Health Program Specialist III - Rural Health Hospital Program

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Salary – $25.96 - $41.19 Hourly Wage
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Sarah Cox | [email protected] | 
Application Deadline – 4/27/2026

Key Responsibilities

*This position is only open to current employees of the Department of Health and Human Services*

Key responsibilities and day to day responsibilities of this position:

Compliance and fund management:

Allowable Investment Oversight: You must ensure every dollar is spent on items within the three official SHIP categories:
Value-Based Purchasing (VBP): e.g., HCAHPS data collection, quality reporting training

Audit Readiness: Maintaining detailed financial records for at least 3 years post-award, as required by 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).

Eligibility Verification: Confirming the hospital maintains its "small" status (49 beds or fewer) and "rural" designation via the most recent Medicare Cost Report.

Reporting and Performance Monitoring:

Progress Reports: Submitting quarterly or mid-year performance reports to HRSA detailing project milestones.

MBQIP Participation: For Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), you must ensure consistent reporting of Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project measures, which is often a federal priority for SHIP funding.

Outcome Benchmarking: Tracking specific KPIs (like improved HCAHPS scores or reduced readmissions) to justify continued funding in the 5-year grant cycle.

Contract administration:

Creating and managing all contracts to ensure procurement compliance and hospital performance

Supplemental Information:

• Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
• Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
• This position may currently be a hybrid of both in-office and remote work days. Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion, at any time, and for any reason.
• Effective July 1, 2021, State of Utah Employees must either reside in Utah or be in the process of relocating to Utah within 30 days of their start date.

Qualifications

Minimum or "day-one" qualifications:

• experience managing federal grants
• DHHS contracting experience
• invoice management
• department and state purchasing

Preferred or trainable/on-the-job qualifications: 

• managing and reporting quality data submitted by the hospitals
• root cause analysis of which hospitals are not reporting and reasons why
• create emails and communication to remind hospitals of deadlines

About the Role

Location –
195 North 1950 West
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84116
United States
Background Check Required – Yes
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – B - Competitive Career Service

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization. 
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals. 
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency
For more information on the Rural health Hospital Programs, please visit our website.

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.