<p>The City of Bloomington Public Health Division is seeking a dedicated Substance Use Prevention Health Specialist to advance equitable, evidence-informed strategies that prevent substance misuse and promote mental well-being across the Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield (BER) communities. This role involves coordinating partnerships with schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, and individuals with lived experience to implement diverse prevention initiatives aligned with community needs. The position plays a vital role in shaping upstream public health strategies, supporting population health planning, and ensuring services meet the needs of those most impacted by substance use.</p> <p>Focusing on youth, young adults, and populations disproportionately impacted by substance misuse, the Health Specialist strengthens population-based prevention strategies through outreach, education, relationship-building, and resource coordination. This position is key to reducing stigma and advancing culturally responsive, evidence-based prevention efforts. Strong candidates will demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, equity, and systems-level thinking within a local public health framework. </p> <p>CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS</p> <ul> <li>Models and contributes to a positive work environment, culture of communication, engagement, and safety. </li><li>Communicates effectively and respectfully with employees and the public, including but not limited to those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds. </li><li>Works cooperatively as a member of a team; develops and maintains effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions. </li><li>Embrace the City's shared values and contribute towards accomplishing the City's vision and goals by being creative, innovative, continuously learning, and communicating clearly. </li></ul> <p>RESPONSIBILITIES</p> <ul> <li>Coordinate the development and implementation of substance use prevention strategies at the individual, programmatic, and community levels in collaboration with Division leadership, staff, and community partners </li><li>Facilitate cross-sector collaboration by organizing and leading meetings with internal teams, local organizations, community leaders, and government agencies to ensure alignment and shared progress </li><li>Facilitate effective data sharing and communication protocols among partners to enhance coordination and informed decision-making </li><li>Plan and facilitate the Opioid Stakeholder Group and other key convenings, including managing logistics, setting agendas, documenting discussions, and tracking action items </li><li>Actively attend and contribute to monthly cannabis and opioid county stakeholder meetings with regional partners, fostering collaboration and ensuring alignment of prevention strategies </li><li>Serve as a central liaison for local and regional substance use prevention efforts, maintaining strong communication and coordination with partners to support a unified approach </li><li>Support the delivery of school-based and community programs by coordinating with vendors, partners, and local agencies to align implementation with strategic goals </li><li>Collaborate closely with the Division's well-being specialist to integrate substance use prevention efforts within broader well-being initiatives, ensuring coordinated and comprehensive approaches </li><li>Collaborate closely with the Division's policy specialist to monitor, analyze, and communicate relevant local, state, and federal policy developments that impact substance use prevention, ensuring strategies and partnerships remain aligned </li><li>Collaborate with policymakers and civic leaders to build relationships, secure buy-in, and coordinate advocacy efforts aligned with substance use prevention priorities </li><li>Apply a consistent health equity lens to all prevention activities, ensuring strategies are inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible to communities most impacted by substance use </li><li>Coordinate community outreach and public education efforts to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote evidence-informed prevention practices </li><li>Collaborate with the Communications team to develop and disseminate clear, consistent, and culturally appropriate messaging related to substance use prevention initiatives </li><li>Assist in developing or coordinating the creation of culturally relevant outreach and educational materials for diverse audiences </li><li>Track, analyze, and report on community risk factors, program performance, and emerging trends to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making </li><li>Collaborate with the data team to ensure program effectiveness and integration of feedback into planning </li><li>Maintain clear documentation of meetings, partnerships, and program activities to support transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability </li><li>Monitor and integrate best practices in substance use prevention, community resilience, and systems coordination into local planning and program development </li><li>Support rapid response and coordination efforts in reaction to emerging substance use-related crises or trends </li><li>Ensure alignment of prevention activities with Division and City strategic plans, contributing to a coordinated public health approach across departments </li><li>Assist with grant writing, budget tracking, reporting, and contract coordination to support sustainable funding for substance use prevention programs </li><li>Support efforts to identify, secure, and manage funding opportunities that align with Division priorities and strengthen prevention infrastructure </li></ul> <p>ESSENTIAL DUTIES</p> <ul> <li> <p>Community Partnership and Engagement </p> </li><li> <p>Coordinate with staff and partners across Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield to develop and implement a shared vision and strategic plan for substance use prevention and response</p> </li><li> <p>Facilitate inclusive planning and decision-making process with community members, healthcare systems, schools, and government and non-government partners to advance division goals </p> </li><li> <p>Maintain strong working relationships and public communication with community-based organizations, school districts, and prevention