Alcohol and Other Drug Specialist - Department of Health Promotion & Prevention

Job Description

Overview

The Department of Health Promotion & Prevention (HPP) envisions a campus which understands the impact of the environment on healthy communities. HPP strives to fully support a continuum of education and prevention, early intervention, and access to services while also promoting a culture of recovery and healthy life choices for all students. HPP is responsible for providing appropriate, evidence-based prevention and health promotion programming related to substance abuse, stress management, nutrition, physical fitness, and sleep. HPP staff members serve on a variety of University-wide committees and task forces.

What You'll Do

This position is hybrid, working in person on campus for at least half the work week during the fall and spring semesters while classes are in session, with more flexibility for remote work over the summer and during school breaks. There are periods of time and events in which in-person participation all week is required, especially during New Student Orientation and when University wide events occur.

The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Specialist provides a spectrum of evidence-based education and intervention services that address alcohol and substance use in the Tufts student population. This spectrum includes population-level education, prevention programs, and environmental management designed to reduce misuse of alcohol and other drugs by Tufts students; conducting assessment, intervention, short-term treatment, and other direct service to individual students who have concerns about alcohol or other drug use; and community-building activities and group-related services to students in recovery from substance use disorders.

The AOD Specialist will be a leader on alcohol and substance issues and will work collaboratively to maintain positive relationships with students and a healthy campus culture.  The AOD Specialist will use their content expertise and relationships with students to contribute to the transformational education Tufts students get as part of their outside-the-classroom experience.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired by a Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, public health, social work, or related field.
• Massachusetts Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or equivalent
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience
• Experience working with college students
• Experience with or training in motivational interviewing, CHOICES, BASICS, SBIRT, and other techniques useful in working with college students around substance use concerns.
• Experience creating and delivering educational or prevention programming.
• Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills, including presentation and public speaking.
• Digital fluency, including expert use of common productivity software (e.g., videoconferencing, email client, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, online programs, etc.) and the use of social media for health
• Basic understanding of research design and program evaluation.
• Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate evidence-based health promotion strategies, programs, and services designed to educate the student population in matters related to student substance abuse
• Demonstrated ability to train professional staff and supervise students intern/peer
• Demonstrated ability to identify and make referrals to the network of campus services for students and to collaborate with institutional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
• Commitment to Tufts’ values, including civic engagement, and the educational purpose of the Division of Student Affairs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of health promotion and experience with a college aged population all
• Dual licensure as a Massachusetts Licensed Certified Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
• Prevention or public health expertise, such as that demonstrated through Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) and/or Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or an advanced degree in Public Health, Social Work, psychology, or related field.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development in AOD or related
• Experience in developing and facilitating large group training events and prevention workshops/presentations, focus groups, motivational interviewing for substance abuse prevention, and experience as a BASICS
• Three years of demonstrated professional experience working in higher education and AOD prevention
• Experience with social norms and marketing
• Familiar with online alcohol education programs (e.g., AlcoholEdu, com, eCheckup to Go)
• Understanding of local resources for drug and alcohol treatment highly