Rapid Response to Recovery Community Paramedicine Implementation Specialist

About the role

The hire will own the end to end implementation of community paramedicine teams within the Kentucky Rural Health Transformation Program under the Rapid Response to Recovery initiative. They will act as the primary operational lead guiding Emergency Medical Services agencies through selection, onboarding, and readiness assessments necessary for program launch. This position owns the planning and execution of EMS-led behavioral health crisis response services, covering staffing models, training design, protocol development, and day to day operational logistics. The hire will ensure strict adherence to the Rapid Recovery model standards while maintaining full compliance with the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services rules and regulations. They will coordinate directly with state partners, hospital systems, and cross sector stakeholders to embed community paramedicine into the wider crisis care continuum. The role requires ownership of data interoperability strategies that connect dispatch, 911, and 988 systems with community paramedicine workflows. Finally, the hire will serve as the central liaison representing the Rapid Response to Recovery program in Kentucky, ensuring alignment with statewide behavioral health, public health, and emergency services objectives.

Key facts

What you'll do

Coordinate selection, onboarding, and readiness assessment of Kentucky EMS agencies to initiate or scale community paramedicine teams.

Oversee planning and launch of EMS-led behavioral health crisis response services, defining staffing models, training agendas, protocol documentation, and operational workflows.

Ensure program fidelity to the Rapid Recovery to Recovery model and compliance with Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services standards and regulatory requirements.

Manage data interoperability enhancements that connect electronic health records, dispatch systems, and clinical databases used by community paramedicine teams.

Develop and optimize dispatch and referral workflows linking 911 and 988 systems to enable rapid deployment of community paramedicine resources during crises.

Coordinate seamless handoffs with EmPATH units and the Telebehavioral Health Hub to create integrated care pathways that reduce duplication and delay.

Align operational practices with Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and other Community Based Collaborative Healthcare facilities to support warm handoffs and structured post-crisis follow-up.

Design and coordinate behavioral health focused training for community paramedics, working with Certified Community Behavioral Health partners on content covering de-escalation, overdose response, trauma informed care, and crisis stabilization.

Track registrations and agency attendance to confirm that required staff complete Certified Community Behavioral Health delivered trainings on schedule.

Maintain updated toolkits, protocols, and reference materials issued by Certified Community Behavioral Health partners to guide EMS agencies through implementation and ongoing operations.

Establish and nurture partnerships among first responders, Certified Community Behavioral Health providers, and other cross sector crisis response entities including Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services and local leadership.

Serve as the primary liaison for community paramedicine efforts in Kentucky, representing Rapid Response to Recovery in regional coalitions and stakeholder meetings.

Facilitate Memoranda of Understanding and other collaborative agreements that enable secure data sharing, clear referral pathways, and coordinated care across organizations.

Serve as the primary point of contact between local communities, Rapid Response to Recovery leadership, and state agencies such as the Department for Public Health and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental, and Intellectual Disabilities.

Define, track, and report on key performance metrics including emergency department diversion rates, EMS response times, and follow up engagement rates to measure program effectiveness.

Analyze performance data to identify trends, gaps, and success stories, then lead quality improvement initiatives across pilot sites in Kentucky.

Prepare regular reports and briefings for Rapid Response to Recovery leadership, CMS, and community partners to communicate program impact, challenges, and lessons learned.

Adapt roles and responsibilities in response to evolving public health conditions, policy changes, and program expansion needs as directed by senior leadership.

Requirements

Hold a Bachelor's degree in public health, health administration, emergency services management, technology, or a related field as verified through official documentation.

Demonstrate a minimum of 3 years of professional experience coordinating emergency medical services, implementing public health programs, managing healthcare projects, or delivering crisis services, with documented proof of employment.

Provide evidence of knowledge regarding ambulance services, 911 dispatch center operations, and established emergency medical protocols through work history or training records.

Show ability to manage technology deployment for emergency medical services and troubleshoot related issues using prior project examples or performance reviews.

Present documented examples of excellent communication and stakeholder engagement, including correspondence records or stakeholder feedback from previous roles.

Meet all security screening requirements necessary to access sensitive health information and interact with state health IT systems.

Comply with all federal and state guidelines related to handling protected health information and emergency medical services data.

Be available to work hybrid schedule conditions as defined by Kentucky Department for Public Health site policies and CDC Foundation remote work agreements.

Commit to adherence to program deadlines, reporting timelines, and milestone schedules as established by Rapid Response to Recovery leadership.

Nice to have

Prior experience with telemedicine platforms and rural healthcare delivery models that improve patient access in underserved areas.

In depth understanding of Kentucky's behavioral health system, including funding streams, service networks, and referral pathways.

Familiarity with Kentucky's regulatory environment and funding mechanisms specifically for crisis services and community based interventions.

Demonstrated expertise in data security frameworks and HIPAA compliance within telehealth and remote patient monitoring contexts.

Practical notes

This position operates under a defined period ending on 6/30/2026, with start dates negotiated within the standard hiring timeline for the Kentucky Department for Public Health.

The role is designated as hybrid, requiring a combination of remote work and in person presence at Kentucky Department for Public Health facilities as scheduled.

Travel may be required within Kentucky to support implementation activities, with arrangements coordinated through the CDC Foundation travel team.

Visas are not applicable for this role as employment is restricted to United States citizens and eligible federal contractors.

Compensation details, including specific salary ranges and benefit options, are administered by the Kentucky Department for Public Health and follow standard federal and state payroll guidelines for this position classification.