The Connecticut Oral Health Initiative, Inc. (COHI) seeks a part-time Community Oral Health Program Manager (Dental Hygienist) to lead community-based oral health education and patient navigation activities across multiple grant-funded initiatives, including state and foundation-supported programs.
This is a hands-on, community-facing role, focused on delivering oral health education, screenings, and navigation services directly to residents while also coordinating outreach activities, forums, and partnerships statewide. In addition to community-facing activities, the position includes basic program administration, data collection, budget tracking, and grant reporting to ensure accountability and continuous improvement across COHI’s community-based initiatives.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Connecticut-licensed dental hygienist seeking to make a meaningful impact by improving oral health literacy, reducing barriers to care, and advancing oral health equity through direct community engagement and patient navigation.
Work for this position will take place at community partner sites across Connecticut, as well as remotely, with the option of utilizing COHI’s Hartford office for planning and administrative activities. This position is funded through December 31, 2026.
About the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI):
COHI is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening and safeguarding access to quality, affordable, and equitable oral health services for all Connecticut residents. We work at the intersection of community engagement, policy, and systems change to address persistent oral health inequities—particularly for underserved populations.
COHI welcomes applications from people of all identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment within our organization and in partnership with the communities we serve.
To learn more about COHI, please visit www.CTOralHealth.org.
Key Responsibilities:
Community Oral Health Education & Navigation (Primary Focus):
• Deliver community-based oral health education at partner sites such as shelters, recovery programs, WIC sites, community organizations, and other nontraditional settings
• Develop and implement creative, culturally responsive oral health literacy education strategies to engage diverse audiences, including children, older adults, Veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other populations facing barriers to care
• Distribute and support completion of oral health literacy and knowledge surveys
• Provide patient navigation support related to benefits, providers, CTDHP, and barriers to care
• Conduct non-diagnostic oral health screenings where appropriate
• Distribute oral health kits and educational materials
Program Coordination, Budget Management & Grant Reporting:
• Plan and support community forums and outreach events
• Collaborate with community partners
• Manage and track program-level budgets
• Collect and organize program data
• Support completion of required grant reporting
Supervision & Collaboration:
• Reports to the Executive Director
• Supervises interns and volunteers as applicable
Required Qualifications:
• Active Connecticut dental hygienist license
• Reliable transportation and ability to travel around state when needed
• Ability to work some limited evenings/weekends as needed
Preferred Qualifications:
• Bilingual skills (Spanish preferred)
• Experience working in community-based, or public health settings
• Experience providing oral health education
• Familiarity with Medicaid dental programs and community health systems (e.g., Connecticut Dental Health Partnership)
Compensation & Term:
• $40/hour, approximately 20 hours per week, with the potential for additional hours based on program needs and funding availability
• Fringe benefits provided in accordance with COHI policy
• Grant-funded through December 31, 2026
How to Apply for the Position:
Candidates must provide:
• A cover letter describing their interest in and qualifications for the position
• A résumé/CV
Submit to Gary Turco, Executive Director by emailing [email protected] with the subject line: Materials for Oral Health Program Manager. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting in February.
