Prevention Educator

Join Our Team and Help Build Healthier, Safer Communities

Do you enjoy connecting with people, starting meaningful conversations, and empowering others with knowledge that helps them make healthier choices?

The Community Health Partnerships branch of the Penobscot Bay YMCA (PBCHP), is seeking a part-time Prevention Educator to support substance use prevention efforts across Knox and Waldo counties. In this role, you will work directly with schools, organizations, and community partners to deliver engaging education, strengthen local relationships, and help create environments that support healthier, substance-free communities.

This is a community-facing, relationship-driven role for someone who values prevention, education, and collaboration—and wants their work to make a visible, local impact.

Details

• Status: Part-time, approximately 28 hours per week
• Location: Home base in Rockport, with frequent travel throughout Knox & Waldo Counties and occasional statewide travel
• Start Date: as early as January 5, 2026
• This position is supported by grant funding

What You’ll Do

• Deliver engaging, age-appropriate substance use prevention education to schools, organizations, and community groups
• Build trusted relationships with educators, recovery organizations, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and other local partners
• Promote free prevention resources and encourage community participation
• Support local policy, environmental, and harm-reduction strategies that reduce substance misuse
• Participate in community partnership meetings and collaborative initiatives
• Contribute to outreach and education efforts through social media and marketing support
• Track activities, outcomes, and required reporting in alignment with grant requirements

What We’re Looking For

• A community-minded educator, advocate, or outreach professional who enjoys working with diverse groups
• Strong communication skills and comfort presenting to groups of varying sizes
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small, mission-driven team
• Interest in prevention science, health education, and community-level change
• Comfort navigating sensitive topics with empathy, professionalism, and sound judgment
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Education, Behavioral Health, Social Work, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis
• Provisional Prevention Specialist (PPS) Certification required (may be obtained upon employment)
• Ability to complete requirements for Maine Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) certification within 18 months (cost covered by PBCHP)
• Functional competency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Zoom (or willingness to learn)
• Strong organizational, time management, and facilitation skills

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful Impact – Your work directly supports healthier outcomes for youth, families, and communities in Midcoast Maine
• Professional Growth – Training, certification support, and opportunities to deepen prevention expertise
• Supportive Team Environment – Work alongside passionate professionals committed to community health
• Benefits: Earned Sick Time, Day 1 access to a 403(b) retirement investment account, free individual YMCA membership

• Essential Functions

• Implement culturally appropriate substance use prevention strategies in the approved work plan by working closely with the Director of Community Health Promotion, the state public health district, and local partners.
• Create and present engaging public educational offerings on substance-use prevention topics to schools, organizations, and community members.
• Effectively promote the free resources made available by PBCHP to encourage participation.
• Build relationships with other community sectors in Knox and Waldo Counties, including but not limited to schools, law enforcement, recovery organizations, healthcare/behavioral health providers, alcohol and cannabis retailers.
• Contribute to PBCHP social media and marketing under the guidance of the Director of Community Health Promotion.
• Recruit local stakeholders in PBCHP Community Partnership Meetings and build mutually beneficial relationships to aid our mission to support healthier living in Maine.
• Collaborate with related state and/or federal agencies to ensure project requirements are successfully attained, including timely completion of reporting and record-keeping requirements.
• Maintain ongoing understanding of health communication, policy work, social determinants of health, environmental strategies, and leveraging local partnerships to drive sustainable, positive change.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Education, Behavioral Health or Social Work preferred. Directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Hold Provisional Prevention Specialist (PPS) Certification, or obtain upon employment.
• Within 18 months of employment, must complete educational and experience requirements to obtain the Maine Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) Certification. The CPS cost is currently covered by PBCHP.
• Demonstrated understanding of health communication, policy work, social determinants of health, environmental strategies, and leveraging local partnerships to drive sustainable, positive change.
• Strong oral and written communication skills appropriate for professional interactions.
• Functional competency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Zoom - or willingness to learn.

Necessary organizational abilities:

• Planning, coordination, and management of projects with effective organizational skills.
• Facilitating and managing group processes.
• Self-directed mentality to work independently within the scope of a project.
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks under competing deadlines.

Necessary relational abilities:

• Cultivation and care of relationships with key stakeholders.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving skills to handle safety concerns and unexpected incidents.
• Self-awareness, active listening, and other skills necessary for effective teamwork.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

At the Penobscot Bay YMCA, we strive to create an accessible and inclusive application and selection process. We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to job applicants who may require provisions to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment processes. Should you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources by email at hr@penbayymca.org and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.