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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Outreach Specialist
Job Summary:
The Southeast Wisconsin Community Engagement Lead serves as a key regional representative for Covering Wisconsin in elevating health insurance access awareness, understanding, and opportunities for coordination with other community-serving entities and leaders. This Milwaukee-based position will be responsible for:
1) Developing and growing thoughtful collaborations with the wide range of public, private, and governmental stakeholder leaders throughout the area;
2) Supporting and implementing a comprehensive outreach and education campaign, in coordination with statewide and other Milwaukee outreach efforts led by CWI and partners, to better reach consumers and professionals representing or serving communities most at-risk for lack of coverage and access to care;
3) Conducting direct health insurance enrollment assistance supporting Medicaid and Marketplace coverage;
4) Leading well-organized and action-oriented meetings and other collaborative professional efforts
5) Engaging in persuasive communications through formal presentations, media interviews, and direct written messaging to elevate health coverage access awareness and understanding
Through an ongoing close partnership and contract with the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, this role will specifically serve in a supportive leadership capacity for the Milwaukee Enrollment Network (MKEN), a coalition of nearly 100 organizations supporting health insurance enrollment with a focus on low-income, vulnerable populations.
This position will include some travel, particularly within southeastern and southcentral Wisconsin, including some overnights. Some weekend and evening events will also be required. A valid driver's license is required.
Regional Location
The primary programming focus is Milwaukee County; however, programming will be conducted over a broader geographical area in Southeast WI.
Partial Remote
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA). A RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.
This position has the possibility of working up to 2 days remote per week.
This position may be required to work occasional nights and weekends to meet the program needs and priorities of the communities served.
It is expected that employees will make individual arrangements for transportation adequate to meet position responsibilities and essential job functions. Read more about UW-Madison Driver Authorization.
Applicants are required to: Have a valid drivers license and a reliable source of independent transportation for periodic in-state work travel, and/or comply with requirements for UW-Madison vehicle use authorization.
Bilingual Preferred
This position has a bilingual preferred qualification, which means a bilingual skillset is desired to bolster programming initiatives but is not required. A bilingual title designation and unique responsibility will be added to the final position description if the final candidate passes the language proficiency assessment.
Physical Requirements
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Schedules and secures resources and communicates logistics in support of an outreach program
- Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships to support the outreach program
- Delivers outreach program content and materials to community members
- Leads the implementation of programs, policies, and procedures through oversight of day-to-day activities for program staff and student and community volunteers
Implements initiatives and events that serve the target audience
- May assist with the monitoring of outreach program budget spending
- Develops and evaluates curriculum and programs and provides recommendations for improvement
- Researches, develops, and facilitates outreach program content and materials
Department:
Extension embodies the Wisconsin Idea by developing and connecting the research and educational resources of UW–Madison with residents and communities to address local, statewide, and national issues. We teach, learn, lead and serve, transforming lives and communities.
About the Institute
The
Health & Well-Being Institute supports healthier lives by working with and for the people, communities and Tribal nations of Wisconsin to build relationships, facilitate learning and pursue data informed and culturally based strategies. (
https://health.extension.wisc.edu/)
In living our values, the Health & Well-Being Institute:
Builds and maintains positive, trust-based, inclusive relationships
Centers community voices, experiences, strengths, and diverse perspectives
Takes purposeful, strategic action to build capacity in addressing identified needs
Engages in lifelong learning with the people and communities we serve
Collaborates to achieve shared goals by integrating diverse perspectives
Supports opportunities for everyone to achieve optimal health
Additional Department Details
As a vital piece of the Health & Well Being Institute, Covering Wisconsin (CWI) focuses on educating people about the importance of health insurance and helping them understand and sign up for publicly available health coverage and get connected to care. CWI began in 2003 and has been a federally-designated health insurance Navigator entity since 2014. With a team of 20, CWI serves any resident of Wisconsin through a combination of funding from grants, contracts, and contributions. Our approach prioritizes education, assistance, and relationship-building by providing information and services in ways that are relevant, accessible, and understandable.
Compensation:
The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $60,795 but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications
Bilingual Preferred
This position has a bilingual preferred qualification. Upon the successful completion of a Language Proficiency Assessment, a ‘bilingual’ prefix will be added to the official title. The bilingual prefix is accompanied by a $3500.00 pay increase applied to the annual salary.
Benefits
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/)
Required Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:
Bilingual Preferred
Spanish speaking, writing and comprehension skills; knowledge and understanding of Hispanic culture. Language skills will be evaluated.
Education:
Required Education
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in communications, public affairs, social work, sociology, political science, public health, consumer science, adult education, public affairs, public or health care administration, health communication, nonprofit management, or related field.
Preferred Education
Master's degree in a related field
How to Apply:
We are eager to learn more about how your experience and passion may align with this position. To begin the application process, click the "apply now" button. You will be prompted to upload the following documents:
- Resume
- Letter of Qualifications (cover letter)
Please note when applying, there will be only one attachment field. You must upload all your documents in the attachment field. Please submit a cover letter referring to your work experience and a resume detailing your educational and professional background as it relates to this position. Your cover letter should communicate your interest in the position and how your skillset aligns with the role. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine who may advance to preliminary interviews. Failure to upload all required materials may result in your application not being considered.
For additional guidance and resources on how to tailor your application materials to the job posting, please click https://extension.wisc.edu/careers/.
Candidates interested in the bilingual title designation should submit (1) writing samples or unscripted video/audio recordings in both English and the target language (Spanish), and (2) documentation of a recognized second-language proficiency certification completed within the last 5 years (if applicable). These materials may be used to determine who advances in the interview process. If your certification is approved, you may be exempt from our internal language proficiency assessment. Preferred certifications include those from the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), though others may also be considered.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F1 STEM OPT Extension participants.
Application Deadline is October 5, 2026 at 11:59pm (CDT).
Contact Information:
Michele Blakeman (Human Resources)
michele.blakeman@wisc.edu
(608) 262-7110
Caroline Gomez (Hiring Manager)
caroline.gomez@wisc.edu
(608) 673-0560
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.