Rural Health Implementation and Improvement Lead

IEM is looking for a Full Time-Rural Health Implementation and Improvement Lead to provide implementation science leadership for the New Hampshire's Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) under GO-NORTH's evaluation contract. This role is accountable for the implementation science framework supporting evaluation design and the quarterly mid-course correction cycle, applying frameworks such as RE-AIM, CFIR, and Proctor's implementation outcomes across five initiatives. The role leads engagement with all five Hub organizations and GO-NORTH leadership on framework application, facilitates learning huddles, and translates findings into actionable recommendations to improve program performance. This federally funded sub-award is governed by 2 CFR Part 200 and ALN 93.7982 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).

Primary Location:

• Live anywhere that meets remote work requirements in the United States including Puerto Rico.
• Work is expected to take place at home or personal office space.
• Preference will be given to candidates living in New Hampshire.

Travel Requirements:

• This position may require travel to complete work assignments or attend meetings.

Essential Functions:

• Lead engagement across all five RHTP Hub organizations on framework application, providing coaching, technical assistance, and training aligned to each hub's program area and organizational context.
• Anchor the quarterly mid-course correction cycle by synthesizing implementation data, identifying performance gaps, and preparing actionable recommendations for GO-NORTH leadership and Hub organizations.
• Identify strategies, capacities, partnerships, and conditions that support sustainability of RHTP initiatives; assess durability of infrastructure and cross-sector relationships, and codify lessons learned for future rural health transformation in New Hampshire.
• Provide analytic supervision to the five Hub Evaluation Leads on implementation data collection, ensuring consistency in framework application, coding, and reporting; review monthly submissions to identify barriers or adaptation patterns requiring escalation.
• Develop and maintain the implementation framework for the RHTP evaluation, selecting and applying frameworks (RE-AIM, CFIR, Proctor's implementation outcomes, and others) appropriate to each initiative and evaluation question.
• Conduct CFIR-based organizational analysis across Hub sites, assessing inner and outer setting determinants, implementation climate, and readiness factors affecting implementation and sustainability in rural New Hampshire.
• Apply RE-AIM dimensions (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) to assess whether initiatives are implemented as intended and progressing toward sustainability across rural NH communities, providers, and systems.
• Lead or support qualitative data collection activities, including stakeholder interviews, focus groups, document review, and structured observation, to capture implementation experience across care coordination, mobile integrated health, telehealth, pharmacy access, and non-emergency medical transportation.
• Collaborate with the Senior Evaluation Methodologist to align data collection instruments, interview protocols, and observation tools with the measurement framework and ensure compatibility with NH health data systems (APCD, HIO, Medicaid MMIS).
• Design and facilitate the learning huddle cadence, structuring sessions to surface implementation barriers, facilitators, and adaptations, and documenting findings for Quarterly and Annual Program Reports.
• Translate implementation findings into practical tools, templates, and guidance to strengthen execution, address barriers, and identify scalable approaches; support Hub Evaluation Leads in integrating findings into reporting.
• Contribute implementation analysis to Quarterly Progress Reports, Annual Program Reports, Annual Mid-Course Correction Recommendations, and the Final Evaluation Report, ensuring findings are evidence-based, framework-aligned, and actionable.
• Document methods, framework applications, codebooks, and qualitative data protocols to support transparency and transition of evaluation assets to State ownership at contract close, consistent with 2 CFR Part 200.
• Participate in regularly scheduled leadership meetings.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree: Bachelor's degree in public health, health policy, social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology), public administration, statistics, epidemiology, or a related field.
• Experience: Three (3) years of applied experience providing implementation science or evaluation services on federally funded grants for the State of New Hampshire, other states, or the federal government, with demonstrated application of implementation science frameworks in real-world program contexts.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with implementation science frameworks including RE-AIM, CFIR (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research), and Proctor's implementation outcomes taxonomy; ability to select, adapt, and apply frameworks appropriately across diverse program types and organizational contexts.
• Applied experience evaluating state-administered health and human services programs, with evidence of translating implementation findings into actionable mid-course corrections for program leadership.
• Experience designing and facilitating learning communities, learning collaboratives, or structured learning huddle processes across multi-site programs; ability to create psychologically safe environments that surface honest implementation experience from frontline staff and program partners.
• Strong qualitative research and analytic skills, including experience with qualitative data collection (interviews, focus groups, document review), qualitative coding and analysis, and mixed-methods integration within a program evaluation context.
• Clear written communication skills; demonstrated ability to translate complex implementation science concepts and findings into reports, briefs, and presentations appropriate for program leadership, policymakers, CMS, and public audiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree: Master's degree in public health, health policy, social sciences (e.g., sociology, psychology), public administration, statistics, epidemiology, or a related field.
• Experience applying implementation science frameworks in rural health or rural health transformation contexts, with demonstrated understanding of the implementation challenges specific to small and critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers, and rural community-based organizations.
• Familiarity with CMS-funded health transformation programs (e.g., Medicaid 1115 waivers, CMMI models, or comparable federal rural health initiatives) and their reporting, performance monitoring, and CMS alignment expectations.
• Knowledge of additional implementation science frameworks and rapid-cycle improvement methodologies, such as the EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment) framework, the Hexagon Tool, or Model for Improvement/Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, as complements to RE-AIM and CFIR.
• Experience providing supervision or technical leadership to a multi-site evaluation team, including mentoring evaluators embedded within partner or hub organizations on consistent implementation science methods and reporting standards.
• New Hampshire residency or established knowledge of New Hampshire's rural health landscape, including the workforce, access, infrastructure, and sustainability challenges facing rural providers, communities, and health systems in the state.

Additional Information:

• Personal Office / At Home Locations:All personal office / at home work environments require the ability to maintain minimum Internet speeds of 25 Mbps upload and 3 Mbps download, as well as a ping rate of 100 ms or less during working hours, regardless of the type and number of devices using your Internet connection. You must also have account privileges and access to your Internet service provider account during working hours for the purpose of maintaining the Internet connection, if needed.

Benefits and More:

• Salary will be based on experience and location: $115,000 - $120,000
• 10 paid holidays
• Vacation Pay
• Sick Pay
• 401(K) plans with matching
• Company-paid STD and LTD

Equal Employment Opportunity. All IEM employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment, if necessary, are made without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, creed, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Reasonable Accommodation. IEM is committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodation for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or employment process, please email IEMhumanresources@iem.com with specific details about the requested accommodation. All accommodation requests are reviewed case-by-case in compliance with applicable law.