Substance Use Information Specialist - Limited Service

at State of Vermont in Waterbury, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Vermont Department of Health's Division of Substance Use Programs (VDH-DSU) seeks an organized and outgoing person to join the Planning Unit which oversees divisional marketing, communications, strategic planning, workforce development and health equity initiatives. The Substance Use Information Specialist position works with the Planning Unit to advance the Division's strategic goal that "All people in Vermont have a compassionate, empathic, and informed understanding of substance use, its root causes, and have an awareness of resources available across the system of care" [www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/document/dsu-strategic-plan-2025-2028.pdf]. This will be accomplished by assisting with the research, design, revision, and dissemination of print and electronic communications that are culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and in alignment with DSU communications strategy. The successful applicant will lead divisional social media engagement, serve as the division's lead for supporting accessibility (including divisional adherence to the federal Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 [www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/]), support use of translation services, and aid in managing divisional content on HealthVermont.gov, among other responsibilities. People who have experience with the impacts of substance use and/or have used substance use services are encouraged to apply.

Examples of work:
• Liaise with the Central Communications Office of the Health Department in developing social media (Meta, Front Porch Forum, LinkedIn, etc) and health department newsletter content that promotes awareness of substance use data, services, and guidance.
• Act a primary divisional support for accessibility by representing the division on the department's accessibility workgroup, supporting use of the department's accessibility guidelines, and employing translations services, as appropriate.
• Lead the ongoing maintenance of the 'DSU Program Briefings' posted on the division's Programs & Services page [www.healthvermont.gov/alcohol-drugs/programs-services].
• Work with other divisional communications staff to maintain web content.
• Support internal communications through ongoing maintenance of Planning Unit content on the DSU SharePoint site.

Core Competencies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Effective project management, collaboration and partner engagement
• Ability to manage competing and often changing priorities and timelines
• Awareness of, and willingness to support, the Health Department's Health Equity approach and priorities [www.healthvermont.gov/about/our-vision-mission-values/health-equity]

Duties are performed in a standard office setting. Private means of transportation must be available for required travel. Duties sometimes require rapid turnaround of assignments and the ability to manage competing priorities.