Technical Expert Lead - RCORP

Position Title - Technical Expert Lead – RCORP

Classification - Full-time, exempt

Salary - $65,000 - $78,000

Position available - September 15, 2021

The Position

The WICHE Behavioral Health Program (BHP) is seeking a self-motivated individual who can support rural communities thrive. The BHP is searching for an individual who is invested in behavioral health systems and services development and improvement. The ideal candidate will have significant behavioral health, including substance use knowledge and experience; and will demonstrate an ability to work independently within a collaborative team environment, while maintaining a professional attitude and strong attention to detail.

Organizational Responsibility

Under the supervision of the Vice President for Behavioral Health, this position is responsible for the coordination and execution of technical assistance projects as assigned by the Vice President, including support for the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP)- Technical Assistance Project. The WICHE Behavioral Health Program is a sub awardee to JBS International, delivering innovative and creative technical assistance (TA) to improve the prevention, treatment, and recovery services and systems for persons with opioid use and substance use disorders in rural communities. The RCORP-TA team consists of subject matter experts (including TELs), managerial, administrative, and operations staff to achieve this goal.

The Technical Expert Lead (TEL) is a WICHE content expert for an assigned group of grantees and, in collaboration with other TELs and project leadership, is responsible for ensuring the design and delivery of technical assistance (TA) and deliverables for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP). The TEL coaches and guides staff in the support and implementation of effective, high quality TA and communicates per the established project guidelines. Specifically, the successful candidate will possess technical knowledge regarding the provision of direct treatment services to people who have stimulant use disorders (especially methamphetamine) and building community programs to that end. Deep knowledge of opioid related responses is also required.

Fundamental Requirement: The TEL must have a passionate commitment to consumer-centric design and delivery of TA and an understanding of and commitment to the project's model of TA as a strengths-based, continuous process that supports each grantee throughout its journey.

Essential Duties

• Maintain professional expertise in stimulant and opioid evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, ensuring that subject area knowledge remains current; identify trends, emerging issues, policies, and evidence-based practices (EBPs) and share them with program area staff, other TELs, senior management, our clients, and other JBS staff as appropriate.
• Maintain communication with assigned client contacts, responding to requests; participating in meetings; providing up-to-date information about trends, issues, policies, and EBPs; offering recommendations regarding effective TA approaches for grantees, topics for grantee meetings and workshops, and skilled consultants and presenters.
• Ensure TA activities carried out by TEL meet all contractual obligations and requirements of the client/contract.
• Manage, guide, and monitor the design and delivery of all TA; ensure all TA-related activities are documented (whether in the designated TA tracking system or other method) in a timely fashion.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure all allocated funds are spent and no overages are incurred.
• Lead and/or contribute to preparation and finalization of written deliverables, including site visit reports, meeting reports, literature reviews, technical documents, and other products (e.g., PowerPoint presentations) as requested by client.
• Guide and manage assigned TA staff in carrying out the support and logistical activities required for delivering all types of TA.
• Work with other TELs, the project's senior management team, and JBS client to identify trends in TA needs, analyze which types of TA work and why, identify emerging issues, and design long-term strategies for taking grantees to higher levels of performance/outcomes.
• Identify issues and successes to ensure transfer of lessons learned and increased efficiency in the delivery of TA.
• Collaborate with other TELs to support the exchange of information across all grantees served by the various projects.
• Participate in project-related webinars with grantees and supports virtual and on-site technical assistance.

Required Education, Skills, and Experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Language: English Fluency (oral and written)

Experience: At least 10 years of relevant work experience

In addition to:

• Experience in general Public Health topics, specifically evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorders and community based opioid responses.
• Strengths-based approach to delivering TA and to working with others.
• Ability to interact well with others in a positive and professional manner.
• Functions well as a member of a team and able to work independently and without extensive supervision and follow chain of command to address personnel or management concerns.
• Honors, respects, and celebrates cultural differences.
• Effective, clear, and professional writing and oral communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.

Preferred Education, Skills, and Experience

Education: Master’s degree or higher

Language: Fluency in a language other than English

Experience: Consulting experience and ability to work with diverse stakeholders

In addition to:

• Willingness to learn about public behavioral health systems in the WICHE region and beyond.
• Experience working with individuals with opioid and psychostimulant use.
• Familiarity with Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Contingency Management and Motivational Interviewing.
• Experience working with individuals in rural communities.
• Experience with telehealth/video technology.
• Federal consulting experience.

Travel

Travel for national/regional conferences and grantee site visits may be required. Anticipate approximately 8-12 trips per year.

About the Behavioral Health Program

WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program (BHP) provides technical assistance, education, consulting, and research services to strengthen behavioral health care. Initiatives focus on analysis and growth of the behavioral health workforce, as well as overall improvements within the public mental health system. The BHP has a long history of providing mental health services in rural area, and for providing training to support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts throughout the West.

About WICHE

Since 1953, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) has been strengthening higher education, workforce development, and behavioral health throughout the region. As an interstate compact, WICHE partners with states, territories, and postsecondary institutions to share knowledge, create resources, and develop innovative solutions that address some of our society’s most pressing needs. From promoting high-quality, affordable postsecondary education to helping states get the most from their technology investments and addressing behavioral health challenges, WICHE improves lives through innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy.

Benefits

Benefits: WICHE offers a competitive benefits package which includes medical insurance with generous employer contribution to health savings account (H.S.A.), dental, life, and disability insurance; flexible spending accounts (medical and dependent care); 403(b)retirement plan with employer match of 200% on employee contributions up to 5% after six full months of employment; and vacation accrual of four weeks per year, sick leave, paid holidays, and personal leave time.

WICHE is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally-protected status. Applications by members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged.