Substance Use and Behavioral Health Specialist

Position Title:

Substance Use and Behavioral Health Specialist

Job Group:

Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of related experience

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

Are you passionate about creating a holistic student experience that supports mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing? Are you interested in an opportunity where you get to engage with students and help them reach their full potential—academically 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 You’ll 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 thrive. Student 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 [email protected], or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.

Appointment Type:

Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

12 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Pay Grade:

PS807

Original Posting Date:

August 3, 2026

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:

R19709

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. 515-294-7612, email [email protected].

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.