Government and Community Relations Specialist

Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision: a community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together.

As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 500,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 100,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance.

Since 1969, our employees have been making this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond. If this sounds like an organization you would like to be a part of, we would love to meet you.

The Government & Community Relations Specialist supports Neighborhood Healthcare’s Government Relations & Community Outreach efforts, with a primary focus on advancing the organization’s priorities at the local level. This role contributes to the development and execution of a government and community relations strategy that strengthens Neighborhood Healthcare’s presence and influence across key stakeholder groups.

This position is instrumental in cultivating and maintaining meaningful relationships with city and county legislators, legislative aides, elected officials, public health agency leaders, business and healthcare industry representatives, school administrators, charitable organizations, and members of community planning groups. Additionally, the Specialist leads community outreach efforts to engage residents, local organizations, and underserved populations, ensuring that Neighborhood Healthcare remains responsive to community needs and visible in public forums.

Through proactive advocacy and outreach, this role ensures Neighborhood Healthcare is a trusted voice in local policy discussions and a valued partner in initiatives that promote the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

This is a full-time, hybrid position(3 days remote, 2 days onsite). Candidates must be located in San Diego or Riverside County.

Responsibilities

Government Relations

• Support the development and execution of Neighborhood Healthcare’s government relations strategy in collaboration with the Director of External Affairs.
• Monitor and analyze local, state, and federal legislation and regulatory developments that impact FQHCs, PACE programs, and community health.
• Build and maintain relationships with elected officials, legislative staff, public health agencies, and other government stakeholders.
• Coordinate and facilitate site visits, tours, and meetings with policymakers and government representatives.
• Draft policy briefs, talking points, and official correspondence to support advocacy efforts.
• Represent Neighborhood Healthcare at public hearings, legislative sessions, and community forums.
• Track and report on advocacy activities, stakeholder engagement, and policy outcomes.
  
  

Community Outreach

• Plan and implement outreach initiatives to engage community members, local organizations, and underserved populations.
• Serve as a liaison between Neighborhood Healthcare and community groups, schools, nonprofits, and planning bodies.
• Organize and participate in community events, health fairs, and public forums to promote awareness of Neighborhood Healthcare’s services and mission.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration with local partners to address health equity and social determinants of health.
• Collect and share community feedback with internal teams to inform program development and advocacy priorities.
• Ensure consistent messaging and visibility of Neighborhood Healthcare in community settings.
  
  

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, public policy, healthcare administration, or a related field required; equivalent experience (minimum four years) may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in government relations, public affairs, community outreach, or a related field required
• Demonstrated experience engaging with elected officials, government agencies, and community organizations required
• Bilingual(English/Spanish) preferred
• Valid CA DL and auto insurance required
  
  

Additional Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills And Abilities)

• Experience providing services or conducting communications with diverse populations
• Knowledge of governmental bodies and community-based organizations that impact the organization.
• Experience planning and executing community engagement events or public forums.
• Strong understanding of healthcare policy and community health systems.
• Expert interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including superior composition typing and proofreading skills.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent planning and organizational ability.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.'
• Ability to assess situations and independently develop a plan of action with necessary sense of urgency.
• Ability to interact in a courteous and professional manner with all levels of staff and volunteers, including Board Members, Donors, internal managers and directors.
• Ability to work with highly confidential information in a professional and ethical manner.
• Availability to work select nights and weekends when necessary.
• Ability to drive and have reliable transportation to/from primary work site and any organizational events or meetings.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/carry 10 lbs/weight
• Ability to stand for long periods of time
  
  

Neighborhood Healthcare offers a generous benefit plan that includes: Partially company paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans. Two plus weeks of vacation, Nine Holidays including two Floating Holidays of your choosing, Sick/Personal time, Volunteer Time Off (VTO), 403b Retirement plan (similar to a 401k), optional Health and Wellness events, and much more!

Pay range: $73,500-$104,400 annually, depending on experience.

Compensation Disclosure: The posted salary range reflects the designated pay grade for this position. While this range represents the broader classification of the role, actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s overall knowledge, skills, and experience, market data and industry benchmarks, internal equity within the organization, Budgetary considerations and organizational needs. As a result, placement within the range is not guaranteed, and the full pay grade range may not be utilized.