COMMUNITY LIAISON AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
Location:
Denver, Colorado
Organization:
MEND Foundation
The MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition… Do It!) Foundation (www.mendfoundation.org), an independent
nonprofit 501(c)3, exists to enable a significant, measurable and sustained reduction in childhood
overweight and obesity levels among disadvantaged communities. MEND’s expert developed programs
and services are among the world’s most widely implemented evidence-based child weight management
programs. The programs empower overweight and obese children, with the support of their families, to
reach and maintain a healthy weight. Designed by obesity experts for delivery by trained lay health
educators in community settings, MEND’s innovative approach to preventing obesity combines
scientifically rigorous design and evaluation with a scalable and cost-effective operational model. MEND
Foundation works in partnership with a wide range of non-profit, private and governmental organizations
that care about the health of their communities – both locally and nationally.
In September 2013, MEND Foundation was awarded a three year grant to implement additional MEND
programs for overweight and obese 7-13 year old children and their parents / caregivers in Colorado from
the Kaiser Permanente Foundation. The grant also supports embedding MEND programs deeper into their
communities and building new, or strengthening existing, linkages with other organizations, for example
those focused on healthy living and active lifestyles or healthcare. MEND Foundation is now seeking a
part time contract with a Community Liaison and Outreach Coordinator (“CLOC”) for this grant in Colorado.
General function:
The CLOC will work with non-profit, private and governmental organizations to ensure successful
integration of MEND programs with existing activities, services and relevant programs across the
community and healthcare landscapes. The CLOC will plan, develop and implement partnerships with
organizations with two purposes:
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To support referral pathways and recruitment of overweight and obese 7-13 year old children
and their parents / caregivers to MEND programs from relevant healthcare, community and
other organizations, with a particular focus on healthcare
To support referral pathways and proactive signposting of Graduates from MEND programs to
existing healthy living and active lifestyle primary prevention and advocacy groups for mutual
benefit.
The CLOC will be the primary coordinating contact for these activities across Colorado for local partners
implementing MEND programs. The CLOC will capture challenges and successes with this work in a way
that can be shared nationally and so benefit others. The CLOC will embody the values and ethos of MEND,
be passionate about both child weight management and family health and wellness, and be skilled and
experienced in forging and sustaining mutually beneficial local partnerships across sectors. Ideally, the
CLOC will have a strong understanding of healthcare in the community and be well positioned to develop
referrals from the healthcare system.
Essential duties and responsibilities:
The CLOC is responsible for a wide range of duties which include, but will not be limited to:
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Proactively develop and manage relationships across a portfolio of project stakeholders, both
known and to-be-identified, from across health care, education and community based
organizations to develop and improve channels for integrated pathways for referral and access.
Communicate regularly with MEND Program Managers, supporting best practice in areas of family
recruitment, program promotion and scheduling and onward signposting of MEND ‘Graduates’.
Build and nurture strategic relationships with local key stakeholders and partner organizations (e.g.
clinical liaisons and teams at KP, associations, industry groups, community and regional
organizations etc.) to promote awareness of MEND and foster/enhance strategic partnerships.
Assist with planning program localization requirements related to partners, delivery teams, venues,
family recruitment, local organization linkages, media outreach and measurement / reporting, to
ensure programs meet the needs of the community
Assist with the development and implementation of recruitment, retention and local post-MEND
maintenance strategies, and provide ongoing support in these areas
Coordinate program reporting and evaluation, and conduct regular portfolio reviews to track
progress and identify challenges, proposing remedial strategies if required in concert with MEND
team
Use knowledge from developing key relationships to develop template materials and principles
that can be used more broadly across both MEND and other similar interventions to facilitate such
relationships going forwards
Help spearhead implementation of MEND Champions in selected pilot Colorado MEND program
sites. MEND Champions are ‘Graduates’ of the program who will be given brief training and basic
resources to empower them to become effective ‘Champions’ of healthy living and active lifestyles
in their communities – in effect, intervention supporting prevention.
Take on additional projects as required and as skills allow.
Detailed specification:
Essential
Desirable
Experience
 Extensive experience in account / partnership
management and community programming or
healthcare
 Experience of working in the
voluntary &/or public sector
 Experience of recreation
industries, teaching or the public
sector would be an asset
 Community Health Specialist
background
 Healthcare referral and
reimbursement processes
Skills and ability
 Exceptional communication skills and passion to make
a difference
 Ability to understand stakeholder needs, anticipate
changes and respond appropriately
 Highly personable, happy to engage proactively with
peers, community staff / volunteers and senior
managers and present to various stakeholder groups at
all levels
 Effective and committed team player
 Ability to work independently
 Effective organizational skills with proven ability to
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Budget management / cost
control / financial record keeping
Management and maintenance
of administration and contact
management systems
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multi-task and manage multiple priorities / projects
simultaneously and to prescribed, and sometimes
competing, deadlines
Excellent time management skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to foster new contacts and build and maintain
strong, effective relationships with partners
Extensive experience of facilitating face-to-face
meetings, delivering presentations, and communicating
by telephone, skype / webinar and email to ensure
effective operations
Ability to effectively engage a diverse group of people
IT literate, with solid working knowledge of MS Word,
Excel, and PowerPoint
Knowledge and
understanding
 Thorough understanding of MEND’s values and ethos
 Experience of building relationships with organizations
from a variety of sectors, particularly the health sector
and local government offices
Personal
attributes
 Self-motivated
 Able to work under pressure, make sound decisions
and exercise mature judgements
 Positive, enthusiastic & able to motivate others
 Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or
university (or Bachelor's degree in related field
preferred or equivalent combination of education and
experience)
 Travel within Colorado
 Part time contracted position
 Working from home/at own site
 Remuneration commensurate with experience
Qualifications
Other
Specifications
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Ability to use project
management software a plus
 Knowledge of public sector
agencies and public policy in
relation to health & social care
 Experience of teaching and
curriculum knowledge
Please provide cover letter and resume to:
Teresa Earle, MEND Foundation
Teresa.earle@mendfoundation.org
tel: 818/879-0493
http://mendfoundation.org