Program Specialist (Part-Time, Rochester or Mankato)

Position open until filled - priority given to applications received before Monday, September 28th 

To apply, please send a resume and a brief cover letter to info@reachoutandreadmn.org
 

 

About Reach Out and Read Minnesota
At clinics across the state, medical clinicians trained in the Reach Out and Read program give books to children and provide developmental guidance to parents and caregivers at their children's routine well-child visits from infancy through age 5. Our program gives young children and their families both the resources and knowledge they need to build a foundation for a healthier and happier future. Reach Out and Read is active at over 300 clinics across Minnesota, serving nearly 170,000 annually. Reach Out and Read Minnesota is an independent 501(c)(3) affiliate of the National Reach Out and Read network. 

 

The Opportunity
The Program Specialist is a professional who provides support and leadership to Reach Out and Read program sites by fostering engagement and assuring quality. The Program Specialist is a valued contributor to the team and works closely with the Reach Out and Read Minnesota Program Manager and team to sustain, expand, and support Reach Out and Read program sites. The Program Specialist cultivates relationships with clinics  and strategic community partners to help further our impact and reach.

The Program Specialist is a problem solver eager to learn new skills and systems, adapt to an evolving and growing organization, and work as an effective team member with colleagues and medical clinic partners in virtual and in-person working environments. The Program Specialist role requires a commitment to equity, ability to influence without direct authority, and diagnosing systems challenges, while respecting and supporting clinic and family cultures. The position provides a unique opportunity to contribute to taking a nationally proven program to scale, while simultaneously providing creative, collaborative leadership to engage the health care system in broader efforts to support child, parent, and community well-being. This role reports to the Program Manager. 

This role will be responsible for completing in-person site visits at clinics across southern Minnesota. The candidate must have access to a vehicle and be available to travel throughout the year.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include:

• Supporting High-Quality Program Implementation 
  • Collaborate with ROR clinic teams to support high quality implementation of the ROR model. Conduct meetings to assess adherence to the model, identify strengths to enhance engagement and support to families, identify opportunities to overcome barriers, and develop and monitor continuous quality improvement plans to assist clinics in achieving improvement goals.
  • Develop relationships with clinical and administrative staff to cultivate Reach Out and Read champions and advocates.
  • Offer ongoing support, including regular communications, in-person and virtual connection opportunities, and technical assistance to all sites in the determined geography. 

  • Build partnerships with health systems through interactions with clinic contacts, articulating best practices for program sustainability, and supporting the engagement of system leaders and decision makers.

     

• Program Data and Reporting 
  • Assure clinics’ completion of twice-yearly progress reports. Analyze, understand, and address barriers to accurate and timely completion.
  • Review progress report data and use it to inform improvement plans, quality ratings, and clinics’ understanding of program performance.
  • Continually track and document program data using established tools and databases, and maintain accurate data within the database.

  • Gather, analyze, and report data to support funding applications, partnership development, and advocacy activities.

     

• Partnership Development and Sustainability 
  • Assist the Program Manager in implementing local, regional, and statewide partnerships.
  • Provide information and support to clinics regarding partnership opportunities that help sustain and enhance their programs.
  • Attend relevant community and coalition meetings as assigned and in alignment with organizational goals.

 

• Literacy Support and Funding 
  • Support clinics in book selection and ordering and provide guidance in the use of efficient book tracking processes.
  • Steward the ongoing contribution of book funds from health systems and clinics as appropriate.
  • Identify programs in need of book funding support and collaborate with the Program Manager to use an equity lens in the allocation of funding to individual clinics. 
  • Coordinate the distribution of book funds and/or books to clinics when funds are available.
  • Organize and track distribution of additional literacy materials to clinics.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

 

Qualifications and Experience:
There are innumerable ways to learn, grow and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. We are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below: 

• Commitment to increasing equity in opportunity and outcomes for children and to recognizing factors known to significantly impact differential outcomes for children, including race, ethnicity, language, and socio-economic status.            
• 3-5 years of experience/education in the fields of health care, social work, parenting support, or early education or related fields is preferred.
• Experience in providing program implementation, continuous quality improvement, and/or professional development support. 
• Demonstrated ability to coach, influence, mediate, and deliver results through others using excellent interpersonal, oral, and written skills, creative problem-solving, and attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, take initiative and direction, and adapt flexibly within a growing organization and a changing healthcare environment. 
• Self-motivated worker who functions effectively in a hybrid work environment with a high degree of autonomy while being an enthusiastic, collaborative team member.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and sustaining partnerships and relationships among diverse stakeholders and organizations. 
• Ability to analyze, synthesize, and utilize data to determine trends over time to develop plans and communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively use electronic communications systems as primary work processes, including database systems, internet use, and MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. 

Position Specifications: 
Part-time (15-20 hours on average), hourly, located in southern Minnesota.  Weekly or bi-weekly travel for site visits throughout the assigned geography, plus availability to attend team meetings several times a year in the Twin Cities metro. This job requires frequent site visits to participating Reach Out and Read clinics in the region. All travel is reimbursed at the standard mileage rate set by the IRS ($0.76 per mile as of July 2026). 

Compensation and Benefits:
The salary for this position is $25.00/hour.

Reach Out and Read Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Reach Out and Read Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status. Reach Out and Read is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and we are committed to making special accommodations for your interview or work as a member of our team.