department: Massey Central Admin

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Mission: To reduce the state cancer burden for all Virginians by addressing the confluence between biological, social, and policy drivers through high-impact, cutting-edge research; person-centered care across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship; community integration; and training the next generation of community-centric researchers and healthcare professionals

Vision: To be a premier community-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity research and ensuring optimal health outcomes for all

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

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Located in downtown Richmond, the state capital of Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate programs across its urban campuses: the downtown Monroe Park and MCV campuses in Richmond; the Rice Rivers Center in Charles City, Virginia; satellite locations in Fairfax, Virginia, and Abingdon, Virginia; and a campus in Doha, Qatar, for the School of the Arts.

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Department Summary:

The Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University is an NCI recognized comprehensive cancer center, located in the heart of Downtown Richmond. All NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers have a responsibility to reduce the burden of cancer and cancer death in the geographic catchment area surrounding the Center. The MCC catchment area includes 66 localities of Eastern Virginia, including Williamsburg and Gloucester. To execute on the mission of reducing the cancer burden, MCC is introducing the Mobile Cancer Resource Unit in Williamsburg and Gloucester with a primary mission of mobilizing and motivating community members to increasing screening, early detection and treatment of colorectal and prostate cancers using blood-based screening tests. By making screening and follow up easily accessible, in the community, and outside of traditional clinical settings, the Cancer CHE will directly support the MCC mission, while helping their community improve their overall health and quality of life.

Position Summary:

Under the administrative supervision of the Director of Operations for Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (MCCC) Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), the incumbent, helps clients and communities increase cancer awareness, knowledge, cancer screening and connections to follow up care.  The Williamsburg and Gloucester Cancer Community Health Educator (CHE) will help organize and coordinate community events, provide cancer education, and help community members determine if they are eligible for cancer screening (with a specific focus on colorectal and prostate cancer). The Cancer CHE will help community members access cancer screening and will follow up on positive screening tests to connect community members to local healthcare settings for diagnostic follow up. MCC COE will support the Cancer CHE to increase community access to clinical and social support services. Additional focus areas for cancer education include, but are not limited to, smoking cessation, cancer risk reduction and early detection.

The Cancer CHE will be part of a mobile team providing in-person, and telephone- and computer-based cancer education for community members in pre-determined areas of Williamsburg and Gloucester. The incumbent’s familiarity with Williamsburg and Gloucester will work with MCC COE data resources to determine the geographic areas with the heaviest burden of cancer and the highest need for these services. The incumbent will work with other CHE’s in a mobile cancer resource unit, as well as a mobile phlebotomy team, to promote awareness of and deliver cancer screening activities at community events in Williamsburg and Gloucester.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Co-lead a mobile team of credible messengers, traveling around Williamsburg and Gloucester in a small Massey on the Move van to
  • Identify appropriate locations for cancer health promotion events
  • Coordinate and participate in community outreach and education/programming and events
• Represent Massey at community events in Williamsburg and Gloucester (“tabling”)
  • Provide cancer education using Massey materials to increase awareness, knowledge about cancer risk reduction, screening and early detection
• Provide support for community members to determine their eligibility for cancer screening and to support access to screening, cancer diagnosis and treatment options.
• Address community questions to increase knowledge and awareness and reduce barriers to cancer screening
• Provide education about cancer clinical trials and, when appropriate, assist community members in connecting with the Massey clinical trial team as needed
• Help connect community members to resources within local medical centers (i.e. Lackey clinic, Riverside Health) and community-based organizations to meet healthcare as well as health-related social needs
• Document all encounters in electronic data management systems provided by Massey, adhering to all confidentially standards
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health or STEM related field or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training
• 2 years or more experience working in community-based, health communications, health promotion or navigation field
• Excellent oral communication (public speaking) and interpersonal skills
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
• Flexibility in communication style
• Working knowledge of Williamsburg and/or Gloucester neighborhoods
• Capacity to work directly with a broad range of community stakeholders
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently/with limited direct supervision
• Comfort with social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn)
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products and Google products (Google Sheets, Google Docs)
• Comfort with using QR codes
• Excellent organization and time management skills.
• Proficient computer skills required
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health or related field
• Bilingual, Spanish and English language proficiency

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

Please let us know if you were referred by a current Massey employee to ensure we honor our commitment to the Employee Referral Program.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

Salary Range: Starting at $20.00/hr, commensurate with experience

Benefits: All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU. Consult the benefits website for information on benefits eligibility according to employee type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 20

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Senior Coordinator CE - Job Code# 14114

Contact Information

Contact Name: Massey HR
Contact Email: Masseyhr@vcu.edu