Prevention Specialist, Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative job in Mercer Island

Interviews for selected candidates are anticipated to take place remotely on February 8, 2021.

The Youth & Family Services (YFS) Healthy Youth Initiative Prevention Specialist is a limited-term, part-time (20- 32 hours/week) position responsible for grants management and project implementation for the Mercer Island Partnership for Success (PFS) grant and Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act grant. This position will work in coordination with YFS leadership, Healthy Youth Initiative (HYI) staff, the HYI Coalition and community members to coordinate and implement grant deliverables addressing substance abuse prevention and mental health promotion. This is a 0.5 FTE to 0.8 FTE, funded through September 2024.

This position requires excellent organization, deadline management and task coordination skills, as well as the ability to engage community members and groups in prevention efforts. Intermediate computer skills are essential. Consider applying if your experience is close to what is described above. The City looks for people with exceptional potential, as the highest performing teams include people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences.

Supervision Received

The HYI Prevention Specialist reports to and receives direction, supervision, and performance reviews from the Youth and Family Services Administrator.

Examples of Duties

• Lead efforts with HYI and YFS leadership including strategic planning and implementation of the grant strategic plan.
• Use SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework for Coalition coordination, positive community norms marketing, social marketing, policy, and advocacy work.
• Coordinate community and school-based curriculum implementation.
• Maintain project documentation and complete reports and documentation as required including Federal reporting through eRA Commons and SPARS.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

• Education and/or experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree. Prevention, human services, and/or grants management experience desired.
• Certified Prevention Professional, or ability to attain certification during employment.
• Grants management, Coalition coordination, and direct service prevention curriculum delivery experience desired.
• Previous experience with Incredible Years, Guiding Good Choices, Mental Health First Aid, and other evidence-based programs desired.
• Previous experience with community coalition management and community-based initiatives
• Intermediate computer skills in Microsoft Office-based applications (including Word, Excel, and Publisher); advanced skills preferred.
• Fluency in the English language required.
• Fluency in Mandarin, Cantonese or Korean desired.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing work on personal and organizational cultural humility and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

Ability to:

• Take initiative and follow through on tasks and projects.
• Handle multiple tasks and set priorities.
• Interact and communicate effectively with a variety of community stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional/ethical standards required by HIPAA, State and Federal statutes and Youth & Family Services policy as indicated.
• Work within the mission-vision-values framework of the City of Mercer Island.

Other City Requirements

• Ability to drive a City vehicle and possess a current and valid Washington State driver's license and good driving record. Evidence of a good driving record is a condition of employment and a complete driving abstract will be required.
• Completion of a Nationwide and Washington State criminal history background check is required in order to determine any past conviction history of crimes against persons, sexual assault or exploitation, and sexual or physical abuse and must be able to pass a thorough background check as required by the Child/Adult Abuse Information Act.
• Completion of an I-9 Form, documenting eligibility to work in the United States.

Working Conditions and Physical Abilities

Work is performed in office settings. Must be able to perform essential functions of the job. Hand-eye coordination and fine-manipulation skills are necessary to operate computers and various types of office machinery. This position also requires good listening and speaking skills and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.