Health Promotion Specialist, Peer Education

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCUs robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits paid annual and holiday leave granted up front generous tuition benefit retirement planning and savings options tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs employee discounts well-being resources abundant opportunities for career development and advancement and more. Learn more about VCUs benefits here.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
RECREATION AND WELL-BEING

Health Promotion Specialist Peer Education

The VCU Recreation and Well-Being (RecWell) Health Promotion Specialist Peer Education is responsible for the health promotion program areas that align with the mission of RecWell which is to advance student success by empowering the VCU community to prioritize well-being connect with others and learn through play. The Health Promotion Specialist Peer Education collaborates with the Health Promotion team and other RecWell team members to develop implement and evaluate health promotion programs events and services for a diverse student body of 30000 across two main campuses with an emphasis on First and Second Year student programming. The Health Promotion Specialist Peer Education is primarily responsible for leading health promotion peer leadership programs on topics such as sexual and mental health nutrition alcohol and other drugs and other health and well-being topics most impacting students success. This position directly supervises and provides leadership to health promotion student leaders including Peer Health Educators and reports to the Assistant Director for Health Promotion. HS21231Y.

Responsibilities include:

Personnel Management (30%)

• Facilitate the hiring ongoing training supervision and mentorship to develop peer educators into more effective healthful leaders and team members in all aspects of their lives.
• Create opportunities for health promotion student staff to engage in applied/integrated student leadership opportunities that align with VCU REAL.
• Effectively prepare university students and RecWell student employees to identify risks and make critically sound decisions that uphold the departments shared values.
• Provide ongoing professional development opportunities for students to increase levels of responsibility develop new skills and advance as professionals.
• Advise the Peer Health Education program including training coursework membership recruitment and attending all meetings.
• Create employee training materials and operating manuals and revise annually.
• Effectively communicate department Division and University mission vision values and goals to staff with special attention to areas regarding health promotion and well-being.
• Ensure consistent and quality service standards are met.
• Ensure compliance with all departmental and University guidelines and procedures.
• Regularly monitor staff time and verify payroll.

Program Management (40%)

• Lead the ongoing planning implementation and evaluation of an accessible and welcoming health promotion and education program minimizing risk while focusing on fun educational and positive experiences for participants.
• Participate in the development of department and program area-specific strategic plans goals and measurable outcomes to guide and evaluate all peer leader/educator activities.
• Work with other RecWell staff to assess and report strategic outcomes.
• Lead programming for first and second-year student initiatives such as New Student Orientation Ram Camp Weeks of Welcome Health Promotion Living-Learning Communities and alcohol-alternative events.
• Facilitate collaboration with key stakeholders on and off campus to develop a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to well-being that addresses key issues such as belonging and connectedness.
• Work with key stakeholders to integrate health promotion into academic and other learning environments potentially instructing courses in partnership with academic departments.
• Work through the established channels to engage in dynamic and purposeful marketing and promotion of emergent health issues through the collaborative development of digital print social and other media.
• Attend university and health promotion events conferences and professional networks to support student leader activities and develop relationships with peers and other key partners.
• Work with others to develop innovative models that remove barriers to student engagement while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the health promotion and peer health education program.
• Advocate for most effective policies and programs in specific program area(s).

Administration (30%)

• Ensure health promotion student employees complete all appropriate forms and documents to maintain consistency with university guidelines.
• Provide responsible and ethical management of resources within designated program area(s) including developing managing and reconciling program budgets.
• Create revise and implement standard operating procedures for peer education and leadership programs.
• Ensure compliance with departmental and program area risk management plans that includes staff training certification requirements program management regular audits emergency action plans and appropriate documentation.
• Collaborate and develop strong partnerships with campus and community partners in specific program area(s) related to university student health and well-being.
• Actively contribute to shared knowledge in this growing field by participating in professional organizations.
• Participate in Division University-wide and community events and committees as needed.
• Assist with daily operations of the department as needed.
• Serve as part of the onsite/on-call team providing regular evening and weekend supervisory support.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION: This position is a full-time twelve-month University and Academic Professional position

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Women minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in health sciences psychology social work or other health and human services-related industry or relevant professional experience.
• At least two (2) years of experience related to health promotion or working in a student affairs setting.
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends.
• Ability to collaborate with others in a fluid and complex environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills facilitation skills interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect professionalism and civility with a population of faculty staff and students from various backgrounds and experiences or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Demonstrated experience in personnel management and ability to motivate students.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating health education or student programming in a variety of modalities such as in-person hybrid and virtual settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-informed health promotion and student development models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree or Masters in progress in health promotion college student affairs counseling public health higher education or a related field.
• Familiarity with ACHA standards of practice and the demonstrated ability to incorporate the standards into this role.
• Experience providing education on topics such as mental health sexual health alcohol and other drug issues and physical health/nutrition.
• Experience supervising college student peer programs.
• Experience using Fusion software system Mentimeter and Canvas.
• Assessment and research skills (e.g. research design survey development environmental assessment focus group design and facilitation data analysis and interpretation etc.).
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or related certification.
• American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor certification.

Dr. Trisha Saunders