If you are a current State of Maine employee, you must complete your application through the internal application process (Find Jobs Report). Please apply using your PRISM account. If you are on Seasonal Leave and do not have access to PRISM, contact your local Human Resources representative for application information.

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Public Health Educator III

Opening Date: January 22, 2026

Closing Date: February 4, 2026

Job Class Code: 4374

Grade: 23 (04)

Salary: $49,275.20 - $69,139.20 per year

Position Number: 02000-2777        

Location: This is a full-time position located in Augusta. This position allows for partial telework with manager approval.

Job Description:

The Substance Use Prevention Coordinator plays a key role in helping Maine communities stay healthy, resilient, and informed. As part of the Substance Use Prevention Team, you will work alongside community partners, state agencies, and local leaders to strengthen prevention efforts that reduce substance-related harm before it starts.

In this role, you will work with communities across Maine to understand local and state needs, share evidence-based programs and policies, provide hands-on support, and guide training for statewide and community partners. You will also help the program by securing funding to strengthen and grow Maine’s primary prevention landscape.

As the Substance Use Prevention Coordinator, you will work closely with the Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention and Control Program (TSUPC) to strengthen substance use prevention across the state. You will lead Strategic Prevention Framework - Partnerships for Success (PFS) grant initiatives, guide project planning, implementation, reporting and financial oversight. As the Substance Use Prevention Coordinator, you will drive the program’s cannabis prevention efforts, conducting research, developing core strategies and educational resources, providing training and hands-on support, and collaborating with state systems to ensure coordinated action.  In addition, you will oversee primary prevention workforce development initiatives by providing technical assistance on policy, system-level changes, and data-driven selection and implementation of strategies rooted in evidence. 

Success in this role relies on knowledge of primary prevention; public health; community mobilization; grant writing and management; environmental strategies; strategic planning; data-informed decision-making and evaluation.

As a key member of the Substance Use Prevention Team, you will:

•        Support the program in reviewing and approving community-level prevention implementation plans.

•        Serve as the primary contact and subject matter expert for cannabis prevention and prevention workforce development for the TSUPC team.

•        Increase collaboration and educational opportunities to improve Program efforts to address health disparities and serve priority populations.

•        Collaborate with other state offices and departments including the Office of Cannabis Policy on related projects.

•        Lead relevant workgroups.

•        Maintain an inventory of research and best practices for substance use prevention, aligned with current and emerging evidence.

•        Guide the development of substance use prevention contract deliverables and a substance use prevention training and technical assistance agenda.

•        Collaborate in the development of program policies.

•        Develop and manage the grant lifecycle, including research, proposal development, budgeting, submission, and post-award reporting.

•        Inform programmatic policy responses and relevant education to the substance use prevention field.

Minimum Qualifications:

 A Bachelors Degree in Public Health, Community Health Education, Health Education and two (2) years experience in community or health education program planning, development, implementation, and evaluation. Directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.

 Preferred candidates will also have: 

• Proficient knowledge of current substance use prevention best practices; willingness to pursue prevention certification.
• Demonstrated understanding of the policymaking process in Maine. 
• Knowledge of strategic planning, outcomes assessment, experience with research and evaluation protocols and needs assessments.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your experience and passion set you apart.

Agency information: 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is dedicated to promoting health, safety, resilience, and opportunity for Maine people. The Department provides health and social services to approximately a third of the State's population, including children, families, older Mainers, and individuals with disabilities, mental illness, and substance use disorders. The Department also promotes public health, operates two state psychiatric hospitals, and provides oversight to health care providers.

The mission for the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), within which this position is located, is to develop and deliver services to preserve, protect, and promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Maine.

Application Information:

For additional information about this position please contact Alexis Perry, Health Program Manager, (207-441-2757)

Please submit all documents or files in PDF or Word format.

To request a paper application, please contact [email protected]

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums ($12,845.82 - $15,112.76 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State.
• Health Insurance Premium Credit – Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($395.72 annual value). 
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 14.11% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS).
• Parental leave is one of the most important benefits for any working parent. All employees who are welcoming a child—including non-birthing and adoptive parents—receive six weeks of fully paid parental leave. Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

.

If you are unable to complete the online application, please contact the Human Resources representative listed on the job opening you are interested in applying for. They will work with you for an alternative method of submitting.