Project Manager, Public Health Education & Literacy

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How to Apply

Please submit a resume and cover letter. Optional: You may include examples of participant-facing public health education or literacy resources you have developed or supported for projects (e.g., facilitator guides, checklists, resource lists, workshop slides, accessible handouts). A cover letter is required for consideration and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to project implementation, partner- or client-driven work, accessibility, and health literacy.

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Job Summary

The Project Manager, Public Health Education & Literacy advances the Rogel Cancer Center Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (COE) by leading the planning and implementation of community-partner driven public health education and literacy programming across Michigan. This role manages a portfolio of initiatives co-created with community partners (including the Rogel Community Advisory Board), COE faculty liaisons, and internal teams to strengthen bidirectional connections between communities and faculty expertise and to support action-oriented cancer prevention and control education.

The Project Manager leads projects end-to-end scoping work, building workplans, coordinating partners, managing timelines and deliverables, supporting equitable participation, and tracking outputs and outcomes. Success in this role depends on strong project implementation skills, community-centered practice, and the ability to translate evidence-based cancer prevention and early detection concepts into practical, accessible learning experiences without losing scientific accuracy. The role also champions digital literacy and accessibility in COE programming and associated materials so that participants can find, understand, and use trustworthy health information and resources.

Responsibilities*

Project Management & Coordination (~45%):

  • Manage a portfolio of COE public health education and literacy initiatives from intake through launch and iteration (scope, workplans, timelines, task assignment, risk/issue tracking, documentation, closeout).
  • Demonstrate ownership by identifying implementation needs, proposing solutions, and moving projects forward with minimal day-to-day direction.
  • Coordinate with COE leadership and faculty liaisons to translate project priorities into executable plans, realistic timelines, and measurable deliverables.
  • Convene and support project teams (internal and external), schedule and facilitate working sessions, document decisions, and ensure follow-through on action items.
  • Maintain organized project records (workplans, partner inputs, version history, approvals, distribution/logistics plans, outcome summaries).

Community-Partner Driven Programming & Bridge-Building (~30%)

  • Implement education and literacy programming co-created with community partners, including the Rogel CAB, community organizations, and other groups across Michigan.
  • Support bidirectional partnership structures that elevate community priorities and strengthen faculty community alignment (e.g., structured planning cycles, feedback pathways, shared decision-making routines).
  • Coordinate and support community listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys to inform programming priorities and improve participation experience and relevance.
  • Support faculty liaisons by operationalizing community-informed activities that connect community needs with appropriate faculty expertise and resources.
  • Ensure programming is feasible across varied geographic and organizational contexts (rural/urban, local/statewide, clinic/community settings).
  • Develop and maintain bidirectional research engagement workflows that connect community partners (including individuals and groups not already receiving Michigan Medicine care) with Rogel cancer-focused investigators and relevant research engagement opportunities (e.g., community-engaged research planning, dissemination events, advisory input, and study awareness/interest pathways as appropriate).

Health Education & Literacy Implementation (~10%)

  • Develop and maintain project implementation tools (participant pathways, facilitator guides, checklists, run-of-show documents, training outlines, resource lists, referral/navigation pathways) grounded in health literacy best practices.
  • Support creation and upkeep of education resources used within COE programming in plain language, including adaptation for different literacy levels and languages as needed (content drafting and updating; coordination of translation/interpretation services where appropriate).
  • Ensure accuracy and appropriateness of education content by coordinating review with relevant COE/faculty subject matter experts.
  • Pilot test project components with partners, collect feedback, and iterate to improve clarity, usability, and participant actionability.
  • Ensure materials clearly distinguish education, outreach, and research engagement activities from clinical care delivery, while providing appropriate navigation/referral information when community members request clinical services.

Digital Literacy, Accessibility & Inclusive Participation (~10%)

  • Integrate accessibility and digital literacy practices into project design and delivery (e.g., accessible formats, readable layouts, alt text, captions, screen-reader friendly documents, low-bandwidth options, mobile-friendly access).
  • Apply accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles to support participation for people with functional limitations and varied technology access.
  • Build lightweight processes to assess and improve accessibility of program materials and participant-facing workflows.
  • Support inclusive participation for statewide communities by reducing barriers to engagement for people not already connected to Michigan Medicine (e.g., clear entry points, plain-language invitations, transparent expectations, and community-preferred formats/locations).

Evaluation, Tracking, & Reporting (~5%)

  • Track project outputs and outcomes (participation, reach, partner engagement, satisfaction, short-term learning indicators) and maintain dashboards or regular summaries for COE leadership.
  • Organize and synthesize partner input and participant feedback into actionable recommendations for project refinement and future planning.
  • Prepare periodic progress reports for the Administrative Director highlighting milestones, barriers, adaptations made, and equity/accessibility gains.
  • Track and summarize indicators of bidirectional research engagement (e.g., number and diversity of community partners engaged, research connections facilitated, dissemination touchpoints, and documented community-to-investigator feedback loops).

Additional Information

  • Reports to the Administrative Director of Community Outreach and Engagement.
  • Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience for the position, and internal equity within the unit.

Required Qualifications*

Education and Degree Equivalency:

  • Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered, evaluated holistically rather than on a strict 1:1 basis. Progressively responsible, relevant experience may substitute for some or all degree requirements depending on relevance, scope, and demonstrated competencies (e.g., ~4+ years in lieu of a bachelor's degree; ~6+ years in lieu of a master's degree).
  • Undergraduate or graduate degree in Public Health, Health Education, Health Literacy, Community Health, Project Evaluation, Social Work, Creative Arts, Communications (health-focused), or related field.

Core Requirements (all candidates):

  • At least 1 year of relevant experience (volunteer, internship, or professional) supporting community- or client-based projects, education initiatives, or public health projects.
  • Demonstrated experience managing projects end-to-end (scoping, planning, execution, coordination, delivery, and iteration).
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize across multiple concurrent workstreams.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills, including plain-language writing for participant-facing project resources.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; comfort using at least one layout/tool for producing accessible project materials (e.g., PowerPoint/Canva) and willingness to learn additional tools.
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and multi-language/multi-literacy adaptation strategies, or willingness to learn.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively; ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • Willingness to complete required training in community outreach, health literacy, and research ethics as applicable to COE activities.
  • Ability to build and sustain professional relationships across community organizations, Rogel Cancer Center teams, and Michigan Medicine partners while maintaining clear scope, role clarity, and non-duplication of efforts.

Desired Qualifications*

  • Strong knowledge of statewide Michigan communities and experience working across varied geographic contexts.
  • Demonstrated ability to engage communities to elicit, center, and ethically implement partner- or client-driven programming.
  • Strong self-starter mindset. Proactively identifies opportunities, builds alignment, and drives work forward with appropriate independence and accountability.
  • Demonstrated cross-sector experience and comfort working across a variety of geographic and organizational contexts (e.g., rural/urban; local/statewide; community-based organizations, healthcare systems, public agencies, academic partners).
  • Experience integrating digital literacy or technology-access supports into projects.
  • Experience coordinating interpretation/translation workflows and adapting education resources for local context and literacy levels.
  • Experience using feedback and basic participation metrics to improve projects design and participant experience.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world?s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

  • Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
  • 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Work Schedule

  • Hybrid position with a combination of Ann Arbor office (NCRC) and remote work. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
  • Must be able to work evenings and occasional weekends as needed for community events and outreach.
  • Up to 20% travel required.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.