coalitions</p> </li><li> <p>Represent the Division at community events, meetings, and stakeholder gatherings to build trust and elevate local substance use prevention efforts</p> </li><li> <p>Communication and Public Information</p> </li><li> <p>Develop written reports, memos, presentations, and public education materials, and informational materials tailored to diverse audiences in support of the Division's mission and prevention strategies</p> </li><li> <p>Design or adapt outreach, educational, or campaign materials using tools such as Canva or other design platforms to support culturally responsive prevention messaging</p> </li><li> <p>Serve as subject matter resource on substance use prevention, providing guidance to internal staff, community partners, and stakeholders</p> </li><li> <p>Data and Assessment</p> </li><li> <p>Conduct and contribute to assessments that inform planning, including stakeholder meetings, community listening sessions, and focus groups</p> </li><li> <p> Analyze and apply local, regional, and state data to identify disparities and guide community-specific prevention priorities</p> </li><li> <p>Collaborate with internal and external partners to strengthen data collection, analysis, and use in public health decision-making</p> </li><li> <p>Policy and Program Development</p> </li><li> <p>Support the development and implementation of policies and programs that promote substance use prevention, with a focus on community impact and inclusive practice</p> </li><li> <p>Monitor and interpret emerging policies, research, and best practices related to substance use, opioids, cannabis, tobacco, and related public health issues  </p> </li><li> <p>Organizational Competencies</p> </li><li> <p>Track work plan deliverables and reporting requirements to funders, including those related to opioids, cannabis, and tobacco </p> </li><li> <p>Use project management tools to organize timelines, monitor progress, and ensure accountability for program outcomes </p> </li><li> <p>Equity</p> </li><li> <p>Apply a health equity lens when developing or reviewing policies, practices, and community-facing work</p> </li><li> <p>Communicate effectively and respectfully across diverse populations, with sensitivity to cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds</p> </li><li> <p>Other</p> </li><li> <p>Performs other related duties as apparent or assigned</p> </li></ul> <p>KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED</p> <p>Knowledge of:</p> <ul> <li>Public health principles and population health planning frameworks, including health equity, cultural competence, and social determinants of health  </li><li>Substance use trends, harm reduction, and evidence-informed prevention strategies, especially related to youth and disproportionately impacted populations  </li><li>Community engagement strategies, coalition-building, and participatory decision-making techniques </li><li>Conflict resolution, problem-solving methods, and group facilitation best practices </li><li>Emerging and culturally rooted practices in prevention and behavioral health </li></ul> <p>Ability to:</p> <ul> <li>Build trust and sustain collaborative relationships with community members and cross-sector partners  </li><li>Promote and apply innovative, inclusive, and community-informed solutions to meet program goals   </li><li>Communicate clearly and respectfully both verbally and in writing with diverse audiences </li><li>Convey data-driven medical and health information to clients and the public in an effective manner  </li><li>Facilitate meetings and group process with diverse partners and stakeholders </li><li>Apply consistent equity lens in decision-making, outreach, and evaluation </li><li>Collect, track, and analyze data to inform strategies and measure outcomes </li><li>Use reflective listening to build relationships and resolve concerns  </li><li>Apply health equity lens to all aspects of work </li><li>Work flexible hours: occasionally working evenings and weekends, attending meetings or events to meet Division and community needs   </li></ul> <p>MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS </p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in public or community health, nursing, social work, public policy, law, or a closely related field </li><li>Two (2) years of experience in community engagement, partnership development, or prevention program coordination  </li><li>Experience in participatory decision-making or consensus-building techniques </li><li>Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain cross-sector or interagency partnerships  </li><li>Proficiency in Microsoft Office </li><li>Valid driver's license, car insurance, and dependable car OR consistent access to reliable transportation required to perform job duties </li></ul> <p> DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS</p> <ul> <li>Advanced degree or certification in public or community health, nursing, social work, public policy, law, or related field </li><li>Experience working in substance use prevention, treatment, or harm reduction systems </li><li>Experience coordinating school-based prevention or youth-focused programs </li><li>Experience in advocating for marginalized communities within institutional settings </li><li> Experience in grant writing, reporting, and contract management </li><li>Familiarity with project management platforms such as Smartsheet, Teams, and Microsoft SharePoint </li><li> Experience using GIS or statistical software to inform planning and evaluation </li><li> Experience developing or adapting outreach, educational, or prevention materials using tools such as Canva or other design platforms </li><li>Lived experience or direct work related to substance use prevention, harm reduction, or recovery. Work in substance use prevention, harm reduction, or recovery systems </li><li>Ability to communicate effectively in a second language, in addition to English, that has a recognized presence in the community (e.g., Spanish, Somali, etc.) </li></ul> <p>SUPERVISION OF OTHERS</p> <p>This position does not supervise others.</p> <p>Anticipated Hiring Range: $84,754 - $89,895 Annually</p> <p>2025 Full Salary Range: $84,754 - $112,986 Annually</p> <p>Full Time; Exempt; Non-Union; Benefits Eligible</p> <p>The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.</p> <p>The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change</p>