Substance Use and Behavioral Health Specialist

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

Are you passionate about creating aholistic student experiencethat supports mental physical and emotional wellbeing Are you interested in an opportunity where you get toengage with students and help them reach their full potentialacademically and beyond

If so Student Wellness with the Division of Student Affairs at Iowa State University is currently seeking applicants for a Substance Use and Behavioral Health Specialist! This individual plays a key role in advancing student health and wellbeing through strategic communication data-informed storytelling and health promotion initiatives. This position will be hired as a Wellness Program Specialist II.

This position will focus on alcohol substance use and process/behavioral addiction prevention recovery and education.

What Youll Do:

• Develop and deliver substance use prevention recovery and harm reduction programs for students.

• Coordinate and support the Collegiate Recovery Program including student outreach recovery coaching and community-building initiatives.

• Plan implement and evaluate health promotion and educational programs related to alcohol substance use and behavioral addictions.

• Facilitate BASICS and CASICS interventions for self-referred students.

• Collaborate with campus and community partners to advance prevention recovery and wellness initiatives.

• Lead campus-wide substance use prevention and recovery projects and training programs.

• Coordinate naloxone education distribution and evaluation efforts.

• Develop and deliver presentations workshops and educational content for students faculty and staff.

• Collect analyze and report program data to support compliance assessment and continuous improvement efforts.

• Collaborate on marketing and communication strategies that promote wellness and recovery resources.

• Support broader Student Wellness initiatives including mental health violence prevention basic needs and other public health initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable confidentiality privacy and risk management requirements.

Occasional weekend/evening hours will be involved in this role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Specialized training or coursework in substance use prevention or recovery support (i.e. Alcohol substances and/or behavioral addictions).

• Training or certification in Recovery Coaching Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) or similar prevention credential.

• Experience facilitating workshops presentations and health promotion training.

• Experience applying motivational interviewing techniques.

• Experience using tools such as Smartsheet and/or Qualtrics.

Department Description:

Student Wellness at Iowa State University provides leadership in university strategy for health promotion and provides support programs aimed at creating a campus culture of wellbeing so that all students can Wellness plans implements and evaluates health education and prevention strategies that focus on health and wellness issues that directly affect student success higher learning and personal development such as: violence prevention suicide mental health substance use and more. To learn more please visit Student Wellness.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

This posting will be open until filled. However to receive full consideration applications need to be submitted before August 17th 2026.

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position please click on Apply and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:

Resume/Curriculum Vitae

Letter of Application/Cover Letter

Why Choose Iowa State University
Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits including medical and dental as well as:

• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans

• Generous vacation holiday and sick time and leave plans

• Onsite childcare (Ames Iowa)

• Life insurance and long-term disability

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Various voluntary benefits and discounts

• Employee Assistance Program

• Wellbeing program

• Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when where and how you do your work. For more information please speak with the Hiring Manager.

If you have questions regarding this application process please email or call or Toll Free: 1-.

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race color age ethnicity religion national origin pregnancy sexual orientation genetic information sex marital status disability or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity 2680 Beardshear Hall 515 Morrill Road Ames Iowa 50011 Tel. email .

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.